Intamin

Six Flags St. Louis

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Theme Park:Six Flags St. Louis (since 1997)
Six Flags Over Mid-America (1971 - 1996)
Address:4900 Six Flags Rd
Eureka, MO 63025
https://mid-americaparks.enchantedparks.com
Operated by:Enchanted Parks


Six Flags St. Louis is a theme park located in Eureka, Missouri. Originally opened as Six Flags Over Mid-America in 1971, it was the third park built by the Six Flags chain. Today, the park is operated by Enchanted Parks, while continuing to operate under the Six Flags name.

Nestled among the rolling hills of Missouri, the park is best known for its outstanding collection of wooden roller coasters, including The Boss, Screamin’ Eagle and American Thunder. These are complemented by thrill rides such as Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast and Batman The Ride, as well as a wide selection of family attractions and water rides.

Today, Six Flags St. Louis features more than 40 attractions, including roller coasters, family rides, water attractions and live entertainment, making it one of Missouri’s most popular theme park destinations.

 
Reviews

Gateway to Thrills


 
 
 

Highlights of the Theme Park

 



 

American Thunder

A very fun GCI wooden coaster

 


 

 

Batman The Ride

The classic inverted coaster

 


 

 

Boss

A relentless wooden coaster

 


 

Log Flume

Old fashioned fun

 


 

 

Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast

A very intense launch coaster

 


 

 

River King Mine Train

The classic mine train

 


 

Screamin’ Eagle

The out-and-back ride through the forest

 


 

 

Thunder River

The drenching water ride

 



Six Flags St. Louis

A Day at Valleyfair! – Minnesota’s Largest Amusement Park

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Valleyfair!

Valleyfair! opened on May 25, 1976, in Shakopee, just southwest of Minneapolis, as a joint venture between entrepreneurs Walt Wittmer and David Sherman. The park originally covered just 26 acres and featured around 20 attractions. Even then, the wooden coaster High Roller served as the park’s signature attraction and continues to operate to this day. The only older attraction is the historic carousel, which originally came from Excelsior Amusement Park following its closure in 1973.

Just two years after opening, the young park was acquired by Cedar Point. When the joint operating company was formed in 1983, its name combined Cedar Point and Valleyfair!, giving rise to the now well-known Cedar Fair name. Over the following decades, Valleyfair! continued to grow and eventually became Minnesota’s largest amusement park.

Like many former Cedar Fair parks, Valleyfair! is exceptionally clean and well maintained. Unlike most of its sister parks, however, it does not feature a traditional loop layout. Instead, guests enter roughly in the middle of the park and immediately have to decide whether to explore the left or right side first.

We begin by heading left, following the path beneath and behind Wild Thing. It quickly becomes clear just how much Valleyfair! captures the charm of a classic American amusement park. Flying Eagles, Tilter and Scrambler are all located just a few steps from one another, creating the kind of traditional midway that has become increasingly rare in modern parks. They are joined by North Star, a Funtime StarFlyer offering spectacular views across the entire park.

While Antique Autos invites guests on a relaxing drive, Steel Venom is waiting just a few steps away to provide the park’s first major adrenaline rush.

Steel Venom

Like every Intamin Impulse Coaster, Steel Venom kicks off with a powerful launch. Unfortunately, it also features the characteristic jolt these coasters are known for, slightly detracting from an otherwise enjoyable ride. The spiral is especially enjoyable in the front of the train, while it is barely noticeable in the back. It is also taken rather roughly, making it one of the less comfortable moments of the ride.

The real highlight, however, comes at the rear spike. Here, a holding brake brings the train to an abrupt stop and keeps it suspended for several seconds. The sudden braking throws riders noticeably forward into their restraints before the train rolls back towards the station. It is a simple but surprisingly effective moment that still makes me smile every time.

Despite a few shortcomings, Steel Venom is one of the stronger attractions in the park. The holding brake on the rear spike creates a memorable moment that never loses its appeal.

Delirium

Located right next to Steel Venom is Delirium, a Larson Giant Loop. I have always really enjoyed this type of ride, and Delirium is no exception. The only downside is the excessive noise during the ride, which slightly detracts from an otherwise very enjoyable experience.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights is a Zamperla Skater Coaster. At first glance, the attraction looks very similar to the manufacturer’s popular Disk’O Coaster, but there is one key difference. While riders on a Disk’O face outwards and are primarily pushed into their lap bars, the Skater Coaster has riders facing inwards, with most of the forces pressing them back into their seats. I find this riding position noticeably more comfortable and, over time, even more enjoyable.

