Six Flags St. Louis (SFStL) Discussion Thread

[ZeroGravity55]

^ My family has chosen Holiday World over Six Flags St. Louis for over 20 years and that's the case for a lot of families around here.

[Woodie Warrior]

I wouldn't call our park one of the worst out there. SFSTL is a good park, it just needs a "big" steel coaster. And personally, I wouldn't say Worlds of Fun is better.

[jk1w]

For living in southern il and being close to both SFStL and HW, I would chose Six Flags any day, sure it is more expensive and it may not be the best park but I love it. Holiday World is ok, but really 3 wood and a bunch of flats, not much variety and I hate water parks so it ain't worth it granted HW is a beautiful park and cheap(er). Now I would rather go to Kings Island or Silver Dollar any day over those two parks.

[jzoole]

The point about not spending much money on SFSL goes a lot deeper, for this park first 30 years or so it got probably close to an average of 15% (in some years 20% or more) higher attendance than what it currently does and has done for the last ten years or so.

 

Just wondering.... where have you seen the attendance figures from Six Flags St. Louis? I've never been able to find attendance figures for Six Flags parks other than the ones that sometimes land in the Top 20 attendance list for all of North America. I always just assumed that Six Flags does not make the attendance figures of individual parks available, but you seem to have access to the numbers.... could you share your source?

[Vonni]

The point about not spending much money on SFSL goes a lot deeper, for this park first 30 years or so it got probably close to an average of 15% (in some years 20% or more) higher attendance than what it currently does and has done for the last ten years or so. Why is it o.k. to give up whatever advantage that this park had as a regional theme park, by not spending a decent amount of money to keep people interested in the park and to keep attendance at the level it was. Do you think that 10 years ago, that people who live in Southern Illinois would choose to go to Holiday World rather than SFSL, probably not, but today why would you choose to go to SFSL over Holiday World. It's that same for people that live in central Missouri, why would they choose to come to SFSL, when they can go to Silver Dollar City or even Worlds Fun and get a better product. Six Flags St. Louis had the regional (Missouri, Southern Illinois, etc.) advantage for a long time, but over the years the competition stepped up big time and the park has failed to keep up and without significant investment in the park than nothing is going to change (that is a fact that has been proven for several years), but apparently SF corporate thinks that everything is just fine with leaving the park at the level it currently is (which is one of the bottom parks).

 

 

To me SFStL is a wonderful park, it just really does need something(s) to draw the crowds back. We all know what that is so I'm not going to repeat it. I just dont understand why WE can see it, and some GP can see it, but Corporate cant see it?! I think I may have just answered my own question to be honest.

[SFZIP]

It is not very easy to figure out individual SF park attendance now a days, but for the past you can find a lot of information if you search for it, using old newspaper articles, old Amusement Business magazines and using other things you can learn a lot about the past when attendance was a not a "secret" like it is today.

[Woodie Warrior]

Our park really hasn't gotten a family flat ride since 1987 (Rush Street Flyer). While a Aqua Twist won't bring in insane amounts of people, it adds a ride our park needed. We need a place where families can just spend an hour playing. These rides where people can shoot the people on the ride are great ideas and will be a nice addition.

[Vonni]

^ I agree! I'm definitely looking forward to it! Its going to be the family addition we have needed, and like I mentioned in an earlier post, its going to bring a lot of life to that area of the park. As long as I've been a regular to the park that part has always been dead and drab. Most of my friends dont even know what the Hannibarrels were, let alone that they are still standing. I hope there is plenty of progress photos that will be available because I'd love to see the transformation!

[jk1w]

As long as I've been a regular to the park that part has always been dead and drab. Most of my friends dont even know what the Hannibarrels were, let alone that they are still standing. I hope there is plenty of progress photos that will be available because I'd love to see the transformation!

 

Even the station is dead on that side, I always see the station with 1 or 2 people in it

 

And ha the fist couple times I was there I didn't know either till I got interested in these type of sites. Alsowas the ride as fully open, like 360 degree vision, because the pic of facebook makes it seem so.

