Midwest coaster trip. Part #2 Six Flags St. Louis

We woke up early and drove 2 hours. We arrived at Six Flags St. Louis at 9:30 am. The park opened at 10:30 am, but being that there was another Six Flags park in our trip, we decided to get season passes. That gave us a hour to get our season passes processed. Well, to my surprise not only is the season pass processing inside the park, but it's in the middle of the park, and they won't let you in early. We basically stood around for a hour, when we could have slept longer. At the rope drop we decided to ride in the morning and get our season passes processed right before we leave.

My last visit to SF St. Louis was in 2001 and my kids first visit. American Thunder was the primary reason for this visit so the front seat of American Thunder was our first ride. We rode the front again and 4 rides in the back seat for a total of 6 rides during the day. Every ride on American Thunder was a walk on. This was Sunday June 10th, so they were running both trains. The ride was amazing. For start to finish, it never let's up, I was really impressed how great the entire ride is. I rank it #9 on my wooden coaster list above coasters like Kentucky Rumbler, The Phoenix, and Lighting Racer. Not only is the ride full of great elements, but it is super smooth. I liked the back seat better than the front. American Thunder really exceeded my high expectations.

Our next ride was on Pandemonium. It's a spinning coaster, and it's the other coaster that was new to me at the park. During this trip we would ride 2 more coasters just like this, but this was the best one of the 3. I do like Steel Dragon at Waldameer a little better. Our wait time was about 15 minutes. The ride was very enjoyable.

Next ride was The Boss. We decided to wait for front seat. Six Flags St.Louis operates their flash pass system in an annoying way. They let flash pass holders enter from the exit, wait one train, and then give them their choice of seats. So even though, they were running 2 trains, the wait time was like if they were running only 1 train. After 45 minutes we climbed aboard. Dion, chitlens73, warned me that The Boss has gotten rough. Back in 2001, it was extremely smooth. The first drop is still great and smooth, but the rest of ride has gotten extremely rough, especially the helix. What a shame. I can't believe they let this once great coaster get into this condition.

Next was Screamin Eagle. We took the front seat for our first ride and walked onto the back twice for a total of 3 rides. This John Allen woodie was running smooth and full of air time. This is another coaster that gained a few spots on my wooden coaster list. If we had more time I would have rode it again. It was my second favorite coaster at the park, with American Thunder being my favorite.

We took 2 rides on Ninja, one in the front and walked onto a middle seat. This Vekoma looped was running good. No head banging. The kids really liked it.

Next we headed for Barman. After a half hour wait for front seat I had to do my very first walk of shame. Just barely didn't fit. In 2001 I did ride it, so it really wasn't that big of a deal. I'm glad my kids got to ride it and like any B&M invert, they loved it.

We then walked onto a middle seat of Runaway Mine Train. It's one of the best mine rides in the country, IMO.

This year they turned Mr. Freeze around backwards. After a 45 minute wait we sat in the second to front/ back car. The ride is better in reverse. It was my oldest son's favorite coaster of the park.

The kids rode the rapids ride and the only flat we rode was Excalibur. This thing was unique and fun. It was one of my favorite flats of the trip, if not my very favorite.

We then had to wait a total of 45 minutes to get our season passes processed in the most unorganized fashion, I've ever seen. We left the park at 6:00 pm and headed for Kansas City.