Steel Venom (Valleyfair)
Steel Venom is a steel Inverted Impulse roller coaster located at Valleyfair in Minnesota. It reaches a maximum height of 185 feet (56 m) and a top speed of 68 mph (109 km/h). It is similar to the Wicked Twister roller coaster at Cedar Point, but has only one vertical spiral, as opposed to Wicked Twister with two vertical spirals, but it is identical to Possessed at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom excepting to be shorter and it is similar to Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Great America.
| Steel Venom | |
|---|---|
 Steel Venom's sign | |
| Valleyfair | |
| Location | Valleyfair |
| Coordinates | 44°47′52″N 93°27′06″W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 17, 2003 |
| Cost | $8,500,000 USD |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Model | Twisted Impulse Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | LIM Launch Track |
| Height | 185 ft (56 m) |
| Drop | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Length | 630 ft (190 m) |
| Speed | 68 mph (109 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
| Capacity | 950 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 52–78 in (132–198 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train. |
 | |
| Steel Venom at RCDB Pictures of Steel Venom at RCDB | |
The ride
The coaster's single seven-car (28-passenger) train runs along a 200 m (656 ft) U-shaped track, incorporating two 185-foot (56 m) vertical spikes. The forward spike incorporates a twisted spiral, and the rearward spike provides a straight freefall. The 20 m (65 ft) train, propelled by linear induction motors (LIMs,) is accelerated in less than four seconds to 68 mph (109 km/h) toward the forward tower before dropping back down through the station house and up the rearward tower. A holding brake is incorporated on the rear straight tower and is able to suspend the train momentarily (usually on the final ascent during each ride) before dropping it back down to the station house.
As of 2019, Steel Venom is the only Intamin Impulse roller coaster that still has a functional holding brake. Steel Venom is also the only launched coaster at Valleyfair.