 

I also heard they had a rotor flat, what happened to that, I remember it was themed to the same section as the Hannibarrels. I would think it would be fun to have a rotor back in that section.

[Vonni]

^ Hannibarrels eventually had a roof placed over the queue, and it now has a facade in front of it (I dont know if that was added before or after it closed), which now makes it harder to see it, but you can still see it, especially from the West side of the ride, and from The Ninja's lift hill. The Rotor which was called Tom's Twister was next to the train station in the back of the park, just down the hill from Rush Street Flyer. It was removed to make way for Looney Tunes National Park. The Foghorn Leghorn National Park Railway ride now sits where Tom's Twister was.

[jk1w]

^ Hannibarrels eventually had a roof placed over the queue, and it now has a facade in front of it (I dont know if that was added before or after it closed), which now makes it harder to see it, but you can still see it, especially from the West side of the ride, and from The Ninja's lift hill. The Rotor which was called Tom's Twister was next to the train station in the back of the park, just down the hill from Rush Street Flyer. It was removed to make way for Looney Tunes National Park. The Foghorn Leghorn National Park Railway ride now sits where Tom's Twister was.

 

Thank you!!

 

I was always wondering about that, I wonder if they are going back to an open concept? and in 2010 I walked around it a couple of time till I found a small of enough clearing to "peak in" which is probably the west side. I could never see it from Ninja, I herd you could, maybe I wasn't looking in the right place?

 

I also hope they do something with the weird buildings on the other side of the ride on the dead end street next to the chevy building (from google maps it is a s bend walkway that goes under another bridge for the train and leads to the palace thing)

 

Also did they scrap or move the rotor some where else? I know there are rides that I am still finding every time I go (which is once or twice a year) like the scrambler which I still have not got a chance to ride. I am guessing that whole entire area was themed to the old west at some point.

 

Oh and one more question, something that has sparked my curiosity, the building next to the Hannibarrels that houses the restrooms downstairs. Did they use the upstairs for something at one time? Like a walk-by attraction of some sort?

[Vonni]

^ Hannibarrels eventually had a roof placed over the queue, and it now has a facade in front of it (I dont know if that was added before or after it closed), which now makes it harder to see it, but you can still see it, especially from the West side of the ride, and from The Ninja's lift hill. The Rotor which was called Tom's Twister was next to the train station in the back of the park, just down the hill from Rush Street Flyer. It was removed to make way for Looney Tunes National Park. The Foghorn Leghorn National Park Railway ride now sits where Tom's Twister was.

 

Thank you!!

 

I was always wondering about that, I wonder if they are going back to an open concept? and in 2010 I walked around it a couple of time till I found a small of enough clearing to "peak in" which is probably the west side. I could never see it from Ninja, I herd you could, maybe I wasn't looking in the right place?

 

I also hope they do something with the weird buildings on the other side of the ride on the dead end street next to the chevy building (from google maps it is a s bend walkway that goes under another bridge for the train and leads to the palace thing)

 

Also did they scrap or move the rotor some where else? I know there are rides that I am still finding every time I go (which is once or twice a year) like the scrambler which I still have not got a chance to ride. I am guessing that whole entire area was themed to the old west at some point.

 

Oh and one more question, something that has sparked my curiosity, the building next to the Hannibarrels that houses the restrooms downstairs. Did they use the upstairs for something at one time? Like a walk-by attraction of some sort?

 

 

Yes you definitely can see it from Ninja. Sit on the left side of the train and when you are on the lift look down and to the left. I agree about the fake buildings. I hope they come down along with the Hannbarrels. Tom's Twister I believe was scrapped, but I'm not 100% sure on that. The Scrambler at SFStL is really fun, so ride it! And I've wondered that about the upstairs of the Frontier Restrooms too, but honestly they are probably just offices. Most likely security.

 

You're welcome! I'm happy to answer what ever you like. If I dont know they answer, I'll be honest about it lol! Someone on here will know!

[NAMTABSFGAm]

Anybody got any picture updates on the Hannibarrels?

I will be making a trip down to St. Louis Labor Day weekend. Any suggestions to get the most our of the day and how do you think the lines and crowds will be? Thanks.

