CoasterWoz

I miss the Jet Scream at Six Flags Over Mid America (Six Flags STL) - yes, I know it was moved, but I still miss it. Also, gotta go with the Zambezi Zinger at WOF - moved as well...and The Orient Express at WOF...LOVED that coaster as a kid. Saw it as a mark of my courage when I rode it.

Growing up in St. Louis, with Grandparents in Kansas City, SFSTL is my home park. However, Worlds of Fun got a coaster with inversions first...the Screamroller - an Arrow Corkscrew (5th one built if Google is right) - and that was my first coaster with Inversions in 1976. After that, without looking it up, I'm not sure if The Orient Express at WOF or the Jet Scream at SFSTL was next. It would have been whatever was built first, though my gut tells me it was the Jet Scream. Fun times when I was a kid...too bad The Orient Express is no longer standing, or that the Jet Scream was moved. Oh well.

Paula...good to know the bigger crane is due in on Monday. I, along with many of us, love watching the progress on Thunderbird. Any plans on moving the Camera to see more of the construction as it moves along? After the Immelman and the Loop get done, we won't be able to see much.

I just wan to say how easy it was to process our season passes yesterday at the front gate. Took maybe 5 minutes for my family of 6 to process our passes and head in to have some fun. Now, the small crowds (It was drizzling and a bit chilly at just under 70 degrees), but still...what a nice simple process. A big bit of praise to HWFan for his help when I was asking questions about season passes...much appreciated! Looking forward to next year and the Battle for Metropolis - Scooby is my 7 year olds favorite ride...and he was a bit sad to ride one last time yesterday.

Looking forward to the new addition next year. Good theming...and yet another new use for an old, old building in the park. Signs are pointing to Iron Boss in year or so. Things seem to be looking up for the park. Now...to get our season passes...

Six Flags St. Louis is not, nor has it ever been, a "Destination" Park. It is, and is operated as a "Local or Regional" Park. This is the same for MOST Six Flags Parks. There are maybe 3 "Destination" Parks in their portfolio. The majority aren't. The corporation wants them to be basically, the same. That's why Six Flags "Buys in Bulk" on rides and there are so many clone coasters. Each park does have it's unique features though...St. Louis has The Screaming Eagle and the Boss...even Mr. Freeze and American Thunder (though, as is noted elsewhere, there are clones of these in other parks). There is NOTHING wrong with this business model. In fact, it's smart. Buying in bulk allows discounts on rides for the company. It allows guests at all parks to enjoy similar experiences...and the locals come back again and again because it's close...and it's fun. The enthusiasts may not think highly of it and hope and wish and pray for this super-ultimate mega coaster that such and such park has. However, in reading this board, everytime a new coaster is announced there is a certain percentage of people that immediately downplay it...no matter how spectacular the stats...see the thread on Carrowinds and Holiday World for proof of that. Parks know they will never please everyone...they build what they think will please the most. Enthusiasts are part of that equation...but are not the bottom line...the GP is. The more the GP like something...the better for the park. THEY are the cash flow of Amusement Parks...not enthusiasts. I would argue the Boss is a pretty incredible coaster...it may be rough as heck...but, it's massive and is POPULAR with the crowds. People want to ride it cause it's there...and it's BIG. Nothing wrong with that. I would love to see my local park build the Next Great Thing...but, it's probably not gonna happen...cause it's not in California or any other "Destination" city. Regardless of the upkeep, and other issues of the park...it's still fun...and my kids love going. That is more important than any amount of loops, or airtime or "Force" any coaster could ever have. Bring on the new Dark Ride! At least they aren't closing down and selling off the rides.

Just saw this about Scooby getting rethemed. I was a season pass holder for a few years (not this year due to my step-daughter needing serious hip surgery and not being able to ride anything...hoping to get them again next year), and my 7 year old LOVES Scooby. When I told him about the retheme, he was upset...but excited for the DC change. Will be interesting to see next year. This park has potential...but it needs help. If what you say is true, then that's a good, positive sign. The park has so much land...heavily wooded, and very hilly...but a lot of land to play with. Hope they make good use of it. I was born the same year this park opened...and remember pretty much every change. I hate to see it worn down...but if things are going as you say...that's good.

Really interested in this topic as I am a bigger guy...and my kids are getting to the point where they want to really explore coasters. Trying to lose some weight in order to be able to ride more. My home park is SFSTL and I know, at this moment, the only 4 coasters I can get on there are The Boss, Ninja, Mine Train, and the always unfun Boomerang. The lapbar on The Boss is easily the most accomadating restraint I have ever seen. The over the shoulder restraints on Ninja and Boomerang are great too. Mine Train is the Mine Train. 25+ pounds ago I had issues on Wildfire at SDC, but they have the "Big Guy" seats in the middle of the train...and that was great (but a bit embarrasing). I know the best thing for me (in many ways) is to lose the extra weight...but, I love this thread.