The Wave

Located near the front of the park is The Wave, a Shoot-the-Chutes ride built by Hopkins Rides. After a leisurely climb, the boat plunges down the steep drop before slamming into the water at full speed. The enormous splash that follows makes it virtually impossible to stay dry.

I have always really enjoyed this type of attraction and think it is a shame that Shoot-the-Chutes rides have gradually disappeared from so many amusement parks. Even though Soak City is located some distance away, it is not unusual to see guests around The Wave wearing swimsuits or walking around shirtless – something that is rather uncommon in an American amusement park.

Corkscrew

Next up is Corkscrew, another classic from Arrow Dynamics. While the ride itself is certainly not among the park’s best coasters, it offers a surprisingly smooth experience through its vertical loop and corkscrews. Its greatest strength, however, is its setting. The track follows the shoreline of a picturesque lake and, together with the park railroad passing beneath the corkscrews, creates one of the park’s best photo opportunities. Combined with its attractive colour scheme, Corkscrew is one of Valleyfair!’s true visual highlights.

Monster

Located right next door is Monster, an American classic built by Eyerly Aircraft. To this day, it remains one of my favourite flat rides. If you are riding alone, a little body movement before the ride starts is enough to get your car spinning at a surprising speed – much to the amazement of the American riders. Once the ride is underway, the car continues to spin freely, creating a wonderfully chaotic ride experience. As so often, I had a great time riding it once again.

Planet Snoopy

Before reaching High Roller, we pass through Planet Snoopy. Like many former Cedar Fair parks, Valleyfair! features a charming Peanuts-themed children’s area. In addition to a wide variety of family and children’s rides, plenty of greenery, shaded walkways and thoughtful landscaping make Planet Snoopy feel noticeably different from the rest of the park. The area’s standout attraction is Cosmic Coaster, a Zamperla Powered Coaster.

High Roller

High Roller is the park’s oldest roller coaster. After the first drop, the train climbs a large hill before entering a long turnaround. A series of unusually shaped hills then delivers several moments of airtime, although much of it is taken away by a trim brake. Another trim brake before the next turn scrubs off even more speed, causing the final hills and the closing turn to be taken at a much gentler pace. It’s a shame, because the two trim brakes take away much of the ride’s potential.

Mad Mouse

Located opposite the entrance to Soak City is Mad Mouse, an Arrow Dynamics wild mouse coaster. I have always really enjoyed the manufacturer’s wild mouse coasters. Unlike their European counterparts, Arrow’s designs combine tight hairpin turns with surprisingly steep drops and some rather unusual banking. As a result, the ride feels much more dynamic and unpredictable than a typical wild mouse coaster. Mad Mouse is no exception and makes excellent use of these characteristics.

Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune gave me the opportunity to experience a classic Chance Trabant for the very first time. The ride later served as the inspiration for Mack Rides’ Hully Gully, which I had already ridden on several occasions. Although I slightly prefer the Mack version overall, I was delighted to finally experience the original. Both rides have become increasingly rare and, in my opinion, are attractions that every amusement park enthusiast should ride at least once.

Renegade

Renegade is home to one of Valleyfair!’s true gems. Built by Great Coasters International (GCI), the coaster immediately stands out with its compact, twisted wooden structure.

The ride begins with an exceptional S-shaped first drop that provides a fantastic start and is one of the best elements of the entire layout. A small airtime hill follows before the train races through a perfectly balanced sequence of fast direction changes, low-to-the-ground turns and well-timed bursts of airtime without giving riders a moment to catch their breath. The result is an almost relentless sense of pace, with the train carrying its speed all the way to the final brake run.

Renegade impressed me from start to finish and is, without question, one of the best wooden coasters GCI has ever built. As the day went on, the coaster became noticeably faster and by the afternoon it was absolutely flying.

Excalibur

Excalibur is one of Valleyfair!’s most distinctive roller coasters. Built by Arrow Dynamics, it combines the characteristics of a mine train with much larger drops and a highly unusual layout.

