Valleyfair has been the Twin Cities’ go-to theme park for 50 years, growing from a 26-acre park with 20 rides in 1976 into Minnesota’s largest amusement park — headlined today by the 207-foot hypercoaster Wild Thing and the newly expanded Superior Shores waterpark.
Ownership changed hands in 2026, when Six Flags sold Valleyfair to EPR Properties as part of a seven-park deal, with new operator Enchanted Parks now running day-to-day business. The rides, the name on the gate, and existing season passes all carried over. Here’s everything to know before you go: hours, ticket prices, the full coaster lineup, and what’s new for the park’s 50th anniversary season.
Quick Answer
Valleyfair is a 90-acre amusement park at 1 Valleyfair Drive in Shakopee, Minnesota, open seasonally from roughly mid-May through Labor Day weekend (daily in summer, weekends only in the shoulder season). It has eight roller coasters — led by the 207-foot Wild Thing — plus the Superior Shores water park. As of April 2026 it’s owned by EPR Properties and operated by Enchanted Parks, though it still runs under the Valleyfair name with existing season passes honored.
Valleyfair Hours (2026 Season)
Hours shift by day and season, so always check the park’s live calendar before visiting, but the general pattern for 2026 runs about 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and a similar-to-slightly-earlier opening on weekends, with extended hours to 10 p.m. on holiday dates like the Fourth of July. Superior Shores Waterpark typically runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., stretching to 7 p.m. on peak summer weekends and holidays; the water park generally closes 1–2 hours before the rest of the park.
The 2026 season — Valleyfair’s 50th — opened with a passholder preview on May 9 and public opening day on May 10, then moves to daily operation through the summer before scaling back to weekends in September. Superior Shores itself opened for the season on May 23, 2026, timed to its expansion debut.
Valleyfair Ticket & Season Pass Prices
Single-day admission for 2026 comes in two tiers: a discounted “Select Your Day” ticket starting around $39.99 online for lower-demand dates, and a “Good Any Day” ticket priced near $64.99 that works on any operating day through early September. Kids age 2 and under get in free, and Valleyfair offers discounted military, first-responder, and group rates.
Season passes for 2026 include the Enchanted Hero Pass (around $89.99) and the higher-tier Enchanted Legend Pass (around $119.99), which adds preferred parking and a bigger food discount. Since the EPR Properties/Enchanted Parks takeover, both season pass tiers now include admission to all eight Enchanted Parks properties nationwide, not just Valleyfair — a new multi-park perk that didn’t exist under Six Flags ownership.
Where Is Valleyfair? Location & Directions
Valleyfair is located at 1 Valleyfair Drive, Shakopee, Minnesota, roughly 25 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis-St. Paul off Highway 101, on the south bank of the Minnesota River. On-site parking is available, and the park is a common day trip for visitors staying in the Twin Cities or Mall of America area.
The Full Roller Coaster Lineup
Valleyfair runs eight roller coasters spanning nearly its entire 50-year history: High Roller, a wooden coaster dating to the park’s 1976 opening; Corkscrew, an Arrow Dynamics looping coaster added in 1980; Excalibur, an Arrow Dynamics mine train from 1989; Mad Mouse, an Arrow Dynamics wild mouse coaster from 1999; Wild Thing, the D.H. Morgan hypercoaster that debuted in 1996; Steel Venom, an Intamin inverted impulse coaster added in 2003; Renegade, a Great Coasters International wooden coaster from 2007; and Cosmic Coaster, a Zamperla family powered coaster added in 2011.
Wild Thing remains the signature ride: a hypercoaster standing 207 feet tall with a 196-foot first drop reportedly shaped by FAA height restrictions tied to nearby Flying Cloud Airport. Riders hit roughly 74 mph across more than a mile of track, and the coaster ranked among the five tallest in the world when it opened in 1996. Steel Venom, by contrast, is a compact but intense launch coaster that flings riders from a standstill up a twisting spike in a few seconds.
Superior Shores Waterpark
Valleyfair’s included water park, rebranded from Soak City to Superior Shores in 2026, got a lakeside-themed expansion with 13 new slides and attractions for the park’s 50th anniversary season. Headliners include Lighthouse Landing, a multi-slide tower with tube and dual-mat racing slides, and Minnow Bay, a family lagoon with eight kid-sized slides and interactive water features, alongside holdovers like the wave pool and lazy river.
The new slide complex replaced the original 1983 Panic Falls body slides. Superior Shores admission is included with regular park tickets and season passes — there’s no separate water park ticket needed.
Who Owns Valleyfair Now?
In March 2026, Six Flags announced it would sell Valleyfair along with six other U.S. parks — including Michigan’s Adventure, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston, Six Flags St. Louis, and Six Flags Great Escape — to EPR Properties in a $331 million deal. The sale closed on April 6, 2026, and the parks are now run by a new operating company, Enchanted Parks.
The change was billed as a continuity move: existing season passes, multi-park access, and pricing were honored through the transition, and Six Flags retained rights to use its branding at the parks through the end of 2026. In practice, day-to-day operations, ride lineups, and the Valleyfair name on the gate haven’t changed for guests.
Hours, ticket prices, and event schedules change through the season — before you go, confirm the current operating calendar on the official Valleyfair website.
Valleyfair theme park guide FAQs
When did Valleyfair open?
Valleyfair opened on May 25, 1976, in Shakopee, Minnesota, with 20 rides on 26 acres. The park marks its 50th anniversary during the 2026 season.
How many roller coasters does Valleyfair have?
Valleyfair operates eight roller coasters: High Roller, Corkscrew, Excalibur, Mad Mouse, Wild Thing, Steel Venom, Renegade, and Cosmic Coaster.
Who owns Valleyfair now?
As of April 2026, Valleyfair is owned by EPR Properties, part of a seven-park, $331 million deal with Six Flags. Enchanted Parks operates the park day-to-day while the Valleyfair name and season pass benefits continue unchanged.
What are Valleyfair’s hours?
Hours vary by date, but Valleyfair typically runs about 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, similar hours on weekends, and extended hours on holidays. Superior Shores Waterpark generally runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., later on peak days. Always check the park’s official calendar for the exact day you’re visiting.
How much are Valleyfair tickets?
Single-day tickets for 2026 start around $39.99 online on discounted dates, with a flexible any-day ticket near $64.99. Season passes run from about $89.99 to $119.99 and now include access to all eight Enchanted Parks properties.
Is Valleyfair still a Six Flags park?
No. Six Flags sold Valleyfair to EPR Properties in a deal that closed April 6, 2026, though Six Flags branding remained in limited use at the parks through the end of 2026 during the transition. Enchanted Parks now operates the park.
What’s the tallest ride at Valleyfair?
Wild Thing is Valleyfair’s tallest coaster at 207 feet, with a 196-foot first drop and speeds around 74 mph. It debuted in 1996 and remains the park’s signature ride.
Is Valleyfair’s water park included with admission?
Yes. Superior Shores Waterpark, expanded with 13 new attractions for 2026, is included with regular park admission and season passes at no extra charge.
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