Wild Thing is where the Morgan hypercoaster story begins. Opened on May 11, 1996 at Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota, the $9.5 million giant was the very first hypercoaster built by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing — the prototype for a family of 200-foot out-and-back machines that soon spread to parks across America.
Standing 207 feet tall and hitting 75 mph, it was the fifth-tallest coaster in the world when it opened, and nearly thirty years later it’s still the biggest, fastest ride in Minnesota’s largest amusement park. Here’s everything riders actually want to know: exact stats, what the ride feels like in the front versus the back, its one real safety incident, who can ride, and how to plan a visit.
Quick Answer
Wild Thing is 207 feet (63 m) tall with a 196-foot first drop, reaches 75 mph, and runs with zero inversions over 5,460 feet of track in about 3 minutes. It opened May 11, 1996 as D. H. Morgan Manufacturing’s first hypercoaster and remains Valleyfair’s tallest, fastest, and longest ride.
Key Stats at a Glance
Height: 207 ft (63 m) — Drop: 196 ft (60 m), 60° angle — Length: 5,460 ft (1,660 m) — Speed: 75 mph (121 km/h) — Duration: about 3:00 — Inversions: 0 — Max G-force: 4.1 — Height requirement: 48 inches — Capacity: roughly 1,700 riders per hour across three 36-seat trains.
Manufacturer/model: D. H. Morgan Manufacturing hypercoaster, designed by Steve Okamoto. Opened: May 11, 1996. Cost: approximately $9.5 million.
The First Morgan Hypercoaster
Wild Thing established the template its siblings — Steel Force at Dorney Park and Mamba at Worlds of Fun — would follow: a 200-foot-plus lift, a 60-degree first drop, a giant second hill, an elevated turnaround and a return run of airtime bunny hops. At 207 feet it stood among the tallest coasters in the world in 1996, and its 75 mph top speed still holds up against far newer hypercoasters today.
One quirk of its construction: the Federal Aviation Administration effectively capped the ride’s height because of the neighboring Flying Cloud Airport’s flight path, which is one reason the lift stopped at 207 feet instead of going taller.
Ride Experience: Front Row vs. Back Row
After the 196-foot first drop, Wild Thing floats over a 103-foot parabolic hill engineered for one of the longest sustained low-gravity moments on any coaster of its era, then crests a 130-foot hill into the turnaround. The return leg dives through a tunnel — complete with an on-ride photo — and rattles off a string of bunny hills before the brakes.
Seat position changes the ride noticeably. The back row amplifies the airtime on the closing bunny hops, since the cars behind the crest get whipped over each hill harder, but the first drop itself is gradual rather than a sharp plunge. The front row trades most of that airtime for a smoother, faster-feeling first drop with wind straight in your face. Neither seat is wrong — riders chasing floater air should sit in back; riders who want the cleanest drop and view should sit up front.
Is Wild Thing Rough or Scary?
Wild Thing has a reputation as one of the friendlier hypercoasters in its class — enthusiasts often call it an ideal “first hypercoaster” for riders moving up from family coasters, since it delivers real speed and airtime without inversions or an intense, jarring layout. Forces peak around 4.1 G, which registers as strong floater air rather than harsh ejector air, and the ride stays smooth for its age with no rattly or rough sections that plague some 1990s-era steel coasters.
It’s worth noting the park also once ran a small kiddie coaster literally named “Mild Thing” (1976–2010) as a pun on Wild Thing’s name — a fun piece of Valleyfair trivia, though it was an unrelated ride rather than a nickname for the hypercoaster itself.
The 2006 Derailment: Is Wild Thing Safe?
On May 21, 2006, a brake-mount failure in the mid-course brake run caused the sixth car of a train to partially derail, leaning on its side rather than falling from the track. All riders stayed in their seats thanks to seat belts and lap bars, and the 14 people taken to a hospital for evaluation were released the same day with only minor injuries. Valleyfair closed Wild Thing for inspection and repairs, and it reopened on June 1, 2006, after the faulty bracket was replaced and the ride was cleared as safe.
Nearly twenty years on, Wild Thing has operated without a repeat incident and remains one of Valleyfair’s flagship attractions, inspected and maintained under the park’s regular ride-safety program.
Height Requirement & Who Can Ride
Riders must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall to ride Wild Thing, a standard threshold for hypercoasters of its speed and height. There’s no listed maximum height or age restriction, but like most steel coasters it uses a lap-bar restraint with a seat belt, so riders should check the park’s size and comfort guidelines if they have concerns about fit.
Because it has zero inversions and a relatively gentle first drop compared to true thrill coasters, it’s commonly recommended as a stepping stone for younger or more nervous riders who’ve outgrown kiddie coasters but aren’t ready for inverted or launch coasters.
Planning Your Visit
Valleyfair operates on a seasonal calendar, typically opening in mid-to-late spring and running through fall, with hours that vary by day — often shorter on weekdays and extended on weekends and holidays. Daily tickets are sold online in advance at a discount versus at the gate, and season passes are available for frequent visitors; tickets generally include access to the Superior Shores Waterpark as well as the rides.
Because dates, hours, and prices change year to year and even week to week, check the official Valleyfair website for the current operating calendar, ticket prices, and parking information before you go.
Wild Thing vs. Its Morgan Hypercoaster Siblings
Wild Thing’s blueprint was reused almost bolt-for-bolt at other parks: Steel Force at Dorney Park (Pennsylvania) and Mamba at Worlds of Fun (Missouri) are both taller, D. H. Morgan out-and-back hypercoasters built on the same formula of a steep first drop, a giant floater hill, and bunny-hop finale. Wild Thing was the trailblazer that proved the concept could work at a mid-sized regional park, and it remains the shortest and slowest of the three — but it’s also the only one running its original 1996 layout largely unchanged, making it the most historically significant of the family.
Legacy
Wild Thing proved that a mid-sized regional park could headline with a world-class hypercoaster, and Morgan’s follow-ups borrowed its blueprint almost bolt for bolt. Nearly thirty years later it is still the tallest and fastest coaster at Valleyfair and one of the biggest thrill machines in the Upper Midwest.
Photos
Cheaper than the $15 poncho at the gift shop and you get a whole bag. Toss one in every backpack for water rides and pop-up storms.
Soak, snap and drape. A cooling towel takes the edge off a 45-minute midday queue in July.
Park apps, mobile ordering and photos kill a battery by 3 p.m. This one snaps on magnetically, so there's no cable to snag on a restraint.
Wild Thing roller coaster at Valleyfair FAQs
How tall is Wild Thing at Valleyfair?
Wild Thing is 207 feet (63 m) tall with a 196-foot (60 m) first drop at a 60-degree angle.
How fast does Wild Thing go?
Wild Thing reaches 75 mph (121 km/h), making it the fastest ride at Valleyfair and one of the fastest coasters in the Midwest.
What is the height requirement for Wild Thing?
Riders must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall to ride.
Has Wild Thing ever had an accident?
Yes — on May 21, 2006, a brake-mount failure caused a partial derailment that left 14 riders with minor injuries; the ride reopened after inspection and repairs on June 1, 2006, and has run without a repeat incident since.
Is Wild Thing a rough or scary ride?
No — it’s considered one of the smoother, friendlier hypercoasters, with strong floater airtime and no inversions, often recommended as a good first hypercoaster for less experienced riders.
Was Wild Thing ever a record holder?
When it opened in 1996 it was the fifth-tallest coaster in the world and the first hypercoaster ever built by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing.
Where can I check current hours and ticket prices for Valleyfair?
Hours and prices change seasonally, so check the official Valleyfair website for the current calendar and ticket options.
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