West Edmonton Mall closes world's largest indoor triple-loop rollercoaster, "Mindbender"

The Mindbender, billed as the world’s largest indoor triple-loop rollercoaster, has been shut down for good, West Edmonton Mall’s Galaxyland confirmed on Monday.
The rollercoaster has made its home inside the mall since 1985. Galaxyland said the area the ride was located in will be redeveloped.
The changes to the area started with the decommissioning and removal of the Mindbender, a statement from the mall explained.
“While the Mindbender will be missed, we are excited to announce that we are working on groundbreaking new plans for family thrills that will immerse our guests in an out-of-this-world experience,” the mall’s vice-president of parks and attractions Lori Bethel said.
The ride became infamous in 1986, when on June 14, three people died when the last car jumped the track.
Global's Dan Grummett reports on an up and down legacy.
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[@adamsanders3521]

I remember doing a "Mindbenderathon" in my teens during an event where the entire Galaxyland was rented out for a night by my soccer org. Think I managed to ride it 20 or so times over the course of a few hours. It stopped being fun after the 7th or 8th go. Something about that double loop makes you almost black out every time. RIP Mindbender, you will be missed.

[@memberberries7669]

Rode this in 2006 with my mom on a trip to Edmonton from the east coast, I was so scared but luckily my mom convinced me to go and I'm so glad I did. RIP Mindbender thank you for being the highlight of that trip.

[@sykojay]

R.I.P. Mindbender was one of my favorite coasters and it will be missed 🤬

[@carpenter3069]

too hard on my old neck

[@thomasmcfiddles5133]

Thank you Klaus for another valuable removal.

[@Bobobaggins93747]

Rode it in '96 ✋🏽🇨🇦

[@centuryhousegames733]

It was fun while it lasted!

[@williameggleton414]

I wonder how poor Rod Chayko's gonna react to this. Hopefully it'll bring him some solace now the machine that killed his friends, almost killed him and changed his life forever is in Yesterland. They should stop turning down his requests to put a memorial there and just add some kind of garden, fountain or sculpture near where it stood!

[@donnahyshka2777]

I think they should still put a bench in there in the name of the people that lost there lives on that machine.

[@sevendyseven4090]

@@donnahyshka2777 Screw that, what the hell we need death & tragety reminders EVERYWHERE for !! There is enough road side cemetaries littering the ditches everywhere i go..WEM is a place for fun, not fatality reminders..

[@PouchMaster]

That sucks! The mall just isn't what it used to be. Red's is gone, which was an awesome, massive nightclub, replaced by a T&T Supermarket of all things. Glow is gone, which was a super cool black light store. Zazoo is gone, which was my favorite clothing store of all time and one of a kind. And now the Mindbender... Next thing gone will probable be the purple, vertical waterslide we all love!

[@OneyButtwillies]

Man. Just found out! Rip to a classic WEM feature

[@justschr]

New family thrills sounds horrible. Triple 5 must be hemorrhaging money if they they can’t replace The Mindbender with another coaster.

[@ryans413]

I feel like a thrill seeker that I just got slapped in the face. That was the parks biggest thrill ride and they want to replace it with family friendly rides what a punch in the gut. What next you mine as well rip out the thrill watersides too there not family friendly. A good park is balanced for all people. Sadly now there’s no reason for me too ever go back there

[@sunkiis]

That sucks

[@louern123]

so sad three people died in 86 😢

[@1and1Makes11]

more then that in total

[@leahluostarinen]

Wow

[@PouchMaster]

Is it true there was some kind of vicious gang fight in the food court where a guy chopped up another with an axe in full view of a hundred people? Or is that just an urban legend? I can't find any news about it. I know a diver died around the submarine.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

The Mall will go bankrupt

[@liberalsneedhelpamen9245]

I would go there on PD days from Spruce Grove

[@canadaclub8920]

Put a better roller coaster

[@minion986]

What ever they put in place, with the amount of space the King of Galaxyland had, the better put in a new coaster that is better, if not, just as good as the Mindbender. Of course WEM is all hush hush about what they want to do as they say they have exciting plans for the replacement. Better not be kiddie rides. "You dethron a king, the replacement better live up to expectations")

[@ryann3487]

It's gonna be kiddie rides. When they allude to "family thrills" that's exactly what they mean. Considering the geological pace at which the mall makes any decisions it wouldn't surprise me if it's years before that space is ready for use again, let alone if the park survives much longer without its main attraction. Sad times.

[@chrisbroesky2932]

Send triple 5 a message. I did. They should replace it with something just as massive and spectacular. Not more wimpy kiddy rides. That would suck.

[@munetaka101]

so sad...

[@djavatar68]

Don't fall for that can't get parts excuse. There are coasters made by this company Schwarzkopf still operating around the world. Some even older than Mindbender.

[@richardadkin7226]

I thought the same. Olympia Looping is still running flawlessly after over 30 years outdoors.

[@cohengamertv6548]

@@richardadkin7226west ed is in canada, and the canadian dollar is weak, meaning its more expensive to get parts, also the company that made it doesn’t exist anymore

[@astroastra]

Funny enough I always wanted to ride the mindbender as a kid, I was old enough to go and then it closed down (btw I BEG WEM to not reopen it with hasbro theming, if they do I’ll cry)

[@alelectric2767]

I’m sure they’ll replace with something boring. Nerf fun for everyone

[@PouchMaster]

Yeah! And the purple waterslide will be next! Way too dangerous! And then the skating rink! Lot of rough housing in that one!

