In the Park

Built on twenty-six acres in Shakopee, Minnesota for a cost of $7.5 million, Valleyfair Family Amusement Park opened in 1976. Construction of the park began in 1974. When the park opened in 1976, it included rides, games, restaurants, and landscaping. High Roller was the only Roller Coaster in the park when it opened, and was easily the spotlight of this brand new park. The first two years of operation went very well. To continue with the plan to keep adding on, management decided they needed additional investors. In 1978, Cedar Point of Sandusky, Ohio purchased Valleyfair, under the management of Cedar Fair. The acquisition allowed Valleyfair to keep its expansion plan and also gave the park the years of experience and expertise that only the operators of one of the largest amusement 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.