HWFan

^Apparently as I was typing a message to you asking you to check my facts regarding the Boss (just in case), you were way ahead of me. Thanks for being our rides expert.

Thrilled to hear this. Boss is fine the way it is provided they give it the appropriate care. Admittedly, this is more than a typical wooden coaster would get because it's a giant terrain coaster. The best RMC StL could get is a RMC built from scratch...unless they want to take a shot at Ninja. Dave and I both agreed that we would much rather see RMC come and put topper track on the Boss (which would cost less). They could change the banking or profile a tad here and there to add to the thrill but nothing over the top. The Boss' biggest problem is really the Gerstlauer trains. Holiday World was lucky to get rid of there's on the Legend pretty quickly. Topper track would also allow the ride to run whenever it is colder, and it would minimize the chance of the trains getting stuck in a valley. Gerstlauer's trains are so bad that the Boss had to run PTCs from Screamin' Eagle for media day, as the G trains wouldn't complete the circuit. Even today, the park is lucky to have a fantastic rides crew who knows the Boss really well. One of my good friends is the rides supervisor over that whole area of the parks (the park is separated into three areas, in terms of rides), and she loves the Boss. Each train (three total) has its own quirks and things you have to do. You probably have never seen them, but there are a couple off-the-shelf yard sprinklers attached to the second huge turn around after the MCBR. They run them almost every morning before the park opens. Then, as the days get colder, there is one train (can't remember which color) that sometimes gets parked on the lift hill in order to warm up by sunning itself. In the end, it's a case of Six Flags purchased a product from a company that ended up having some issues. Hearing stories and seeing things myself, it really amazes me how much work the rides staff put into making sure that the Boss can run three trains as much as possible. They truly go above and beyond what basic standard operating procedure would be to keep the line moving.

I'm not sure about the queue. Looking at the parks who added them in 2015, I would assume the current queue will suffice. Even putting up a few blue stanchions along the midway with rope for a short period if needed would probably be better than the cost of pouring the concrete and adding the metal rails to extend that queue...if there's even room, as it is in a very tight space on the side of the hill. I really haven't paid much attention to the landscaping this year, but last I remember, it was planted with neat little rows of bright colored flowers. I know that the landscaping has also been being improved recently, so I would assume it'll look really nice (especially in front of the new attraction). Here are the only pics of the landscaping I was able to find: Photo Credit: larrygator (http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/photo.php?pageid=51&linkid=5169) Photo Credit: boistl (http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/files/0805_0054.jpg) Photo Credit: (http://www.worldsoffun.org/pictures/sfsl//rushstreetflyer2med.jpg)

You're exactly right....in that they used to have motorcycle races as well.

^"Am I a pretty girl?" -Spongebob Squarepants circa 2005 Anyway, I had some time to kill, so after stabbing that time to death with a dagger, I sat down at my computer and played around with some aerial pictures to show the route we took as well as identifying different buildings & points of reference.

Unfortunately no pics of the Batmobile, but you should be able to catch a glimpse of it when visiting the park as a Guest. I'm really looking forward to how the park changes and improves over the next few years. If you haven't visited since 2010, then you should be in for a very pleasant surprise, if you visit again. If you're into the Fright Fest stuff, the bar keeps being raised higher and higher. Since being employed in April of 2013, I can't even begin to guess how many hours I've spent on these forums, but I've loved every second of it. I think it's fun to share something I'm so passionate about with other people who are big fans of the industry. It was in the boneyard, East of the park. Speaking of the land East of the park, these are two random screenshots my computer accidentally took of public webistes, so I'm not giving out any kind of information should there even be information that exists...or something... Sorry about that. Actually, while there are a good amount of non-STL visitors to this forum, one thing you may not realize is just how much land the park owns...or...well I guess...I mean...whatever. The entire area highlighted in yellow from the picture above is...well...SFSL property. Annnnnnyway, back to the coaster talk!

