This commitment to the future was one reason Jim Saccoman recently accepted the role of General Manager. A 12-year Bloomington resident with more than 15 years of experience with Wyndham International, Saccoman most recently served as General Manager of Crowne Plaza Bloomington. As Vice President of the Bloomington Hospitality Association and immediate past chair of the Bloomington Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, Saccoman has the experience to lead Ramada Mall of America through this exciting time.

Built in 1963, the Ramada Mall of America is no ordinary hotel. As one of the original hotels in Bloomington, Minnesota, the unique Native American motif is a distinctive visual and graphic identity that is both educational and captivating. Our guests are able to take pleasure in viewing a wide variety of popular Native American artwork and artifacts throughout the hotel, including Doolittle prints, brass sculptures by Christopher Pardell, dioramas by Damiani, and pewter and brasswork by Michael Ricker. 

Our Past as the Thunderbird Motel

The Thunderbird Motel represents a carefree time after the war, when young families were in search of fun and entertainment. The motel was built at a time of rapid expansion in this area of south metropolitan Minneapolis: interstate 494 had just been put in and the area was growing. With the construction of Metropolitan Stadium in 1955, and the moving of the Washington Senators to Minnesota by Calvin Griffith in 1961, the motel was primed to handle city business, airport travelers, and suburban business.

Exterior
The exterior of the Thunderbird is notable for its post-war architecture, including faux stone, tall white columns, and colorful brick. The exterior features several examples of the Thunderbird logo, most notable on its famous sign, which has stood since its opening. It features two arrows criss-crossing the sign, with the logo at the top and the marquee below. Standing adjacent to the sign and just as tall is a synthetic totem pole, with many characters and levels. Both signs stand facing Interstate 494. The exterior also features a giant fiberglass statue of an Indian, hand raised in salute. There is also a smaller metallic Indian statue and a cannon. The grounds of the motel also have a unique outdoor pool featuring the motel logo; it is surrounded by the motel.

Interior
The inside of the motel features many common architectural trends of the 1960s, with a suspended ceiling, can lighting, and faux stone. The motel features numerous genuine and artificial Indian artifacts, and unique light fixtures that look like teepees but actually act as lights. The many artifacts include a stuffed wolf, tomahawks, and pictures. The motel has many amenities, such as the Bow and Arrow Coffee Shop, the Totem Pole Dining Room, and the Pow-Wow Cocktail Lounge, as well as an indoor pool. The motel also features "The Hall of Tribes", a mini-museum in the motel with rooms of the museum dedicated to different tribes. Some tribes represented include the Winnebago, the Miami, and the Dakota.

The Ramada Mall of America is a preferred hotel of Mall of America, the nation�s largest retail and entertainment complex. The 255-room full-service hotel has 32,000 square feet of meeting space and full convention and banquet services. The hotel has a full list of amenities including a fitness center, business center, a large indoor pool, the area�s only outdoor pool, and fantastic American and Southwest cuisine at The Boulevard Cafe. From its location in the heart of Bloomington, Minnesota, the Ramada is only two miles from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and across the street from Mall of America.