The former Kmart on Highway 7 and County Road 101 in Minnetonka may soon become home to a new recreation center complete with bowling, bumper cars, laser tag, arcade, climbing walls and a mini golf course.

The Big Thrill Factory will be a multipurpose recreational facility in 33,750 square feet of the building. Northern Tool + Equipment Co. also resides there.

The center will include a café serving food and alcoholic beverages, complete with a party area. It will include 13,839 square feet of outdoor space for mini golf, trampolines, slides, spider climbs and face off – a jousting contest.

Plans will make their way in front of the Minnetonka Planning Commission on Sept. 6 and the Minnetonka City Council on Oct. 8. The proposal requires a conditional use permit and site/building plan review. 

Minnetonka businessman Barry Zelickson is the majority partner in the game center. Zelickson has worked on the concept that will cost between $3 million and $5 million for the past two years, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

According to plans submitted to the city of Minnetonka, the primary goal is to create a safe environment for kids, young adults and their parents to celebrate with family-friendly activities. Developers plan to open the Big Thrill Factory in December 2012.

On Minnetonka Patch in April, we asked readers what should go in the former Kmart. Many of the comments reflected that the Big Thrill Factory is exactly what residents are looking for in that location, such as this response from Josefina Irene Gonzalez:

"We need something INDOOR for our kids, and it would be a wonderful space for park like Edinborough Park in Edina plus swimming space. I totally agree with the comment for sample mall but NOT CHUCKE E CHEESE in it! We have such a long and cold winter so I totally support a place like this. It will be definitely a HIT!!!"

Do you think the Big Thrill Factory will be a hit? Tell us in comments!

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