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As dozens of excited Lego fans counted down to zero, a life-size mascot crashed through a wall of bricks Wednesday, signaling that Legoland Discovery Center Westchester was open for business.
The unconventional ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of the much-anticipated attraction inside Yonkers' Ridge Hill shopping center.
Parents and children lined up before 11 a.m., waiting anxiously for their chance to step inside the $12 million attraction, just the fifth Legoland in the country and the first in the Northeast.
“I love Legos,” said 9-year-old Christian Peralta. “When you’re playing with Legos, the possibilities are endless.”
Inside the 32,300-square-foot facility, elected officials took the maiden voyage on a pair of amusement rides. Guests shuffled though a Lego-man cutout before being welcomed by 3 million plastic bricks and a Manhattan skyline that fades from night to day.
Children were taught how to become Lego masters with hands on tutorials, while others toured the play areas, food court, karaoke room and a 4D-movie theater.
“It's like you've just jumped into the biggest box of Lego bricks ever,” General Manager Chris Mines said.
Legoland is expected to create more than 100 full-time jobs and be a tourism boon for the Yonkers, bringing thousands of visitors from around the region.
“There’s no other destination like this that you can go to in the northeast,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, who declared Wednesday a Lego Holiday in the city.
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a self-proclaimed Lego fan, said the attraction was a wonderful addition to Ridge Hill.
“All of Westchester will be coming here to enjoy Legoland,” he said.
With big crowds expected in the center’s opening days, Legoland will schedule one-hour time slots to control the wait time.
The center is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
See photos from inside Legoland here.
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