[Vonni]

^ They are going to probably be pretty heavy, but hopefully they will all go to Hurricane Harbor since it is the end of the season for the water park. I usually hit Batman first then work counter clockwise around the park. The food in the park is really over priced and not the best quality but if you plan to eat in the park, Mooseburger Lodge, and Primos Pizza are both decent choices. Also, it would be much appreciated if you could get as many pictures of the Hannibarrel site as possible, plus a photo trip report is quite enjoyable

[jk1w]

Yes you definitely can see it from Ninja. Sit on the left side of the train and when you are on the lift look down and to the left. I agree about the fake buildings. I hope they come down along with the Hannbarrels. Tom's Twister I believe was scrapped, but I'm not 100% sure on that. The Scrambler at SFStL is really fun, so ride it! And I've wondered that about the upstairs of the Frontier Restrooms too, but honestly they are probably just offices. Most likely security.

 

You're welcome! I'm happy to answer what ever you like. If I dont know they answer, I'll be honest about it lol! Someone on here will know!

 

Ok thanks, if I go back this year for fright fest I will have to try that.

 

And I think they just need a re-theme of the whole park, I mean it got to be cheaper than expanding, and make the whole park nicer and less confusing. Maybe open up stuff like unused pathways and such like the Billboard in the middle of the walkway on the other side of the chevy building or the unused s curve lol. Or maybe re-pave and go less asplatish, idk just saying.

 

Lol thanks I will have to get on to their scrambler and try it out, it did look fun, I like the one over there at Holiday World; is it comparable? Another ride I also haven't got the chance to ride is the enterprise flat, that thing looks crazy.

 

And if they didn't scrap the rotor, that would be a nice re addition, but if they did oh well lol. And that building also got the best of my curiosity, I have no idea why, there ain't many other things there that has expect for that.

[jk1w]

^ They are going to probably be pretty heavy, but hopefully they will all go to Hurricane Harbor since it is the end of the season for the water park. I usually hit Batman first then work counter clockwise around the park. The food in the park is really over priced and not the best quality but if you plan to eat in the park, Mooseburger Lodge, and Primos Pizza are both decent choices. Also, it would be much appreciated if you could get as many pictures of the Hannibarrel site as possible, plus a photo trip report is quite enjoyable

 

Yup he is quite right, I would just say skip batman if you already rode it, but thats my personal opinion. I don't go in the summer for that very reason because of how crowded they get. I would say hit the back three first and work your way up, by the end of the day, most people has worked there way to the back while your in the front (well expect for the poor souls who are stuck waiting for the batman).

 

And please take many many pictures of Hannibarrel

[Vonni]

The Scrambler at SFStL, or Shazam!, feels faster than the one at HW. I have not ridden Highland Fling because Scramblers are the only spinning rides I can handle, but I'm told it is quite fun.

[nrs2420]

And I think they just need a re-theme of the whole park, I mean it got to be cheaper than expanding, and make the whole park nicer and less confusing. Maybe open up stuff like unused pathways and such like the Billboard in the middle of the walkway on the other side of the chevy building or the unused s curve lol. Or maybe re-pave and go less asplatish, idk just saying.

 

Lol thanks I will have to get on to their scrambler and try it out, it did look fun, I like the one over there at Holiday World; is it comparable? Another ride I also haven't got the chance to ride is the enterprise flat, that thing looks crazy.

 

And if they didn't scrap the rotor, that would be a nice re addition, but if they did oh well lol. And that building also got the best of my curiosity, I have no idea why, there ain't many other things there that has expect for that.

 

Are you crazy. Our park is quite nice. Sure were missing some signature rides, but our park is still nice. Just look at the Midwest trip that TPR took. SFSTL was their favorite Six Flags park. As far as the park being confusing. They give you a map when you drive up lol. I personally like the multiple path options because I try to take the path less traveled.

 

Tom's Twister was fun but needed to go. Not sure why you want old rides back. Why not bring back the mule go round.

