‘Tis the Season for Thrill

The long awaited warm weather and sunshine is finally here! And on Saturday, Valleyfair is celebrating with extended hours for their opening day (10 a.m.-10 p.m.). With more than 75 rides and attractions, the Shakopee amusement park offers something for everyone. 

For the thrill seekers and dare chasers, hop aboard a few of the best.

Photo courtesy of Valleyfair

Let your feet dangle below you as Steel Venom zings you upside down at one end of the track and brings you upright again as you zip across to the other end. The Corkscrew brings you completely inverted (three times!), at a rate that is sure to have your coaster shriek in full force. And of course there is the Power Tower, with a free fall guaranteed to have you searching for your stomach. But I’m not sure what’s more exciting, the 200-foot drop or the pause at the top where you anticipate the plunge down. 

And then there are my personal favorites, the 60-mile-an-hour giant swing, adequately named the Xtreme Swing, and the infamous Wild Thing, which starts off with an awesome 200-foot drop. (Daredevil’s tip: For extra thrills, snag the very front seat.)

Classics like the Ferris Wheel and Bumper Cars are great spots for the tamer crowd. Mad Mouse serves as a transition coaster for the in-between adventurers, and Planet Snoopy is a park within designed for fairgoers who don’t quite meet the 54-inch height mark.

To top it off, live entertainment, an IMAX theater, and endless options of deliciously greasy food—Valleyfair is the perfect place for what my parents would call a day of “FFF,” Forced Family Fun.