Bloomington has officially backed away from a short-term plan to turn the former Thunderbird Motel site into a temporary public park. The 12-acre property, located just north of American Boulevard near the Mall of America, has remained vacant since the city’s Port Authority demolished the former Ramada hotel in 2016.
The now-scrapped park plan was tied to the property’s expiring tax-exempt status. The Port Authority had planned to sell the site to the city to maintain that exemption, with a placeholder use such as a bike skills park. However, the Minnesota Legislature recently extended the tax exemption for another six years, eliminating the need for the land transfer.
While Bloomington had hoped to activate the site temporarily, the new plan is to wait until the city updates its vision for the South Loop District—a process expected to wrap up this summer. Afterward, the site will be re-listed for sale. However, Delta Metro Investments, a Mall of America subsidiary, still holds a right of first refusal on the land through 2026.
Future uses of the property are expected to lean toward entertainment or experiential amenities, though development has been challenging due to airport height restrictions and market conditions.
What’s next for this high-profile site? Stay tuned—and for the latest on Twin Cities real estate and development news, follow Darin the Minnesotan.
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