For a good part of the drive, we were in places where there wasn't anything to even photograph besides trees. I did get to see some cool pieces of history and hear stories. For example, the park used to hold demolition derby style events. In the boneyard area, there are a bunch of rusting, white, steel poles that were used to hold the cables to protect the people in the bleachers in case a truck went off course. There are also a few different generations of roads, with the most recent being from the Shapiro era. Apparently Shapiro noticed that trucks and other park vehicles could be seen sometimes, so he had them build a road behind the trees. Also, something that makes me (and I'm sure many enthusiasts) jealous is that Dave said he likes to walk the roads around Boss/Eagle in the mornings sometimes before work. Also, there is still a well-hidden Batmobile on property. The reason it isn't in front of the ride is due to the older style of the vehicle (DC didn't like it). EDIT: Just went back and looked at some old pictures of the RSF. Based on the picture vs the pictures I have of it on the truck beds, some of it has probably already left for Canada. Maybe you'll pass it on the highway.

Decided to put a lot of the miscellaneous information in a post directly below the pics, so that I won't screw up the pictures somehow while trying edit the post. Yes. When the park closed for the 2014 season, I posted in the off season about how the park is on a fantastic path with its best years ahead. A big part of that was the unprecedented size of the infrastructure and renovation budget. The park was knocking out big projects one after another (e.g. Palace Theater renovation and the train refurbishment). The park also opened this spring with a ton of new paint and lots of small details, including the replacement of some wooden boardwalk with top quality stamped concrete. The trend of lots of TLC will continue. The park has a lot of goals for next season that are focused on creating a more comfortable environment to enhance everyone's trip to the park. Some of the legacy attractions will be getting some parts replaced that cost insane amounts of money, which will allow the park to fire on all cylinders for years to come. For those who want to know about JLBM and improving its reliability, according to my friend Donna with Sally Corp (you may remember her from some pictures I posted in April), Oceaneering arrived on site this past Monday and will be doing lots of fixes and upgrades.