The ride begins with a long first drop before making its way through the terrain with sweeping turns, rapid changes of direction and a layout unlike anything else Arrow created at the time. One of my favourite moments is a hill that transitions directly into a change of direction. While this may seem commonplace on modern roller coasters, it was a remarkably innovative element when Excalibur opened in 1989.

Although the ride never completely won me over and can feel rather rough in places, Excalibur has a character all of its own. Its unusual layout and creative use of the terrain make it one of Valleyfair!’s most memorable attractions and one that should not be missed.

Thunder Canyon

Thunder Canyon is located in the same corner of the park. I would have loved to experience the rapids ride, but unfortunately it remained closed throughout my visit.

Power Tower

Next up is Power Tower, an S&S tower ride. Interestingly, it features three different experiences – two Power Drop towers and one Space Shot tower. What impressed me most, however, is the ride’s location. Built on an island and completely surrounded by Corkscrew, it is a real eye-catcher and a great addition to the park’s skyline.

Wild Thing

Wild Thing is Morgan’s hyper coaster and has dominated the Valleyfair! skyline since opening in 1996.

The ride begins with a long first drop before racing over two camelbacks. A twisting drop off the second hill leads into a large figure-eight element before the train enters the return journey after the mid-course brake run. Several smaller hills follow on the way back to the station. The sweeping turns are taken at impressive speed and create an exceptionally smooth ride experience. Surprisingly, however, the airtime on the numerous hills is rather weak.

Having ridden Mamba at Worlds of Fun just two days earlier, I found this particularly surprising. Despite their nearly identical layouts, Wild Thing feels noticeably tamer and never delivers the same level of airtime as its sister coaster. Nevertheless, Wild Thing remains an enjoyable ride, thanks to its flowing layout and beautifully sweeping turns.

Pictures Valleyfair!

Conclusion Valleyfair!

Valleyfair! may not be one of the best-known amusement parks in the United States, but it certainly deserves more attention than it usually receives. The combination of modern thrill rides, historic classics and a relaxed atmosphere gives the park a character all its own. Anyone visiting Minneapolis or travelling through the American Midwest should make time for a visit to Valleyfair!.

Valleyfair

One Day, Seven Worlds, One Destination

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Worlds of Fun

Worlds of Fun is located right in the heart of the Kansas City metropolitan area, just a few minutes from the border with the state of Kansas. Opened in 1973, the amusement park is inspired by the novel *Around the World in 80 Days* and is divided into various themed areas representing different regions of the world.

In addition to a diverse selection of roller coasters and family attractions, Worlds of Fun stands out above all for its well-maintained gardens and lovingly designed themed areas. Among its most famous attractions are the wooden roller coaster Prowler, the hypercoaster Mamba, and the inverted coaster Patriot.

Together with the adjacent water park, Oceans of Fun, Worlds of Fun is now one of the most popular amusement parks in the Midwestern United States.

Gateway Gardens

Gateway Gardens serves as the welcoming entrance to Worlds of Fun. Spacious green spaces, colorful flower beds, and the Grand Carousel create a wonderful first impression as soon as you enter the park and set the stage for a relaxing day.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia stands out above all for its peaceful atmosphere and numerous classic rides. Nestled among Nordic-style buildings and lush greenery, attractions like Sea Dragon, Nordic Chaser, and Fjord Fjarlane invite visitors to take a short break between the big roller coasters.

Viking Voyager

Viking Voyager is one of the park’s original attractions, having opened alongside Worlds of Fun in 1973. Built by Arrow Development, this classic log flume takes riders on a gentle journey through the channel before finishing with a 40-foot (12 m) drop that provides the ride’s biggest thrill.

Compared to many modern log flumes, Viking Voyager offers a more relaxed experience, with only a modest chance of getting wet. It is this nostalgic charm, however, that makes the attraction so enjoyable and serves as a reminder of a time when no amusement park was complete without a classic log flume.

Africa

Africa is the heart of Worlds of Fun and brings together some of the park’s most popular attractions. Nestled among lush vegetation and African-style buildings, visitors can look forward to several highlights, including the Prowler, the Mamba, and the Zambezi Zinger. The lush landscaping and harmonious design give this themed area a very distinct atmosphere.