[@cohengamertv6548]

If they take the skating rink, there will be anger,

[@tinotse8964]

From what's going to happen with the mindbender closing after 38 years. Heard their planning on Kiddie Rides on the empty space in which the coaster once stood

[@cohengamertv6548]

They should make a new one

[@tinotse8964]

@@cohengamertv6548 I went to West Ed lately. And the Mindbender still stands. No rollercoaster Unfortunately. So? Really don't know what their exact plans are?

[@Dyl482]

why is our civilization receding

[@TrevVision]

Because Communists are in power, and they tear down everything that's good and replace it with garbage on purpose.

[@LakeNipissing]

W E F

[@kenetickups6146]

Capitalism

[@kenetickups6146]

@@LakeNipissing Yes, capitalism

[@lyndaaloo]

First the fire breathing dragon.. now the mindbender )):

[@brayidk3522]

There better be something that’s equally intense there. Even as a 23 year old I’ll still go on a ride as long as it’s scary.

[@chrisbroesky2932]

Send triple 5 group a message of what you just said. I told them it will be missed and to replace it with something just as big and spectacular.

[@pierrejoly9094]

Sad

[@Lucky_9705]

RIP 🪦

[@worldisalone8738]

Hmm

[@randylingorasmussen1622]

I rode it

[@leahluostarinen]

Are they closing it down because of some people's died on it or something

[@BAKU2K2]

No, most likely matinence reasons as well as the new family-friendly demographic of the park. That accident happed back in the 80's when the ride was fairly new, that's why the ride has a very unusual train configuration.

[@p0tent49]

Yes, they just debated for 34 years after it happened wether to close it or not.

[@staringcorgi6475]

The trains are in indiana now

[@Kyle_Fall]

Why is it closing?

[@spliffington2394]

Corporates don't find it profitable enough.

[@FirstNameLastName-ov3cw]

@@spliffington2394 , _> "Corporates don't find it profitable enough."_ This is always the case when the population is impoverished ...

[@spliffington2394]

@@FirstNameLastName-ov3cw this is where capitalism has led us to, yet we still defend it.

[@FirstNameLastName-ov3cw]

@@spliffington2394 , You're right.

[@kenetickups6146]

@@spliffington2394 I don't

[@melissaanderson821]

I never been there

[@terrymckenzie8786]

It’s Trudeaus fault.

[@kenetickups6146]

i blame obama

[@Ayyyyeeeee]

Omg!! If they put a bunch more lame rides in it’s place I’m going to so upset 😢 They should put a new coaster there. This is so sad!

[@phins13td]

WEM has gone WOKE

[@lancevangen6485]

Rebuild it but better

[@1and1Makes11]

alot of poeple dead on thia ride i watched one it was sad

[@ryans413]

Only 4 died and since that incident it ran fine for 40 years

[@sevendyseven4090]

To all wondering, it closed because there were to many right turns & bends, the woken left didn't like this..

[@thillfan6748]

Klar 😂😂

[@johnq2068]

Was offensive to muslims and First Nations.

[@chrisbroesky2932]

That's too bad. It would be awesome to see them not cheap out and replace it with something just as large and spectacular. That was the king of the park. Sadly we'll probably see more lame kiddie rides.

[@chrisbroesky2932]

Send triple 5 group a message. I did.

[@tammykrzyski6250]

That is sad. The fact that people died on it made it more exciting. I loved that rollercoaster.

[@donnahyshka2777]

Really someone has to die for it to make it more exciting.i can't believe how disrespectful people are.the couple that got killed on that ride is a friend of my family my sister went to school with Cindy.

[@LakeNipissing]

Gosh! Are you happy to drive a Honda knowing somebody died in one in a head-on collision?

[@marycampbell8855]

Seriously "made it more exciting " ??! Tell that to the people whose loved ones have died 🙄

[@officer_electro2021]

Ikr I really wanted to ride it but never got a chance

[@thillfan6748]

​@@donnahyshka2777the accident is tragic

[@BrandonLee-ig1qg]

It's dangerous to ride rollercoasters

[@FMA10901]

Riding rollercoasters is statistically safer than riding in a car. The chances of dying on a rollercoaster is 1 in 750,000,000. Your chances of dying in a car crash are 1 in 301. Your chances of dying as a pedestrian in an accident are 1 in 556. Your chances of getting hit by lighting are 1 in nearly 80,000. Your chances of getting killed by fireworks are over 1 in 340,000. So rollercoasters are pretty safe.

[@georgesimon6041]

Camel herders don't ride roller coasters.

[@terrymckenzie8786]

?

[@CarsonS_Gaming]

Jesus is Lord, Repent and believe in Jesus you won’t regret it Amen

[@LKSimonTsang]

Is conservative ruling the world?!

[@spliffington2394]

shut down for good, just like everything else in Canada.

[@PouchMaster]

It's kind of surprising malls are still going at all at this point. Think of that energy cost to heat or cool such a massive space alone. Then there's the massive cost of security, and janitorial, and restrooms, and massive parking lots, lights, escalators. And so many people who go to the mall don't actually shop at all. Some just go to keep warm. Many businesses find it far more profitable to operate online without all of this incredible overhead that goes into their lease in the mall.

[@spliffington2394]

@@PouchMaster exactly! Think of how much more profitable it is to just rent out a spot in a parking lot for a ridiculous fee. Big Corps spend nothing and make even more money on their cheap Chinese/India imports...Soon we will all be standing in front of shabby tents buying cheap foreign garbage like some kind of 3rd world country...bright future for Crapada.