Had a great afternoon having lunch and cruising around the park with the one and only Dave Roemer. Took tons of pictures, so I hope you enjoy them! (Note: The pictures were taken while riding in Dave's truck, so many of them have parts of the truck visible. Sorry.) One thing I will say now is that Rush Street Flyer (soon to be Gravitron) is currently sitting on four flatbed trailers in the main parking lot. It'll ship out in the next couple days. Unfortunately I was asked to not post pictures of the ride pad or trailers in the lot for approximately two weeks. Mr. Freeze and a drained Thunder River Now we're back in the "boneyard" where the Wrecker's Salvage hayride took place Heading up towards the Boss and got stuck in a traffic jam with some go karts. Woodsy stuff with a couple rides in the background. This is Dave's favorite view of the Boss. All of the tracks coming together. Also, if you look closely, you can see a couple maintenance guys doing track work. More hayride bits. The is one of my favorite pictures. It really shows off the Boomerang, flanked by the SkyScreamer & Tidal Wave. Nice and colorful. Under the Boss & through the woods, to Screamin' Eagle we go! (Sang to the tune of "Over the river & through the woods, to grandmother's house we go!") When you are called to see the Boss, your performance review starts nice & high, but things are all downhill from here. This is the side of the midway that you want to see I'm sure. Nothing interesting on the other side. The bunny hop before the "please let me pass out until the break run" helix. "I SAW THE SIGN, AND IT OPENED UP MY EYES..." Moving on...time for Screamin' Eagle! Yea this pic is unfocused, but I forgot to take my adderall. First turn after all of the airtime hills. After turning around by Superman, we started driving back down the hill. You can see Marvin the Martian's Camp Invasion, which is like mini-Rush Street Flyer. The best part of the ride IMO. The exit of Rush Street Flyer, which will probably be the exit for Fireball. I was surprised by how crazy the terrain is below the ride. The overflow switchbacks for Rush Street Flyer and Fireball soon. "15 foot Clearance" - Luckily Dave and I only have two feet each, so our four feet passed safely. Hmm, what is that? This is on the other side of Screamin' Eagle track, headed back the way we came. This is the only point where Dave's four wheel drive truck had some trouble at about a 40 degree incline. Lots of props & Fright Fest stuff being stored back here. With Screamin' Eagle being built a long time ago, nobody trusted the banks, so the coaster's turns have minimal banking. Ha! Get it? DEAD-a-head! Because scary! The surrounding trees are horrified seeing Eagle & Boss, hoping they aren't chopped down for some retracking. Six Flags is getting ready to open a new themed area whenever China takes over the US and the name is changed to Seven Flags. A unique view looking towards the front of the park. Tubes that were used in a couple haunted houses are now being used for storage. Six Flags got their back road theming on fleek. A wider shot of the one above. Boss's station on the left, lift hill on the right, and MCBR in the center. The "Ghost Town" type sets along the train tracks that have been used for various things in the past. This was taken behind the seating area of the Old Glory amphitheater. BATMAN Eh, here's another almost "cloned" picture of the ride. Going back under Screamin' Eagle's break run and hills. I've always appreciated covered break runs on coasters like this. The ride leaves a couple of its lights on so that it doesn't get scared at night. Knock knock. Who's there. Swinging Ship. Swinging Ship who? SFSL's Swinging Ship is called The Joker. Ah, a perfect case of the old & the new, side-by-side. Err...the old & "new to SFSL" side-by-side. A bit of water slides if you're into that sort of thing. Waterpark on the left; train tracks & Batman on the right. Do you think Superman may be overcompensating for something? Thankful for Time Warner-era theming. The Screamin' Eagle really makes a perfect backdrop for the park's skyline with its white paint. No matter how you feel about the Boomerang being added in 2013, if we had to get a Boomerang, SFSL really did a fantastic job in the location, color, and way it interacts with the midway. Fun Fact: It would be dangerous to drive across this path when the water park is open, as Guests could be run over. #TheMoreYouKnow Wow, Screamin' Eagle really needs to check its White Privilege, so we'll end our Screamin' Eagle coverage with a picture of the first drop. Some work trailers with a big Glow in the Park parade logo on it. We've made it down to the front gate area! Driving across the Guest parking lot looking back at Batman. Passing the HR building (aka my home turf) means we've almost made it full circle. The Proclamation from when the park opened. Full Disclosure: I didn't read it so not sure what it says exactly. Ticket prices from 1971. Mr. Freeze: Parking Lot Blast back seat POV. Ah, see ya later HR building. Remember, if anyone is interested in a job at the park, apply in January/February at www.sixflagsjobs.com!

I've already seen a fair amount of work being done on Boss and American Thunder. There will also be a lot of painting done later in the off season. Thunder River is having ALL of its boats rehabbed (fiberglass, seats, etc) as well as some of the mechanics that run the river itself. Hopefully this will help with capacity. I'll probably know more after today, but when it comes to bigger projects, I shouldn't post anything until work has started.

I haven't been at the park since last week, as I am now officially done with my work for the season (I get December off, but then it's 40-50hr weeks again starting January 4th). However, I am going in on Wednesday to enjoy a nice lunch and chat with Dave. Following that, we'll hop in his Ford F-150 and cruise around parts of the park as well as the back roads (aka perimeter road, aka bone yard, etc). I promise to get as many pictures as possible with a minimum of twenty. Either way, it should be a great time. In addition to the pictures, I'll post any interesting information that I am allowed to share.

