On October 25, 2019, a new theme park opened to the world in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Nickelodeon Universe is the first phase of the new American Dream mega-mall project in the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford, NJ, just outside of New York City. The project as a whole has been in development since 2003, but the 8-acre theme park was announced in September 2016. There is another Nickelodeon Universe indoor park at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, but this park has a more unique ride lineup.  

The park features five roller coasters and a variety of various thrill and family rides. The five coasters include Timmy’s Half Pipe Havoc, a half pipe launch coaster themed to the Fairly OddParents. Sandy’s Blasting Bronco, a multi-launch coaster themed to Sandy from SpongeBob SquarePants. Nickelodeon Slime Streak, a family coaster that glides throughout the entirety of the indoor park. Shredder, which opened as the tallest and longest spinning roller coaster themed to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Intertwining with Shredder is Shellraiser, another TMNT-themed coaster that is a record breaker. Shellraiser opens with the steepest drop on a coaster in the world with a 121.5-degree drop. It beats the record of 121 degrees that was held by Takibisha, a coaster in Japan that Shellraiser is a clone of. On opening day, the only two coasters open were Shellraiser and Slime Streak. Shredder has opened, but both Timmy’s Half Pipe Havoc and Sandy’s Blasting Bronco have still not opened as of the day this article is posted.  

Some other notable attractions are Nickelodeon Skyline Scream, a drop tower attraction. Legends of the Hidden Temple Challenge, a ropes course. Jimmy Neutron’s Atom Smasher, an attraction where the rider controls the flipping of their vehicle, and Aang’s Air Gliders, an inverting Air Race attraction. 

The park will also have retail and dining locations once the entire mall opens. Will you take a trip to America’s newest theme park?