Minnesota
Valleyfair theme park to close for unprecedented Minnesota flooding, not offering refunds to guests
Valleyfair theme park in Minnesota is not offering refunds despite closing down three rides and the entirety of its parking options due to flooding.
The amusement park, located between the Minnesota River and Blue Lake, flooded in areas below “the crest” according to a release from Valleyfair.
On an FAQ page, Valleyfair states that “Projections show that the Minnesota River will crest on Saturday, June 29. We do not yet know how long it will take for the river to recede to normal levels as that depends on the weather.”
BEAR EUTHANIZED AFTER INJURING TENNESSEE THEME PARK CONCESSION STAND EMPLOYEE
Popular rides Excalibur, Thunder Canyon and Renegade are impacted by the flooding and are closed. Additionally, almost the entirety of on-site parking has been flooded.
Buses will be provided free of charge by Valleyfair for guests from the Canterbury Overflow Lot, Eagle Creek Park and Ride, and Southbridge Crossing Park and Ride.
A rollercoaster at Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota is underwater after heavy flooding across the midwest. (Valleyfair)
Operating hours have been changed from 10:00am to 9:00 pm until further notice, and a “temporary gate entrance” is in use. Re-entries to the park are highly discouraged.
Per Valleyfair’s FAQ page, “There will be no re-entry during the flood-impacted days for all guests, including season passholders, due to the very limited space and capacity at the temporary park entrance.”
Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota is not offering refunds to guests due to flooding from heavy rainfall. (KMSP)
A Fourth of July fireworks show slated for next week has also been rescheduled for “later this season,” with no official scheduled date as yet.
Refunds are not being offered by Valleyfair amusement park at this time, given their weather impact policy: “Valleyfair does not offer refunds for tickets impacted by weather, unless the guest selected the Ticket Insurance option.”
“We do, however, offer guests the opportunity to choose another similarly priced date should they wish to move their visit to another day by using our Guest Portal,” the statement reads.
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Valleyfair did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Minnesota Orchestra’s president and CEO has jumped ship.
Michelle Miller Burns, who has led the orchestra since 2018 and delivered a smooth change of music director, has been made CEO and president of the Dallas Symphony, where she used to work before.
She succeeds Kim Noltemy, who is heading to the turbulent LA Phil.
Burns, 55, said that Dallas ‘feels like hom to my husband and me.’
More here.
TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Transfer
The 23-year-old defender joined Minnesota in January, though made just four appearances (two starts) at the first-team level. Now, Eriksson returns to Sweden after previously making 115 appearances for Värnamo.
“We thank Victor for his time at Minnesota United and we wish him the best of luck in his future,” MNUFC chief soccer officer and sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad said in a statement. “Hammarby are a big club and when this opportunity presented itself, we mutually agreed that his return to Sweden is the best move for him to continue his playing career.”
The Loons are fifth in the Western Conference and could add reinforcements during the Secondary Transfer Window (July 18 – Aug. 14), the club’s first under head coach Eric Ramsay and El-Ahmad.
Hammarby sit fourth in the Allsvenskan after 12 games, one spot shy of a Europa Conference League qualifier spot.
Minnesota flooding update: Walz, FEMA speak [RAW]
Gov. Tim Walz and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided an update on Minnesota’s flood outlook on Friday morning. Here’s the raw press conference from June 28, 2024.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Minnesota governor’s office announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a federal disaster declaration for 22 counties in Minnesota impacted by flooding.
The purpose of a federal disaster declaration is to provide resources to reimburse communities for debris removal, emergency protective measures as well as repair and replacement of damaged infrastructure, according to a government officials.
Gov. Tim Walz and FEMA officials gave an update on the state’s flood outlook Friday morning. That news conference can be seen above.
The approved counties include the following:
- Blue Earth
- Carver
- Cass
- Cook
- Cottonwood
- Faribault
- Fillmore
- Freeborn
- Goodhue
- Jackson
- Lake
- Le Sueur
- Murray
- Nobles
- Pipestone
- Rice
- Rock
- St. Louis
- Steele
- Wabasha
- Waseca
- Watonwan
Officials say damage assessments are ongoing and other counties along with other forms of assistance may be added following the assessments’ completion. There are currently 20 other counties under review for federal disaster declaration funds.
Gov. Walz released the following statement on FEMA’s approval:
“I’ve seen the damage across our state firsthand – it’s going to take a united effort at every level of government to quickly rebuild and recover. This assistance is going to make all the difference in that recovery. I’m grateful to our partners in the federal government for doing their part, just as Minnesotans have done theirs, filling tens of thousands of sandbags, checking in on their neighbors, and volunteering their time.”
Earlier this week, Gov. Walz sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration. A copy of that letter can be seen below:
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