Labeling itself as “Missouri’s Coaster Capital”, Six Flags St. Louis is primarily a coaster park. It veers far into the amusement park side of the aisle, and loose themes connect its eight lands. There’s nothing wrong with sticking to roller coasters and flat rides. A park like Holiday World has carved out a strong niche with high-quality attractions and great service. It’s a regional park yet does not rest on its laurels each year.

The challenge at Six Flags St. Louis is offering unique experiences that are worth the expense. A Season Pass can be a great deal, but there is a lot of competition from other entertainment venues. I’ve noticed a significant drop in crowds during my visits in the past five years. The park has also closed more attractions regularly, and that’s not a good sign for its long-term prospects.

This unfortunate state hangs over my rankings today of the roller coasters at Six Flags St. Louis. There are some fun rides, but most are pretty standard for amusement parks across the country. They also veer into the steel coaster craze of the 1990s with quite a few coasters. There are definitely enough rides to create an enjoyable day, but the variety could be stronger. The main option for families scores high on my list for that very reason. Upkeep is also a concern given the painful experience on several coasters. Our bodies can only take so much punishment.

I visited Six Flags St. Louis in late July, so these rankings are based on current experiences on the coasters. St. Louis has been my hometown for nearly all my life, so I’ve spent a lot of time on these rides since the late ‘80s. I’ve had a lot of fun at Six Flags St. Louis, but it could really use a new coaster. Since I don’t expect that to happen soon, let’s take a look at my rankings for coasters at Six Flags St. Louis!

One final note: The Fireball Super Loop ride is not a roller coaster. The looping track and vehicles may resemble a coaster, but it’s a flat ride with coaster tendencies.

9. Boomerang

Although it is the most recent coaster added to the park, Boomerang actually operated as Flashback at Six Flags Over Texas for more than 20 years. The Vekoma Boomerang model is common, and this one was the first in 1989. There’s a definite throwback quality to this coaster, but it feels like a glorified carnival ride. I like coasters that take me on a journey, and the back-and-forth nature of the Boomerang just doesn’t interest me. This ride is also notable for a 2016 accident that led to four injuries. That incident does not make a huge impact on my rankings, but it lessens my enthusiasm for it.

8. Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast

Speaking of going back and forth, Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast is another example of that trend. Standing in the middle of the park, the steel coaster rises more than 200 feet into the air with its massive vertical tower. The linear induction motors launch packs a real punch, and it’s one of the most thrilling rides in the park based on pure adrenaline. It’s also a pretty smooth ride, which is rare among these coasters. The backwards launch makes it more unpleasant, but I understand the need to keep rides fresh. I’d place Mr. Freeze well above Boomerang in terms of excitement, but it shares the feeling that it’s more of a trick than a full experience.

7. Ninja

I still remember visiting the park when the Ninja opened in 1989. The Vekoma steel coaster was the most extreme ride there at the time, and I wanted no part of it. I eventually gathered the courage to ride it, and it’s a fun attraction. The two loops after the first drop are smooth, and it was the first coaster I rode with a corkscrew. There are some downsides to Ninja, however. The big one is the potential for damage to your head and neck during the corkscrews. Those can hurt if you’re not prepared for them. It’s also a pretty short ride once you reach the top of the slow lift hill. Ninja was outfitted with VR helmets in 2016, but I have never experienced it during my visits. So this ranking is just for the original Ninja that still is running today.

6. Pandemonium

Originally known as Tony Hawk’s Big Spin, this Gerstlauer spinning coaster is a standard in many Six Flags parks. It’s a fun ride that’s important because it gives more families something to do. The experience is still too intense for some kids, including my daughter. Even so, there are no huge drops or inversions on Pandemonium. For the Disney fans out there, it’s in the vein of Primeval Whirl at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Pandemonium is a better ride, but that’s not a ringing endorsement. Its location in Six Flags St. Louis is dominated by concrete and not an attractive spot.

5. Batman: The Ride

Opening in 1995, the inverted Batman coaster supplanted the Ninja as the park’s most thrilling coaster. Despite the age, it remains one of the most popular rides at Six Flags St. Louis. You can hear the roar of the vehicles from all over the park. This Batman: The Ride is one of six that are still operating, which shows the value of this B&M coaster. Batman is only about 100 feet high, but it’s still an intense experience. It made me nauseous on my last visit, especially due to the zero-G roll and corkscrew. Unlike the Ninja, the inversions on Batman flip you at your core. There’s also some light theming in the queue, which makes Batman a little more than just a typical steel coaster.

4. The Boss

We’ve reached the part of the list with coasters unique to this park, and that’s a relief. I like the idea of out-of-town enthusiasts having a few new ones to add to their coaster count. The Boss is the most impressive coaster in terms of its look and weaves through the woods in the back corner of the park. The huge CCI wooden terrain coaster has a similar look to a standout like The Voyage at Holiday World. Unfortunately, it doesn’t reach the same heights. This is a brutal ride that beats you particularly during its rapid straightaways following the steep hills. It also is missing one of its best sections, the 570-degree helix, which was removed earlier this year. If you can handle the pain, The Boss provides serious thrills. It just falls short of its massive potential.

3. River King Mine Train

I was a nervous kid with roller coasters, so I spent a lot of time on the River King Mine Train (an opening day attraction). The classic Arrow ride was one of two mine trains in its early years and is also notorious for a brief stint as a stand-up coaster in 1984. Beyond the history, it’s just a fun ride that guests of all ages can enjoy. There’s a cool 360-degree section in the middle, and it closes with a surprising indoor drop into the mine. The park needs more attractions like this if it wants to draw a wide audience.

2. The Screamin’ Eagle

This classic Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters ride opened in 1976 and was the tallest and fastest coaster at the time. It’s been eclipsed by many coasters since that point, but the Screamin’ Eagle still packs a punch. One of the reasons is the lack of significant improvements to the wooden track or the vehicles. Like the Boss, it may send you to the chiropractor. Even so, the out-and-back style near the woods leads to a ride that’s a lot more than its opening drop. I love this type of attraction, which isn’t just there to make you feel sick within a small space. The Screamin’ Eagle remains one of the park’s signature attractions.

1. American Thunder

It’s easy to miss American Thunder while you rush to Batman, Mr. Freeze, or The Boss. Packed into a smaller space near the entrance, this GCI wooden coaster offers the best combination of thrills and comfort in the park. It lacks the pain of The Boss while still moving at a brisk pace through large drops and turns. The Millennium Flyer trains make it a ride that I enjoy doing multiple times without concerns of nausea or a brutal experience. It’s an air-time machine and is worth the visit if you’re trying to experience the best coasters across the country.

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