Twin Cities suburb hatches plan to save landmark dinosaur by adding an ice rink

Champlin could preserve the city’s longest-running business, the Sinclair gas station-turned-roadside-attraction, in perhaps the most Minnesota way possible: by adding an ice rink. Residents have worried the northwest Twin Cities suburb could lose the landmark and its beloved costumed dinosaur , since the owners said last year they were considering selling the business. The city is in talks to buy the gas station property, which is a highly visible spot along Hwy. 169 just south of the Mississippi River, as officials look to redevelop the broader area. But now city leaders have signed off on a long-term plan to turn the site into a park, possibly with ice skating and hockey rinks. The city could convert the gas station into a warming house and incorporate the fuel canopy into the design. As for the dinosaur? He’s here to stay. Advertisement The Sinclair station dates back to the 1930s, but the current structure was built in the 1950s. It’s remained a time capsule as Champlin has transformed and developed with new businesses and housing around it. Jim Merkl ran the business with his family for nearly 50 years and kept it as an old-school, full-service gas station. A real neon sign still sits on the roof. The store is packed with decades of memorabilia: old Sinclair signs, photos and paintings of the business, and plushie versions of Dino, the green fiberglass dinosaur. Expanded image view Champlin is in talks to buy the city's oldest business, the Sinclair station that has become a historic landmark with the help of Dino, the costumed, green dinosaur. ( Sarah Ritter/The Minnesota Star Tribune ) Jim’s wife Diana Merkl contributed to the business becoming a roadside attraction when she added Dino out front and started dressing him up for holidays and different seasons. Dino, dressed as Father Louis Hennepin to celebrate the county’s founder or as a Twins fan for baseball season, is something of a social media star and has drawn visitors for decades. The store also serves as a community gathering space where residents sit and chat for hours. Jim Merkl, who died in January 2025, was known for cutting out news articles and encouraging customers to share their opinions, always fostering lively conversation.