Prowler

In 2009, Worlds of Fun opened Prowler, one of the most popular wooden roller coasters from manufacturer Great Coasters International (GCI). The track mostly runs close to the ground through the forest, thrilling riders with rapid changes in direction, tight turns and numerous moments of airtime.

While the ride seems somewhat tame in the morning, it noticeably picks up speed as the day goes on. The layout is strongly reminiscent of Mystic Timbers at Kings Island. The two roller coasters have similar track layouts and ride experiences, though Mystic Timbers ultimately offers a slightly more varied and intense ride thanks to its larger scale and longer ride time. Nevertheless, Prowler is widely regarded as one of GCI’s best wooden roller coasters and a highlight of Worlds of Fun.

Zambezi Zinger

In 2023, Worlds of Fun unveiled Zambezi Zinger, a modern tribute to the original roller coaster of the same name which opened with the park in 1973. Designed by Schwarzkopf, the original ride featured a spiral lift hill, bobsled-style cars and a high-speed track, and quickly became one of the park’s most popular attractions. After closing in 1997, the ride was sold to Colombia, where it operated for many years as ‘Montaña Rusa’ at Parque del Café.

GCI’s new family roller coaster incorporates numerous elements from its legendary predecessor, reinterpreting them in a modern way. Unfortunately, the ride was closed all day during my visit. Even from the outside, the Zambezi Zinger makes an excellent impression. This modern ride blends harmoniously into the themed area, building anticipation for a possible future visit.

Boomerang

The Boomerang is one of Vekoma’s most famous shuttle roller coasters. On this compact track, the train first passes through a cobra roll and a loop before completing the entire ride backwards. This way, riders experience a total of six inversions.

Compared to similar rides, the Boomerang at Worlds of Fun runs surprisingly smoothly. It is one of the best examples of this type of roller coaster, which can be found all over the world.

Fury of the Nile

Fury of the Nile is a classic rapids ride from Intamin. The round boats drift through a varied river landscape before rapids, waterfalls, and several splashy sections provide the necessary thrills.
The African-themed area provides the perfect backdrop and gives the ride a cohesive atmosphere. Compared to many other American rapids rides, however, the extent of getting wet is surprisingly moderate. European amusement park fans will therefore quickly feel right at home.

Mamba

Built by Morgan, Mamba has been one of the highlights of Worlds of Fun since 1998. Following a 205 ft (62.5 m) first drop, the coaster tears through a fast and flowing layout packed with airtime hills and sweeping turns.

The first camelbacks deliver incredible ejector airtime, even stronger than what I experienced on Steel Eel at SeaWorld San Antonio. What makes Mamba truly special, though, is its relentless pace. The train keeps its speed right to the final brake run, making the ride feel just as exciting at the end as it does at the beginning.

Mamba is easily one of my favourite hyper coasters. I could spend an entire day riding it and never get bored.

Planet Snoopy

Planet Snoopy is the park’s charming children’s area, where Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang welcome younger visitors. The area features a wide variety of family-friendly rides, playgrounds and attractions designed especially for children.

Its main attraction is Cosmic Coaster, a family roller coaster built by Preston & Barbieri. Together with the area’s many other rides, Planet Snoopy offers plenty of fun for younger guests and their families.

Wild West

Wild West is one of the park’s most atmospheric themed areas. Surrounded by wooden buildings and classic Western architecture, attractions such as Timber Wolf and Detonator blend perfectly into the setting, creating an authentic Old West atmosphere.

Timberwolf

Timber Wolf opened in 1989 and is a classic wooden roller coaster built by the Dinn Corporation. Right from the first drop, the coaster picks up speed quickly, with the opening section featuring fast transitions and a surprisingly dynamic layout.

The first drop and the following turn are taken at an impressive pace, creating a strong start to the ride. After passing the trim brake, the second half of the layout becomes a little more relaxed. The long, sweeping turn that replaced the former double helix strongly reminded me of the final turn on Colossos at Heide Park—a worthy replacement for the original element. The remainder of the layout is fairly straightforward before the ride finishes with a series of small lateral hops, providing a surprisingly unconventional finale.

Although Timber Wolf loses some of its momentum after the trim brake, its excellent opening section still makes it one of the better classic wooden coasters of its era.

