Six Flags St. Louis (SFStL) Discussion Thread

[Woodie Warrior]

I thought Wrecker's Salvage was the hayride this year? The loading platforms are already set up for the hayrides, and Zombie Paintball Apocalypse isn't being advertised. Plus the Fright Fest site has Wrecker's Salvage marked as an upcharge attraction.

 

When they dumped the containers by the exploding shack for the Terror Train, I figured they would be props for Wrecker's Salvage, but I didn't see that it's maked as an upcharge on the website, so I'm probably wrong about it being the train, because I know that the hayride is coming back for sure.

I also saw a cabin back there for, I'm assuming, Camp Killamore, so maybe they're just staging props for various attractions there?

[SteveStL]

Previous page HWFan commented how SFSTL is much like SFDK. I find that compelling to say the least. Just a general observation or is there something more hidden in the sentence. Hmmm?

[HARLEYGUYJB]

Previous page HWFan commented how SFSTL is much like SFDK. I find that compelling to say the least. Just a general observation or is there something more hidden in the sentence. Hmmm?

 

I thought the same thing! SFDK got a looper for 2015, and 2016 they are getting a RMC conversion. Could 2017 be our year?

[ChrisGraslie]

That is the "troll trail" that is new/returning this year, Camp Killamore will be in part of the waterpark and Wrecker's Salvage should be the terror train this year.

 

Wrecker's Salvage is actually the hayride this year, or at least that's what Matt who's performing in Love at First Fright told me

[RollerManic]

Previous page HWFan commented how SFSTL is much like SFDK. I find that compelling to say the least. Just a general observation or is there something more hidden in the sentence. Hmmm?

 

I thought the same thing! SFDK got a looper for 2015, and 2016 they are getting a RMC conversion. Could 2017 be our year?

 

My pipe dream is to lower the MCBR on thr Boss (thus making a long straigh section) and have a launch there. Lenght complaints, be gone!

 

Though, apparently someone just said that RMC comfired that SF's discount is now over. That's why LR and SC cost so much (but the Joker is included as the last discount).

[RKO]

So today was by far my worst experience ever at Six Flags. I had to wait almost 2 hours for food since apparently there were only 2 restaurants open in the entire park. The food service employees acted like they hated their lives and were being held captive while they were working. I get it that it was busy, but I've seen it much busier this season and this was just a horrible situation. The only highlight was finally getting to meet HWFan. Funny thing, he was working as a cashier at Collonades. Kudos to you for helping out elsewhere. You sir, are a class act. I just wish I could have chatted with you longer.

[Sportsdude360]

Yeah, it was crowded here at SFOT for labor day as well. Fortunately all our resteraunts were operating at full capacity.

All eateries seemed to be well staffed with very friendly employees as well. My friend and I were able to get our food in

a timely manner in spite of long lines. I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience. I guess SFOT knew they were going

to be crowded and took special care to bring in plenty of extra staff to help out. All rides seemed to be operating at peek

efficiency as well. I'm not sure what happened at SFSTL.

[PKI Jizzman]

Chiming in on my visit yesterday. The absolute worst food operations I've ever seen. Not only were half of the food stands/restaurants closed, everything else was selling out or sold out. What was frustrating is that the food stands and restaurants looked like they were open, and had lights on the outside but you had to put your hands up to the window and look inside to find out it was closed.

 

Didn't end up eating anything there because I didn't want to give them my money.

 

The ride operations, however, were great! No stacking on any rides. Boomerang was closed, which was whatever. And Superman was closed half the day and opened with only 3 sides so that was skipped.

 

I did wait in line a little over an hour from the 75 minute mark in the Justice League queue. Great ride! I think some of the scenes were a little too fast paced, but overall a fantastic refreshing addition to Six Flags parks.

 

The park is just missing a re-ridable star attraction. American Thunder is the closest ride to that at the moment IMO. Mr Freeze and Batman are too intense/not very unique..but great rides! Great park. Hit and miss on charm in some areas but lots of intense rides here. Boss is crazy, and surprisingly not awful. But American Eagle and the Mine Train were very rough. The mine ride was one of the most painful rides I've been on. Oh and same with Ninja. Almost forgot about that one.

 

This could be a great park if they can keep their coasters open and not piss off everyone in the park by closing tons of places to eat and running out of food. Seriously.

 

Everyone was hangry and sweaty. That's not good.

