Wild Thing (Valleyfair)

Wild Thing, located at the Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota, is a steel out-and-back roller coaster with more than one mile (1.6 km) of track. Its first hill is 207ft with a 60 degree drop, and reaches speeds of up to 74mi/h. Wild Thing's height was set by the FAA, due to the nearby presence of Flying Cloud Airport.In 2005, Wild Thing was the main challenge for a local radio station's "Survive it and Drive It" game. Approximately 20 listeners were challenged to be the last one riding continuously for days upon end. The winner received a new car from a local car dealer. The contest lasted for seventeen days. Due to the unbelievable stamina and willpower of the final two contestants, they were each awarded a car.Designed and manufactured by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing, it was the first "hypercoaster" to be built by the company, opening in 1996. It was the 5th tallest coaster in the world when it opened. The ride's success led to the construction of Steel Force at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1997 and Mamba at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri the next year.