Cyclone Sam’s

Cyclone Sam’s is an indoor Wipeout built by Chance Rides and is an attraction that should not be missed during a visit to Worlds of Fun. Its signature wave-like motion, combined with dynamic lighting effects and a well-matched soundtrack, creates a fun and surprisingly immersive ride experience.

Detonator

Detonator is one of the first Space Shot towers built by S&S Power and still packs an incredible punch. Its classic pneumatic launch system catapults riders skyward with explosive acceleration, delivering an intense experience that has lost none of its appeal over the years. It’s a classic attraction that shouldn’t be missed.

Mustang Runner

Mustang Runner is a classic Troika built by HUSS. Its smooth combination of spinning, swinging and changing ride patterns has stood the test of time, making it just as enjoyable today as it was decades ago. It’s one of those timeless flat rides that I never pass up whenever I get the chance.

Worlds of Fun Railroad

The Worlds of Fun Railroad offers a relaxing journey through the park while providing unique perspectives on several themed areas. Passing through the African savannah and alongside Prowler are particular highlights, making this scenic train ride a welcome change of pace between the park’s major attractions.

Europa

Europa is one of the quieter corners of Worlds of Fun and is easily overlooked by many guests. However, those who venture into the area will find charming attractions such as Le Taxi, Flying Dutchman and Autobahn, giving this part of the park a relaxed and nostalgic feel.

Americana

Americana perfectly captures the charm of turn-of-the-century America with its beautifully maintained gardens and elegant architecture. It’s a peaceful area that invites you to slow down and simply enjoy the atmosphere.

What really made it special for me, though, was the soundtrack. The familiar ragtime music from RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 immediately brought back countless childhood memories and made this one of my favourite themed areas in the park.

SteelHawk

SteelHawk is a WindSeeker built by Mondial, offering fantastic panoramic views over Worlds of Fun. While it may not be as tall as the Star Flyers built by Funtime, I actually enjoyed the ride much more. Its smooth, relaxing experience combined with the excellent views makes SteelHawk one of the park’s most enjoyable flat rides.

Patriot

Patriot is an inverted coaster built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and has been one of the park’s signature attractions since opening in 2006. Its striking red-and-white track immediately catches the eye, giving the coaster a distinctly American appearance.

After a short pre-drop, the train dives into a steep, twisting first drop before charging through the first valley and straight into the vertical loop. The nearby lift hill creates an excellent footchopper effect before the train races through a zero-g roll and an Immelmann. A sweeping helix followed by a classic drop alongside the Skyliner Ferris wheel leads into the corkscrew, while another helix and a small dip complete the layout.

The opening section features an excellent sequence of elements and maintains a smooth, flowing rhythm throughout. The middle part of the ride loses a little momentum, preventing Patriot from reaching the top tier of B&M inverted coasters. Nevertheless, it remains a highly enjoyable ride and a worthy addition to Worlds of Fun.

East Asia

East Asia may be one of the park’s smaller themed areas, but it is full of charm. Its Asian-inspired architecture creates a relaxing atmosphere, while Spinning Dragons and Bamboozler provide the area’s main attractions and round off a visit to Worlds of Fun perfectly.

Spinning Dragons

Spinning Dragons is a spinning coaster built by Gerstlauer and serves as the main attraction of the East Asia themed area. The coaster blends beautifully into its surroundings, while its layout is almost identical to Pandemonium at Six Flags St. Louis.

Unfortunately, the ride remained closed for most of my visit due to technical issues. Much to my delight, however, the maintenance team managed to fix the problem just before the end of the day, allowing Spinning Dragons to reopen for the park’s final guests. Thanks to the freely spinning cars, every ride offers a different experience, making it a perfect way to end an already fantastic day at Worlds of Fun.

Pictures Worlds of Fun

Conclusion Worlds of Fun

I’ve always loved classic American amusement parks, and Worlds of Fun is exactly the kind of park that reminds me why. It’s not just the rides that make this place special, but the beautifully maintained gardens, charming themed areas and the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It’s the kind of park where you naturally slow down and simply enjoy the day.

Mamba alone would be enough to bring me back to Worlds of Fun. Then there’s Zambezi Zinger, which unfortunately stayed closed throughout my visit. Sooner or later, I’ll just have to plan another road trip through the American Midwest.

Worlds of Fun