Guide to Valleyfair

Valleyfair opened in 1976 on the banks of the Minnesota River in Shakopee, Minnesota. In 1978, Cedar Point acquired Valleyfair, and the company name “Cedar Fair” was born in 1983 by combining the words “Cedar” from Cedar Point and “fair” from Valleyfair. In 2024, Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags, and the combined company operates as Six Flags. In 2026, the park was sold to EPR Properties.

The seasonal amusement park is relatively small at 125 acres but features over 75 rides and attractions. The price of admission includes access to Soak City, an outdoor water park.

Travel Tips

Valleyfair is a 20-minute car ride from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).
The Mall of America is five minutes from the airport and features Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor theme park.

Must-Do Attractions

Wild Thing is Valleyfair's tallest coaster. It’s a steel D. H. Morgan Manufacturing hypercoaster that was the world's fifth-tallest when it opened in 1999.
Renegade is a Great Coaster International wooden coaster that opened on May 12, 2007. It uses a combination of an out-and-back and a twister-style layout.
Steel Venom is an Intamin Impulse Coaster that opened on May 17, 2003. The steel launch coaster features a holding brake on its reverse spike, which pauses the train 18 stories above the ground.
High Roller is the only 1976 opening-day coaster still operating at Valleyfair. It’s a classic out-and-back wooden coaster.
The Corkscrew is a classic Arrow looping coaster that’s a sister coaster to the Corkscrew at Cedar Point, which has the same height and number of inversions.
The 1925 Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) Carousel is the oldest ride at the park. It originally operated at Excelsior Amusement Park (1925–1973), a trolley park on Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior, Minnesota.