Excalibur (Valleyfair)
| Excalibur | |
|---|---|
|
Back side of Excalibur | |
| Valleyfair | |
| Coordinates | 44°47′58.28″N 93°27′43.19″W / 44.7995222°N 93.4619972°WCoordinates: 44°47′58.28″N 93°27′43.19″W / 44.7995222°N 93.4619972°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1989 |
| Cost | $3,000,000 USD |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
| Model | Special Coaster Systems |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Drop | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Length | 2,415 ft (736 m) |
| Speed | 54.5 mph (87.7 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:17 |
| Max vertical angle | 60° |
| Capacity | 1200 riders per hour |
| G-force | 3.6 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 30 riders per train. |
|
Excalibur at RCDB Pictures of Excalibur at RCDB | |
Excalibur is a steel roller coaster with a wooden structure located at Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota. It was built in 1989 by Arrow Dynamics,[1] for the cost of $3,000,000.[2] The ride is 105 feet (32 m) tall with a top speed of 54.5 mph (87.7 km/h), and has a minimum height requirement of 48 inches.[3] Excalibur is only one of a few coasters in the world that has a steel track with a wood frame. Two others, Gemini and Cedar Creek Mine Ride, are located at sister park Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It follows a customized figure-eight track layout and is rather short for a major roller coaster, with a total ride duration of two minutes and thirteen seconds.[4] Most likely due to its location at the very western edge of the park and the more recently built roller coasters such as Wild Thing, Steel Venom and Renegade, Excalibur witnesses significantly less foot traffic than other, more frequently visited rides. This leads to relatively short lines for riders and similarly short wait times to gain access to the ride. Some visitors to Valleyfair have been known to ride Excalibur once, exit the ride, then immediately return to the entrance and be able to ride again with virtually no wait. Valleyfair closes Excalibur during Halloween Haunt due to the lack of popularity.
A few years after the ride was built, trim brakes were added at the top of the first hill. The bottom and first half of the turn were re-profiled in an attempt to reduce roughness. The photo spot and the "Excalibur Photos" booth were also removed. The photo booth was replaced with a Refreshment stand, which has also been removed.
Potential closure
Valleyfair has applied for a permit with the US Army Corps of Engineers that includes the removal of Excalibur to be replaced by a road and parking lot.
"APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO discharge dredged and fill material into 4.52 acres of wetland for the purpose of constructing a new road around the park for employee access and for the construction of a new parking lot. The Valleyfair expansion project includes a proposed road relocation that will be used by park guests and primarily park employees to access nonpublic areas of the park and two parking areas, one for guests and one for staff."[5]
References
External links
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