Excalibur (Valleyfair)

For the roller coaster at Funtown Splashtown USA in Maine, see Excalibur (Funtown Splashtown USA).

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] 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]

Excalibur
View from top of lift hill
Valleyfair
Location	Valleyfair
Coordinates	44°47′58.28″N 93°27′43.19″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	Single train with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 30 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Excalibur at RCDB

A few years after the ride was built, trim brakes were added at the top of the first drop. The bottom and first half of the turn were re-profiled in an attempt to reduce roughness. The photo spot, "Excalibur Photos" booth, and first airtime hill after the first drop 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

1. "Roller Coaster Database".
2. "Valleyfair History". Archived from the original on 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
3. "Valleyfair-Excalibur". Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
4. "Valleyfair-Excalibur". Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
5. "US Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice" (PDF).

External links

• Official page