[TheDealMaster]

Sounds like the park was pretty rough yesterday. I learned years ago to never visit on a holiday or any day with BAFF passes. The place is just out of control. I also rarely go on weekends anymore. The last time I did was opening weekend this year and got super burned by long lines, tons of rides operating reduced capacity or not at all, and that crazy power outage. Apparently tons of people got "rain checks" that day but I sure didn't. When we went back to the gate to inquire about them after hearing about it, we were told the park was closed and were asked to leave. We tried to go back the next day and it wasn't any better. The power may as well have been off that day too because we got 2 rides in 3 hours and left. That experience had me fuming for days and I didn't go back until weekday evening operations started. Since then though, I've had a pretty ok year at SFSTL. Lines were manageable and I got a couple rides on JLBFM. Fantastic ride! Overall they seem like they're actually trying to improve on the park's shortcomings and I'm optimistic. Still, my biggest complaint I feel would be about operations. I only got to go to three parks this year (SFSTL, HW, KK) and the only truly great park experience I had was at Holiday World, and it was fantastic as usual. However in SFSTL's defense, their operations and guest experience are infinitely better than those at Kentucky Kingdom (HORRENDOUS). I'm very anxious to see the improvements SFSTL can achieve in the coming years. I'm quite optimistic.

[trasbd]

Quick question: are the chaser lights on Screamin' Eagle installed but not operating or are they removed completely? After around 20 years I don't think they're there anymore but if we got some LEDs to line the side of Eagle instead I think that that whole back area would look spectacular at night, especially during Fright Fest.

The lights have been removed completely

[VegasBaby]

With SFDK getting The Joker in 2016, SFSTL will be the only SF park without a Hyper or a RMC coaster. (I don't consider the Great Escape to be a true Six Flags park.) My wife grew up in STL, so I've been to SFSTL a number of times and always enjoyed the park. American Thunder is one of my favorite woodies and Mr. Freeze is a one of my favorite launched coasters. But SFSTL is really lacking that marquee attraction that is going to give non-locals a reason to visit the park. I think an iron horse RMC conversion of Boss would be incredible and give the park that much needed star attraction. The park would then still have a great modern woody in American Thunder and a great classic woody in Screamin Eagle. So hopefully 2017 will be STSFL's year and it will get a RMC or a Hyper to round out its coaster collection.

[HARLEYGUYJB]

Would you rather have a brand new hyper or RMC conversion of The Boss?

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Would you rather have a brand new hyper or RMC conversion of The Boss?

Brand new hyper, absolutely.

[Woodie Warrior]

Would you rather have a brand new hyper or RMC conversion of The Boss?

Brand new hyper, absolutely.

Really? Iron Boss would pretty much be the best RMC conversion yet IMO. A B&M hyper would be nice but Goliath, which is probably the "worst" of the RMCs, is still great and better than both Raging Bull and Diamondback.

[HARLEYGUYJB]

My vote would be for "The Boss"

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Would you rather have a brand new hyper or RMC conversion of The Boss?

Brand new hyper, absolutely.

Really? Iron Boss would pretty much be the best RMC conversion yet IMO. A B&M hyper would be nice but Goliath, which is probably the "worst" of the RMCs, is still great and better than both Raging Bull and Diamondback.

I know I'm in the minority, but I actually like Boss as it is, especially with the retracking they've done the last couple of years. I loved it in 2000, and though it became a bit rough toward the bankruptcy period, the new management has really been doing a good job getting it fun again, especially on both the big drops. I really don't consider Boss a priority for the park at this point. A brand-new hyper out by or in place of Tidal Wave, and removing Ninja, would improve the coaster lineup significantly.

[HARLEYGUYJB]

The Boss has good days where you can ride it multiple times in a row, and days when you can't wait to get off it. Still love it though, especially at night!

[ilrider]

I actually like The Boss a lot. It is my favorite ride in the park. I guess I have a high tolerance for wood coasters, but I recognize that it is a very intense ride, and intense is different from rough to me (though it has some of both going on). I love its layout and intensity, because until we got Goliath SFGAm really did not have an intense woodie.

 

That said, the ride quality definitely varies based on seat (was fine near the back for me this summer, much rougher in the middle).

 

It has definitely gotten rougher over the years, as everyone knows. On our first visit in 2011, I could ride it hands up all the time. In 2012 and 2015, had to grab the bar a few times to avoid getting hurt. I would be happy with an RMC remake or a hyper for this park, but it definitely needs a new standout attraction. We still enjoy a trip to STL though.

[SteveStL]

Would you rather have a brand new hyper or RMC conversion of The Boss?

 

Both of course.

[CustomMadeGJ]

Sounds like the park was pretty rough yesterday. I learned years ago to never visit on a holiday or any day with BAFF passes. The place is just out of control. I also rarely go on weekends anymore.

 

Just have to add, this was NOT a case of being over run or too busy. Atleast when I was there (about 11-2). There was simply zero staff. I walked on all 3 rides I rode before becoming hungry, and would've stayed and had one last Hurricane Harbor go round.

