Galaxyland is an indoor amusement park inside West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, operated by the Triple Five Group. It opened on August 17, 1983 as Fantasyland, but a 1994 court ruling over Disney’s trademark on the name forced a rebrand, and the park relaunched as Galaxyland with a space-themed overhaul in 1995. Since December 2022 it has operated as ‘Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro’ following a multi-year renovation that reimagined many attractions around Hasbro toy brands.
Guinness World Records recognizes Galaxyland as the largest indoor amusement park in the world, covering roughly 400,000 square feet (about 37,200 square meters) under the mall’s roof. For decades its signature ride was the Mindbender, a Schwarzkopf-built triple-loop steel coaster that stood as the world’s tallest indoor coaster until it was decommissioned in January 2023, with a Hasbro Nerf-themed coaster planned to eventually take its place.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Operator: Triple Five Group
- Opened: August 17, 1983 (as Fantasyland; renamed Galaxyland in 1995)
- Size: About 400,000 sq ft (37,200 m²)
- Rides & Attractions: 27+ rides and attractions
- World Record: Guinness World Record for largest indoor amusement park
- Signature Attraction: Space Shot drop tower; former Mindbender triple-loop coaster (closed 2023)
The Ride Experience
Galaxyland’s rides span three tiers of intensity, from gentle spinning teacup-style attractions for young children to thrill rides like the Space Shot, a drop tower that stood as the world’s tallest indoor tower ride when it opened. For 37 years the park’s centerpiece was the Mindbender, a Schwarzkopf-manufactured triple-loop steel coaster reaching about 145 feet, which drew riders as the tallest indoor roller coaster on the planet before its closure in January 2023.
Since 2019, West Edmonton Mall has partnered with Hasbro to retheme much of the park, giving classic rides new identities tied to brands like Monopoly, Hungry Hippos, My Little Pony, and Mr. Potato Head, alongside the 2018-opened Havoc thrill ride.
A Mall Landmark With a Complicated Name
Galaxyland’s history is tied directly to the identity of West Edmonton Mall itself. It opened in 1983 as Fantasyland, but Disney successfully argued in court that the name infringed on its own Fantasyland at Disneyland, forcing the Edmonton park to rebrand. The switch to a galactic, space-station theme in 1995 gave the park its current name and aesthetic, which has persisted through subsequent renovations.
The park has also weathered tragedy: a fatal 1986 derailment on the Mindbender killed three riders, prompting new safety systems that remained part of the ride’s operation for the rest of its run.
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Galaxyland FAQs
Is Galaxyland really the largest indoor amusement park in the world?
Yes. Guinness World Records officially recognizes Galaxyland, at roughly 400,000 square feet inside West Edmonton Mall, as the largest indoor amusement park on Earth.
Why was Galaxyland originally called Fantasyland?
The park opened under the name Fantasyland in 1983, but after a legal dispute with Disney over the trademarked name, it was rebranded to Galaxyland in 1995 with a new space theme.
Is the Mindbender roller coaster still open?
No. The Mindbender, once the world’s tallest indoor roller coaster, was decommissioned in January 2023 after 37 years; its trains were sold to Indiana Beach in Indiana, and a Hasbro Nerf-themed replacement coaster has been planned for the site.
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Photo: GoToVan from Vancouver, Canada / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.