I've always enjoyed the pictures of the park (from the air and ground) that hang in different offices. The HR lobby has a few great ones and same for the training rooms. One of these days I'll remember to find out if I can get a hold of some digital copies to post here. For me, the Mississippi River Cruise's existence really says a lot about the park. When it opened in 1971, the industry was a lot different than it is today. While I believe Disney made all of their animatronics in-house (by WED Enterprises), Arrow largely supplied the entire ride system for the Jungle Cruise when it opened in 1971. If you look at rides by manufacturer, Arrow built the Moon Cars, Log Flume, Injun Joe's Cave, Super Sports Cars, Mississippi Cruise, and the Mine Train. I'm guessing the river cruise took a lot of money to maintain (the boats, animatronics, special effects, etc) and racked up huge staffing costs, with each boat having its own guide. (Quick tangent: I don't think people realize just how much theme parks pay for staffing. It blew my mind.) Plus, Six Flags was probably looking for something a bit more thrilling and innovative, so once Intamin came out with the river rapids ride, the cruise was gone. Finally, while I haven't been up to see it myself unfortunately, there is a lot of work being done to disassemble the deck and pieces around RSF so that the ride can be removed. While this is just speculation, I am guessing the ride will be loaded in a few pieces onto trucks and then driven out past Tidal Wave to the perimeter road where the hayride goes. Once all of the ground work is done, I'd expect the removal to be fairly quick....as it needs to be. The ride still has to be polished up (although probably not at SFSL), secured on trucks, driven to Montreal, and put back together.

Well, in honor of Thankgiving or something, I was able to grab a couple quick pics that you might find interesting. Or you might not.

Yes! I love that dumb nickname. It's absurd. Technically speaking, the only "true/original" Six Flags parks are SFOT, SFOG, and SFSL. Every other park would be a step-child or at least an adopted one. And if SFSL is the "red headed stepchild", then LaRonde & Great Escape would be the creepy neighbor kid who likes to kill cats.

Acceptable topics include: 1. When will we get a hyper coaster. 2. Iron Boss?!?!?! 3. Iron Eagle (which is one of the edgier topics) 4. Coaster Capital of Missouri? What a weird slogan amirite 5. (Insert ride) reverse blast lolz 6. Anybody else HATE the ninja? 7. *pumps up ego* "What this park ACTUALLY needs..."

I saw a couple guys up on the second high turn (after the MCBR) yesterday working on retracking. With this new information you provided, I'll make sure to let them know not to waste their time.

^I would have never thought of that, but that makes so much sense. During my time spent recruiting employees for a park at area schools, I just wanted to make it rain brochures to make it easier on us. Also, I know that a lot of the manufacturers have an insane amount of passion for their projects and love talking to people about them (when they have time to do so between meetings of course). Also, since nobody has posted it yet, IAAPA has all of their award winners posted on their website. First, a huge congratulations to Sally, which won a Brass Ring AND Impact Award for JLBM. Second, while I highly suggest checking out all of the winners, I found the entertainment section to be really interesting, as it ranked categories by production budget. It really makes you appreciate how much money some parks invest into their shows.

This is the Australian version. I mentioned a few pages ago that there's not a model of the Six Flags versions of the ride, but my guess is that they just slipped up a tiny bit while trying to bring us as much coverage as possible. It's also kind of confusing with the JLBM award on top of it.

Here's one I took today. I'll get a more close-up of it tomorrow. Woodie Warrior, just so you don't get your hopes up, the only JL model Sally has (according to their VP of Project Management) is the one from the Alien Invasion ride, rather than the new rides at SFSL and SFOT. However, the model is still really fantastic!

Even though a non-stop ride would be fun, I also think that IF the Boss is ever changed in some RMC fashion, the mid-course break run would really need to stay. Besides the Mine Train, it's the only coaster that can run three trains. Yet even with three train operation, I've seen (well, technically heard over the radio) that Boss' queue made it back to the bridge over the tracks. That's another reason that would keep me from wanting a premier SFDK Superman clone. Even the S&S 4D coasters are better than that. By the way, I forgot to go back and add a few things from that end of the year ceremony. In terms of safety, for both employees & Guests, the park went far and above industry standards. Like seriously, SFSL had an absolutely incredible safety record in 2015. Big time. Part of that was the diligence of the life guard team of course, and one of the life guards received some safety/excellence award that was only awarded to two dozen life guards in the nation! I'll probably leave it at that as to not violate anything "trade secrets" related. Also, if you're not from the area, the weather has been awful, so no park pics this week unless things get nicer. Finally, below is a short clip of Dave down in Guest Relations doing the final closing announcement of the year. (To view it, you may need to click the file name under it, which will start a download on your computer.) Dave's sign off.MOV

+1 While I agree with you two, I wouldn't be opposed to a similar layout of the boss just got RMC's wooden topper track.

