Played numerous times between February 2017 to June 2018
Reviewed by Mr. Tee & The Pink Putter
We’ve anticipated the opening of a new whimsical space from the mind of Chris Pennington for years. The Can Can founding crew worked on the earliest iterations of mini golf at Walker Art Center and founded The Haunted Basement. There was no doubt this would be a special place. Thinking back, we have been following this project for over 5 years before it opened. Our teaser from their soft opening in 2016 is our first documentation that includes early photos of the space long before it was transformed into a magical wonderland.
On our first visit, many of the major obstacles were in place but through the grand opening and part of the first year, there were tweaks and additions being made to complete this unique artist-designed mini golf course. We saw these on each of our visits. After a few rounds of documentation and play, we’re ready to share all the sights and sounds with you.
Rating
Birdie – In the depths of an old canning factory in the creative enterprise zone of St. Paul, a one of a kind mini golf course sits next to early arcade games, art installations, and performance spaces. The space is a site to be seen. Upon walking through the entry’s double-doors, you’re greeted with a visual feast. A giant popsicle, an oversized donut, a light-up rainbow, a hot pink wooly mammoth, a brightly glowing Ferris wheel and a spinning tornado are just a few of the first sites that pile together to create the spectacle that is Can Can Wonderland. 18 mini-golf creations from the minds and craftspersonship of artists, designers, school kids, fabricators, and troublemakers come together to form an eclectic assortment of putting spaces. Classic tropes such as a steaming volcano, a loop and trickling river get combined with a Rube Goldberg-esque music mountain, a baseball diamond and a 200+ ft long purple turf track to create a one-of-a-kind and completely immersive mini golf experience.
And while the course is impressive in its scale and scope, its intentionally ramshackle aesthetic proves to be somewhat detrimental to the gameplay itself. As we mentioned above, since its opening in 2016, many of the initial issues (impossibly steep hills or paths that lead to balls bouncing out of putting areas and/or getting stuck in others) have been fixed or are an ongoing work in progress. However, some of the holes still play in a way that is needlessly frustrating if you’re going for a clever skill shot. While Can Can offer lights, spectacle and an abundance of kitsch, it’s clearly designed by artists, evident to us through the design of the obstacles and how they relate to both the overall narrative of the hole and how the ball moves through the space. So what we’re saying is go to Can Can for its whimsy and wonder, but be prepared for the unexpected adventure the ball make take along the way.
2020 video of Mr. Tee playing with O-Street that includes the new 18th toilet hole
Additional photo and video documentation of each of the 18 holes
Pros
One of a kind course / mini golf experience
A wild variety of play spaces and designs to engage with
Countless amenities and fun happenings throughout the space including boozy malts
Founded and created by artists
Cons
Only open Thurs-Sun and can be quite crowded
The functionality of a few of the holes
Nerdy Notes
- 18 Holes, No Listed Par
- $10, ages under 12, over 62, and all military, $14, ages 12 and up, $2 off per person for groups of 15 people or more
- Currently do not accept reservations. Best times to visit are Thursday and Friday during the day.
- Only open Thurs-Sun each week
- Other amenities include a boardwalk arcade, food & drinks, and an event space.
