Fairly Odd Coaster is an indoor spinning roller coaster at Nickelodeon Universe, the theme park built inside the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Manufactured by Germany’s Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, it opened on March 15, 2004, as one of the first installations of the company’s then-new Spinning Coaster model line, with each car free to rotate independently as it travels the course.
The ride originally debuted as Timberland Twister when the park operated under the Camp Snoopy theme. In 2008, when the park rebranded as Nickelodeon Universe, the coaster was renamed and re-themed to tie into The Fairly OddParents animated series. Despite its compact indoor footprint, the coaster packs in unpredictable spins that make every lap feel different.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Nickelodeon Universe (Mall of America), Bloomington, Minnesota
- Manufacturer: Gerstlauer, Spinning Coaster Model 420/4
- Opened: March 15, 2004 (as Timberland Twister; renamed and rethemed in 2008)
- Height: 54 ft (16 m)
- Top speed: 31 mph (50 km/h)
- Length: 1,345 ft (410 m)
- Inversions: 0
- Duration: 1 minute 30 seconds
The Ride Experience
Each of the coaster’s cars seats riders in two face-to-face rows, and every car spins freely as it winds through the twister-style layout. Riders never know exactly which direction they’ll be facing through the next curve, adding an element of surprise that’s rare in a ride with no inversions and a modest 54-foot height.
The ride delivers quick bursts of speed and spin inside the climate-controlled comfort of the mall’s amusement park, making it a popular pick for riders who want thrills without braving outdoor weather.
From Timberland Twister to Fairly Odd Coaster
The ride opened in 2004 under Camp Snoopy branding as Timberland Twister, fitting the park’s then-outdoorsy, Peanuts-themed decor. When the park rebranded as Nickelodeon Universe in 2008, the coaster was renamed and re-themed around The Fairly OddParents, swapping its original look for imagery tied to the animated series’ characters.
The attraction remains one of the park’s family-friendly staples, with a 43-inch height requirement that makes it accessible to younger riders while still delivering the unpredictable motion that spinning coasters are known for.
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Fairly Odd Coaster Photo Archive: November 2015
These are original ThrillZing photos of Fairly Odd Coaster taken at Nickelodeon Universe inside the Mall of America on November 18, 2015, shot on an iPhone and published as taken. They show the Gerstlauer spinning coaster’s Cosmo and Wanda sign and its orange track winding over the trees and around the Nickelodeon Universe balloon. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
Over 3,700 pieces, a real vertical loop and a working chain lift. Display it on a shelf in the coaster room.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Fairly Odd Coaster FAQs
Who manufactures the Fairly Odd Coaster?
It was built by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, a German manufacturer, using their Spinning Coaster Model 420/4 design.
Was the Fairly Odd Coaster always called that?
No, it opened in 2004 as Timberland Twister under the park’s Camp Snoopy theme and wasn’t renamed and rethemed to Fairly Odd Coaster until 2008, when the park became Nickelodeon Universe.
Does the Fairly Odd Coaster have any loops or inversions?
No, it has zero inversions. Its thrill comes from the independently spinning cars rather than loops or inverted track.
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Photo: Max.goedjen / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.