It's really amazing how quickly things can spiral downhill in just 9 years... I was at SFGAm in 2012 when X Flight was new and had a great time but am quite disappointed in reading how bad it's become in such a short time. My pick for underrated parks are SFStL and Hersheypark - both going well beyond my expectations when I visited. Yay!! Shout out for SFSL! I hope you still feel that way next year, because Mr. Freeze has been turned into a parking lot coaster this offseason:

My first year, 2013. I think it'd be the perfect spot because it'd give the younger kids something to do towards the front of the park, which is dominated by Batman, American Thunder, and Mr. Freeze. But anyway, I was in our HR Director's office today presenting my research into the feasibility of a certain program (which might get the green light, meaning my first paid business trip to a fairly far away place). While the meeting was exciting enough already, I found out that in a weird wall that you can only see when you're completely in his office, to the right side, and turned around, there is a huge (seven feet tall by three feet wide) aerial picture of the park from 1976. It's crystal clear. The most interesting park for me was the Mississippi River Adventure. You could see its course, the submerged guide-rail, and storage/maintenance building, in addition to four boats parked in the station. I really wish there was a high quality version of that picture on file somewhere (I'll look into it), as it really is something cool.

Whoa whoa whoa there everyone. We've spent so much time thinking about "what could we do" that we never stopped to ask ourselves should we. Speaking of which, here's what I think is a super cool idea for a kiddie/family coaster that was shot down for a single flaw. However, I still wanted to share it on here since it won't be happening anyway... One of everyone's favorite topics to complain about used to be (or still is) the neutering of Moon Cars' layout with the addition of American Thunder. To give a bit of background information on the attraction, it used to have a station where the toy store across from First Cone is today. There were two tracks, as the ride was very popular and needed the capacity. Then the catering grove was added and the station had to be moved, meaning that the layout never crossed under the train bridge anymore. The single-lane layout was still pretty good though with plenty of space and a nice covered bridge. Before we move on, let's take a brief historical view thanks to Google Earth. Not sure exactly what the layout is at this time, but you can see that the catering grove has not been built yet. With the kids area still down front, the Moon Cars made pretty good use of the space it had available. Once BBNP opened, the Moon Cars enjoyed a couple years of a vastly expanded layout. You can see the lighter new concrete. That layout was short lived, as American Thunder was destined to occupy much of the area. And that leaves us where we are today. Even though it's not a long layout, you have to give the park some credit for their "let's just put the track through/under the roller coaster" idea. It definitely makes it a unique experience. So, if the Moon Cars could be moved to a place where they would have more room and add more cars to the circuit (rather than the approximately four cars that usually run at a time), I think that area could be used for something really cool. You could use the existing Moon Cars station or station area for the station of a Vekoma roller skater. The lift hill could follow the Moon Cars' path, curving around to the open space in behind American Thunder. Then it could have a few dips and turns followed by possibly the coolest climax of any roller skater: some quick twists and turns through the structure of American Thunder. IMO, it'd be absolutely perfect. However, even though parents would be able to ride, not being able to see their kids or the train for most of the ride is what made this proposal undoable in the end, but for what it's worth, I thought it'd still be pretty cool.

^They actually just finished covering the trench from that asphalt this afternoon. I'm guessing the wood from RSF's deck will be pitched, as it's old. Also, it looks like we'll have to wait until next week for my full off-season trip report in which I will simulate what it's like to be a Guest. Get your sarcasm shields ready! Speaking of which... NEW FOR 2016!....You've ridden Mr. Freeze forward; you've ridden it backwards. Now, in a whole new experience...you can ride it...to your car?!!!!! Introducing MR. FREEZE: PARKING LOT TRAM! And whenever the ride has downtime, it turns into a completely separate attraction... Introducing MR. FREEZE: DOUBLE PARKED! You may want to go home, but Mr. Freeze has other plans. GO BIG! GO SIX FLAGS! Beginning it's transformation.