TEMPE — A 40,000- square-foot building that housed a Sports Authority now contains 1.5 million Lego pieces and an escape for kids.
The Legoland Discovery Center at Tempe’s Arizona Mills mall, which opened Friday, features two Lego rides, a 4-D cinema, large-scale Lego models including local landmarks, play areas for kids to build and create, and a parents’ lounge.
“Legoland Discovery Center Arizona is the largest location in North America,” said Elizabeth Mathews, head of marketing at Merlin Entertainments, of the ninth Legoland Discovery Center. “It’s one of the largest in the world. This is a great place for families to have indoor fun in the summer heat.”
Visitors enter a space with mini models of Arizona landmarks. The models are interactive, and each highlights a part of the state’s history. They include the State Capitol, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona Biltmore and the Grand Canyon.
From there, one can walk to the rides or to the “Hub,” a large and open room with places to play and create. In that space is the master model builder, Alecsander Posta, 24. “I’ll sit in my station and build and the kids can watch me and interact with me and inspire me.”
Two other popular attractions include Merlin’s Apprentice — a pedal-powered ride that will take visitors up and over parts of the Discovery Center — and a Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, where riders in a chariot use “lasers” to save a princess from trolls and skeletons.
There also is a Lego car-building and testing area; an indoor play zone with climbing walls, slides and a jungle gym; a farm-themed Lego Duplo brick area for kids ages 5 and under; and an “Olivia’s House” area with pink Legos and karaoke.
Legoland Discover Center Arizona in Arizona Mills mall is open 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m.to 6 p.m. Sundays. Admission is stopped two hours before closing time. It costs $22 for people age 3 and up and is free for children 2 and younger.