 

I spent all day there on July 4th and had an amazing time. We did the water park while everyone was in the dry, and then the dry while everyone was cooling off. Operations handled that day smooth. I can only imagine this was a case of all the seasonal workers blowing this day off or something.

[CustomMadeGJ]

Heres my two cents, and I actually believe this may happen. Im in the camp that the better RMC conversion would be Screaming Eagle. IMO, the Boss can be saved by a retracking and some better trains. What you love about the boss will not be there if it's converted. It probably won't even be a conversion, as much of it will be demoed and the ride will be shortend. Even in its current state, the Boss can stand for a long time, worse rides are operating today.

 

Eagle on the other hand, I rode it yesterday, and man, it was rough. As I told my wife as she complained, that's part of its charm. But as we went on...the bumps and bruises from the rise stayed a little longer. These things where not meant to last forever, and it may be getting close to the time where this ride either has to be overhauled or knocked down sometime before it's 50th birthday.

 

With a RMC Eagle, you can save the style and charm of the ride, while making it modern and brand new. Look at Twisted Collosus. We all want Eagle to live forever, and the best way for that to happen is for it to be converted and thrill for another 30 or 40 years

[RollerManic]

I'd go for a brand new huper along the lines of Nitro. Or a twistier one works too, but whatever.

 

Eagle is a peice history, and I've found ot to be my favorite classic coaster. Its in great shape, honestly.

 

Twisted Colossus kills every bit of nostalgic from the Original Collosus. IMO, it was a horrendous cut of the original - and defiantly untraditional. And steampunk?

 

I didnt say it wasn'ta great ride. I said it's not a classic.

[prozach626]

I'm torn between the new hyper vs RMC conversion. Both would bring me back to the park for years to come, undoubtedly.

 

Although I was going to be quick to say I'd rather have a new hyper, I think I may actually vote for a RMC conversion. Although I slightly favor floaty hypers over RMC coasters, I think that I'd get less tired of the RMC, mainly because most every other park we visit has an awesome hyper to enjoy. Getting the RMC vs Hyper might make going to our home park really personally appealing, while still making me urge to travel elsewhere for what I crave.

 

Either way, great question.

[HWFan]

I honestly am not sure where to start here, so I hope I can get my message across as best as possible for all of you who visited the park yesterday:

 

I'm sorry. I know that a sincere apology can't and won't make up for your experience yesterday. If there is anything possible that I can do for you, please message me. I'm not sure if there is even much I can do, especially as I don't work in Guest Relations anymore, but I will do absolutely anything I can. However, if you would please let the park know about your experience, it would be very important. If you click on this link, you can submit an electronic correspondence to Guest Relations, who will respond to you by email. Also, if you are so inclined, that link has a mailing address to send a letter to Dave. For convenience sake, I'll put it below:

 

Six Flags St. Louis

Dave Roemer, Park President

P.O. Box 60

Eureka, MO 63025

 

I know that typing or writing out your experience has the potential to resurrect feelings of anger or frustration, and you might just want to forget about the whole thing. I completely understand that after experiencing some of my own issues at Universal Orlando. When you contact the park, please remember that the people responding to you probably had absolutely nothing to do with your experience. However, make sure to be firm, provide as many details as possible, talk about what caused the most frustration, and include any good parts of your day as well (for example, if you thought the ride operations were good). Remember that while Guest Relations team members will be the first to review your correspondence, at some point it will also be read by park managers, directors, and Dave Roemer. The park's sole purpose is to create a place where people can have a lot of fun, and the park doesn't make money without the Guests who choose to visit it. Finally, I want to express again that I am truly sorry, and I want to give a sincere thank you to everyone who has visited our park this year and in past years.

 

In a post below, I will quote and address about a half dozen posts regarding these issues.

[HWFan]

Man...what an awful day at the park. I genuinely felt bad for Dave and the full time staff (pretty sure I saw HWFAN running to and from different areas). I was looking forward to eating JBS and riding Justice League. Justice League was down, and all the resteraunts where closed snd directed to Colonades. I csn tell they where understaffed and felt bad, but it didn't make up for a rotten day at the park.

To confirm with your post, Mooseburger, JB's Smokehouse, and 1904 Hot Dog were all being served out of Collonades. As much as I would like to explain the staffing logistics, I am not at liberty to do so, and I don't think that would be constructive as it wouldn't change the experience people had yesterday. In terms of JLBM, I'm sorry that it was closed at the time you were in the area, but it fortunately was open most of the day.

 

At this point, I am feeling insanely burnt out after yesterday and just getting home from work today. I will be working on my personal responses to Mizzoumatt, RKO, Sportsdude360, and PKI in a Google Doc to post when I get the chance in the next 24 hours. Thank you for your understanding.