Valleyfair isn't exactly Cedar Point. It doesn't have thirty coasters or a record-breaking vertical drop every other season. But for anyone who grew up in the Upper Midwest, specifically around the Twin Cities, one lime-green structure defines the horizon. It’s the Wild Thing roller coaster. If you’ve ever driven down Highway 101 in Shakopee, Minnesota, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That massive, 207-foot hill isn't just a pile of steel; it’s a rite of passage.
It’s big. It’s fast. Honestly, it’s a bit of a local legend.
When Wild Thing opened back in 1996, it was a massive deal for Morgan Manufacturing and the park itself. At the time, it was one of the tallest coasters in the world. It broke into that "Hypercoaster" category—anything over 200 feet—and it did so with a specific kind of old-school charm that you just don't see in the newer, more aggressive Intamin or RMC builds. It’s smooth, but it has that classic out-and-back layout that feels like a massive version of the wooden coasters your parents used to ride.
What Makes the Wild Thing Roller Coaster Different
Most people think all coasters are the same after a certain height. They aren't. Wild Thing is a "hypercoaster," but it’s a very specific breed. Morgan Manufacturing, the company that built it, had a reputation for creating rides that focused on "floater airtime" rather than "ejector airtime." If you aren't a coaster nerd, basically that means instead of being violently thrown out of your seat, you feel a gentle, sustained lift. It’s like the feeling in your stomach when an elevator starts to drop, but it lasts for several seconds.
The first drop is a massive 196-foot plunge at a 60-degree angle. You hit 74 miles per hour. That’s faster than the speed limit on the highway you just came from. But the real magic happens after the first big hill. You go up into a second, slightly smaller hill, and then you hit the turnaround.
The turnaround is a weird, chaotic "figure-eight" or "mamba" coil. It feels a bit slower, almost like the train is catching its breath, before it dives back toward the station. This is where the ride gets interesting. Instead of just ending, you go through a series of "bunny hops." These are small hills designed specifically to make you feel weightless. It’s a rhythmic thump-whoosh-thump-whoosh as you fly over the hills and through a tunnel that usually smells like old grease and excitement.
The Engineering Behind the Green Giant
If we look at the numbers, they're still pretty impressive even thirty years later. The track length is over 5,000 feet. That makes it one of the longest coasters in the region. Most modern rides are over in sixty seconds; Wild Thing gives you a solid three minutes of ride time. You get your money's worth.
Morgan used a steel tubular track. It looks thin compared to the chunky box tracks of B&M coasters like those you'd see at larger Cedar Fair parks. This thinness gives the ride a bit of a "sway." If you stand underneath the supports while a train is passing overhead, you can actually see the steel flex. It’s supposed to do that. It’s physics. But seeing it happen while you're waiting in line definitely adds a layer of "maybe I should have stayed on the Tilt-A-Whirl" to the experience.
The 2006 Incident: Setting the Record Straight
You can't talk about the Wild Thing roller coaster without mentioning what happened in 2006. If you search for the ride online, you'll see a lot of rumors. Here’s the reality. In May of that year, a mounting bracket on the rear axle of the final car of one of the trains failed. It happened right as the ride was hitting the brake run.
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The car tipped. It didn't fly off the track like some urban legends suggest, but it did derail slightly. Eight people were taken to the hospital. Thankfully, the injuries were relatively minor—mostly bumps and bruises—but it was a PR nightmare. The park took it incredibly seriously. They replaced the hardware on all the trains and worked closely with the state inspectors. Since then, the ride has maintained an incredibly high safety rating. It’s probably one of the most scrutinized pieces of machinery in the state of Minnesota.
Why Some Coaster Enthusiasts Hate It (And Why They're Wrong)
If you spend enough time on Reddit or coaster forums, you'll see people complaining about the "mid-course brake run." On Wild Thing, the brakes hit pretty hard right before you enter the final sequence of hills. Critics say it kills the momentum.
They have a point, technically.
If those brakes weren't there, you’d be flying over those bunny hops so fast you’d probably have bruises on your thighs from the lap bar. But the "trim brakes" are there for a reason: longevity. By slowing the train down, the park reduces the stress on the track and the wheel assemblies. It keeps the ride smooth. Without those brakes, Wild Thing would have shaken itself to pieces by 2010.
Besides, the "slowdown" creates a moment of tension. You’re high up, you can see the parking lot and the Minnesota River Valley, and then—click-click-click—you’re released into the final sprint. It’s about pacing. It’s a classic out-and-back experience that prioritizes the view and the sensation of speed over pure, raw intensity.
The Best Way to Ride Wild Thing
Most people just jump in whatever row is open. That’s a mistake.
If you want the most "airtime," you have to sit in the very back row. When the front of the train starts heading down the first drop, it actually pulls the back of the train over the crest. You get "yanked" over the hill. It’s the most intense way to experience the drop.
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However, if you want the best view and the feeling of the wind hitting your face at 74 mph, the front row is the only choice. The wait is usually twenty minutes longer, but on a clear Minnesota summer day, looking out over the trees toward the Minneapolis skyline is worth it.
Planning Your Visit for Maximum Rides
Valleyfair gets packed on Saturdays. If you’re going specifically for the Wild Thing roller coaster, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. If there’s a light drizzle, even better. The park stays open, and the coaster actually runs slightly faster when the tracks are wet because there’s less friction.
- Early Morning: Head straight to the back of the park first? No. Wild Thing is near the front. Most people hit it first. Wait an hour, let the initial crowd filter toward the water park (Soak City), then jump in line.
- The "Glow" Ride: Riding Wild Thing at night is a completely different experience. The green neon lighting on the lift hill is iconic, and because the park is surrounded by relatively dark valley land, you feel like you’re flying into a void.
- Check the Wind: Because the ride is so tall and sits in a valley, it can be sensitive to high winds. If it’s a particularly gusty day, the ride might close temporarily. Check the Valleyfair app before you make the trek.
What Wild Thing Means for Valleyfair's Future
There’s always talk about what’s coming next. Will they RMC Excalibur? Will they get a new Giga coaster? While everyone wants the "new shiny thing," Wild Thing remains the anchor. It’s the ride that moved Valleyfair from being a "small regional park" to a "major contender."
It’s reliable. It’s iconic. It’s accessible enough that a brave ten-year-old can ride it, but big enough that it still gives adults a thrill. In a world of 90-degree drops and quadruple inversions, there’s something genuinely refreshing about a coaster that just wants to go fast and make you feel light.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
If you're heading to the park, make sure to wear shoes with backstraps—Wild Thing’s airtime is notorious for claiming flip-flops. Also, buy your tickets online at least 24 hours in advance; the gate prices at Valleyfair are significantly higher than the digital ones. Once you're done with your first ride, walk over to the Steel Venom nearby for a completely different kind of launch experience to compare the two. You’ll see why the "Big Green" coaster is still the king of the park.