Midwest coaster trip. Part #4 Valleyfair

It was Tuesday June 12th and our hotel was just minutes from Valleyfair. Before I start, I want to point out that we had to pass up Adventureland in Des Moines Iowa. We were within minutes of the park the evening before. I tried racking my brain of how to fit Adventureland in, but couldn't come up with a solution. Not only would it have been a new park, but this was my first time in Iowa and my first time in Minnesota. Adventureland closed at 7:00 pm that day and we didn't get to Des Moines until 7:00 pm, so it was nearly impossible to add Adventureland and the state of Iowa to my list.

We arrived at Valleyfair at 9:30 for a 10:00 opening. This was my first visit to the park. When the gates opened we headed straight for Renegade, because it was primary goal of that park. We boarded the second train of the day in the front seat. Now in the morning it was only 65 degrees. The ride was very good with a mix of laterals and air time and the first drop was incredible. My only complaint was it was very slow in the turns. We rode the front seat again and then the back seat. We rode the back seat one more time before we left when it warmed up for a total of 4 rides. The back was better than the front and the ride did speed up once the sun came out. Renegade wasn't as smooth as American Thunder or Prowler, and wasn't as good, but it still ranks as my 12th favorite wooden coaster. So it still was a good ride. As far as my GCI woodies, here is how I rank them.
1) Prowler
2) Thunderhead
3) American Thunder
4) Kentucky Rumbler
5) Renegade
6) Lightning Racer
7) Gwazi
8) Roar SF America
9) Wildcat Hershey

Next ride was Mad Mouse. It was better than I expected. Then we hit High Roller. We waited 15 minutes for back seat. This was the pleasant surprise of the trip. This classic woodie was smooth and full of air time. It reminded me of Skyliner at Lakemount, only better. I really wanted another ride on this coaster, but we were short on time.

The kids got their credit on Cosmic Coaster, a kiddie coaster. Then we headed for Wild Thing. We walked onto the back seat then waited a few trains for front, for a total of 2 rides. The back was much better. Out of the Morgan Hypers it had the best return bunny hops, but the first part of the ride wasn't as good. That completes my Morgan Hypers in the US. Here is how I rank them.
1) Phantoms Revenge
2) Steel Eel
3) Mamba
4) Steel Force
5) Wild Thing

The park now was starting to get a little crowded. We waited 25 minutes for a middle seat ride on Corkscrew. This Arrow looper was rough, but it was over water, which was kind of neat. We then waited 15 minutes for Steel Venom, a Intamin inverted shuttle, simular to Wicked Twister at Cedar Point, only one side is twisted. The cool thing about Steel Venom is that there is a pause on the side that isn't twisted. We had a middle of the train seat.

Our last ride was Excalibur. It was a walk on. We rode the middle. A little rough, but this Arrow coaster was unique. It was 3:00 pm and we had another park that day so we left and drove 20 minutes to Mall Of America.