Built on twenty-six acres in Shakopee, Minnesota for a cost of $7.5 million, Valleyfair Family Amusement Park opened in 1976. Constuction of Valleyfair began in 1974. When the park opened in 1976, it included rides, games, restaraunts, and landscaping. High Roller was the only Roller Coaster and the highlight of the park. The first two years of operation went very well. To continue with an accelerated expansion plan, Valleyfair’s management decided they needed additional investors. In 1978, Cedar Point of Sandusky, Ohio purchased Valleyfair, under the management of Cedar Fair Limited Partnership. The acquisition allowed Valleyfair to keep its accelerated expansion plan and also gave the park the years of experience and expertise that only the operators of one of the largest amusment parks in the world could bring.. The park continues to expand nearly every year with new rides and attractions. Since 1976, Valleyfair has invested over $100 million. Today, Valleyfair is the largest amusement park in the upper Midwest with eight roller coasters, a waterpark, and a total of more than 75 rides and attractions on 90 acres. When the park debuted in 1976, there were 900 seasonal employees and 63 full-time staff. This season, over 1,500 seasonal employees were hired.

Capital Expenditures:
* 1976 - $7.5 million dollar turn-of-the-century theme park opens.
* 1977 - $.75 million dollar expansion included the Monster & Tilt-A-Whirl.
* 1978 - $2.3 million dollar expansion included the Log Flume ride.
* 1979 - $1.5 million dollar expansion included the Enterprise, the Kiddie Ferris Wheel and the steel roller coaster Wild Rails.
* 1980 - $3 million dollar expansion included Corkscrew a new roller coaster.
* 1981 - $1.4 million dollar expansion included Tot Town and Grandmas Bake & Sweet Shop.
* 1982 - $1.5 million dollar expansion included the Pepsi IMAX Theater, a multi level outdoor dining patio and a new entrance marquee.
* 1983 - $1.6 million dollar expansion included three waterslides.
* 1984 - $.5 million dollar expansion included two childrens activities and a beautification program.
* 1985 - $2.5 million dollar expansion included the Red Garter Saloon, an air-conditioned restaurant with entertainment. The Looping Starship and Bayern Curve were brought in. The waterpark was expanded and 900 feet of walkways were added.
* 1986 - $1.25 million dollar expansion included Northern Lights and the enlargement of the Amphitheater.
* 1987 - $3 million dollar expansion included Thunder Canyon, a quarter-mile white water river rafting ride.
* 1988 - $1million dollar expansion included two speed slides in the waterpark and a new children’s area called Half Pint Park.
* 1989 - $3 million dollar expansion included a new steel roller coaster called Excalibur.
* 1990 - $1.2 million dollar expansion included the Minnesota River Valley Train Ride.
* 1991 - $2.5 million dollar expansion included phase one of Challenge Park with the opening of a quarter-mile go-kart track and club house.
* 1992 - $3.1 million dollar expansion included the a new water ride called The Wave, two 18 hole golf courses in Challenge Park, a new food concession and an employee cafeteria.
* 1993 - $2.5 million dollar expansion included four new attractions to Whitewater Country Waterpark; Hurricane Falls raft slide, Ripple Rapids inner tube ride, Giggle Run and Splash Station activities for children. Bumper Boats was a new addition in Challenge Park.
* 1994 - $1.9 million dollar expansion included Berenstain Bear Country, a one acre interactive play area for children under 54 inches tall. A new food concession was also added.
* 1995 - $1 million dollar expansion included Hydroblaster, a black enclosed water coaster that guests ride down black chutes on a two person raft.
* 1996 - $12 million dollar expansion included the addition of the World-class hyper coaster called Wild Thing and RipCord, a Skycoaster experience, to Challenge Park.
* 1997 - $3.2 million dollar expansion included the new ride Chaos, the new restaurant Coasters and the remodel of the front gate area.
* 1998 - $2.8 million dollar expansion included the new indoor, air-conditioned Galaxy Theater, a new arcade and a new merchandise building.
* 1999 - $3.5 million dollar expansion included the replacement of Wild Rails with a new family coaster named Mad Mouse.
* 2000 - $10.1 million dollar expansion included a 275 foot Space Shot/Turbo Drop ride called Power Tower and a new children's area featuring the new ride Frog Hopper.
* 2001 - $.72 million dollar infrastructure upgrade.
* 2002 - $1.10 million dollar infrastructure upgrade.
* 2003 - $8.9 million dollar expansion included Steel Venom - new impulse coaster.
* 2004 - $2.6 million dollar expansion included KidWorks, a rebranding of kids area, with the Foam Ball Factory indoor attraction and family ride - The Rockin' Tug.
* 2005 - $4.0 million dollar expansion included RipTide, a top spin thrill ride, Skyscraper, extreme thrill ride and re-theming of midway games area.
* 2006 - $6.0 million dollar expansion included Xtreme Swing, an air-launched thrill ride.
* 2007 - $7.0 million dollar expansion included Renegade, a world-class wooden roller coaster