Entry No. 36 — the Minneapolis file — filed under: art
Can Can Wonderland
Housed in a historic 1889 canning factory, this sprawling, sensory-overload wonderland features an 18-hole indoor mini-golf course designed entirely by local artists, alongside vintage arcade games, pinball, and boozy malts.
The story
Beneath the red-brick shell of an 1889 canning factory on Prior Avenue, Can Can Wonderland takes industrial preservation and turns it inside out. Where workers once stamped out tin cans for the American Can Company, local artists were handed full creative control over an 18-hole indoor mini-golf course, resulting in a surreal, immersive playground hidden deep in St. Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood.
Rather than generic felt and artificial turf obstacles, every hole is an independent art installation built by local makers. You'll find yourself aiming putts into a giant pink mastodon, banking shots across a fully rendered retro living room set, and lining up golf balls to drop directly into a golden toilet bowl. Beyond the course, the cavernous industrial floor opens into an expansive arcade loaded with over 125 vintage pinball machines, classic cabinet games, and a live performance stage.
What it's like
Step into the subterranean space and you're hit with a nostalgic wall of chiptune sound effects, clacking pinball flippers, and glowing neon. Weekend crowds assemble quickly, so sneaking in on a weeknight is your best move if you want to navigate the golf course without waiting behind a queue at every hole. Grab a boozy malt or craft cocktail from the bar before hitting the greens, and keep an eye out for evening stage events ranging from live music to karaoke.
The move: Play a round of mini-golf where you'll putt through a giant pink mastodon, a retro living room, and a golden toilet bowl, then sip on a whimsical craft cocktail under the neon lights.
- 📍 Hamline-Midway
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 755 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Smallest Museum in St. Paul — Pair this massive artist-built mini-golf floor with St. Paul's tiny art fix—a 2-by-3-foot fire-hose cabinet museum located less than a mile away outside Workhorse Coffee Bar.
- House of Balls — Double down on Twin Cities outsider art by following up your round of artist-designed mini-golf with a trip across the river to Allen Christian's interactive sculpture studio.
- Trylon Cinema — Transition from playing vintage arcade games to watching cult classics or obscure 35mm prints at this volunteer-run 90-seat microcinema.
Good to know
Where in St. Paul is Can Can Wonderland?
It is located in the basement level of the historic canning factory complex at 755 Prior Ave N in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood.
What games are there besides mini-golf?
The venue houses a retro arcade featuring over 125 vintage arcade cabinets and pinball machines alongside its 18-hole artist-built mini-golf course.
Do they serve food and drinks?
Yes, they feature a full menu of food alongside craft cocktails, beer, and signature boozy malts and milkshakes.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitsaintpaul.com · exploreminnesota.com
last checked: 2026-07-21