 

As far as the hannibarrels leaving. It's about time. Almost 20 years after they closed. Hope the cats that use to live there found a new home. Not sure why everyone wants pics of it. They are going to tear the whole thing out. Nothing is salvageable from that thing.

[Vonni]

^ We want pics to show what work has been done so far, and to have a timeline of the transformation of that area of the park. And as far as Tom's Twister, I wouldnt mind having a rotor in the park again. I cant handle spinning rides but a lot of people love them. I still hear stories of "the ride where the floor drops out" all the time. Its very popular with the GP.

[jk1w]

The Scrambler at SFStL, or Shazam!, feels faster than the one at HW. I have not ridden Highland Fling because Scramblers are the only spinning rides I can handle, but I'm told it is quite fun.

 

Haha awesome, I cant wait to ride both

 

 

Are you crazy. Our park is quite nice. Sure were missing some signature rides, but our park is still nice. Just look at the Midwest trip that TPR took. SFSTL was their favorite Six Flags park. As far as the park being confusing. They give you a map when you drive up lol. I personally like the multiple path options because I try to take the path less traveled.

 

Tom's Twister was fun but needed to go. Not sure why you want old rides back. Why not bring back the mule go round.

 

As far as the hannibarrels leaving. It's about time. Almost 20 years after they closed. Hope the cats that use to live there found a new home. Not sure why everyone wants pics of it. They are going to tear the whole thing out. Nothing is salvageable from that thing.

 

Lol I live like 50mins away from the park- so yes I know it is very wonderful park and has a nice feel to it with some very decent theming, just with the additions and removal of rides so often since the 70's, I think it might be time to recollect and get the theming back on track or redone. And by confusing I meant the theming is confusing plus why they blocked old unused paths

 

I am a nostalgia person, I like place like Knobels, where they try to preserve or even remake old classics like the Flying Turns, and I would love to see some old nostalgia back in the park.

 

And people want to see pics because we are fascinated by the nostalgia of a SBNO ride, we love history, and we love to see what time has done to the ride and how they are getting ready for removal and taking out of the old ride. It's history in the making for a lot of us.

 

^ We want pics to show what work has been done so far, and to have a timeline of the transformation of that area of the park. And as far as Tom's Twister, I wouldnt mind having a rotor in the park again. I cant handle spinning rides but a lot of people love them. I still hear stories of "the ride where the floor drops out" all the time. Its very popular with the GP.

 

Yes exactly my point, we want to preserve the parks history because there are many who would not as long as they they get what they want. And Vonnie that's exactly what I was thinking, that's why I was inquiring about them, it is a classic ride. And omg the floor dropped also how freaking awesome. I if I remember from pics the queue line had some where you could stand up high and look down and watch people spin that is very cool.

[Vonni]

The Scrambler at SFStL, or Shazam!, feels faster than the one at HW. I have not ridden Highland Fling because Scramblers are the only spinning rides I can handle, but I'm told it is quite fun.

 

Haha awesome, I cant wait to ride both

 

 

Are you crazy. Our park is quite nice. Sure were missing some signature rides, but our park is still nice. Just look at the Midwest trip that TPR took. SFSTL was their favorite Six Flags park. As far as the park being confusing. They give you a map when you drive up lol. I personally like the multiple path options because I try to take the path less traveled.

 

Tom's Twister was fun but needed to go. Not sure why you want old rides back. Why not bring back the mule go round.

 

As far as the hannibarrels leaving. It's about time. Almost 20 years after they closed. Hope the cats that use to live there found a new home. Not sure why everyone wants pics of it. They are going to tear the whole thing out. Nothing is salvageable from that thing.

 

Lol I live like 50mins away from the park- so yes I know it is very wonderful park and has a nice feel to it with some very decent theming, just with the additions and removal of rides so often since the 70's, I think it might be time to recollect and get the theming back on track or redone. And by confusing I meant the theming is confusing plus why they blocked old unused paths

 

I am a nostalgia person, I like place like Knobels, where they try to preserve or even remake old classics like the Flying Turns, and I would love to see some old nostalgia back in the park.

 

And people want to see pics because we are fascinated by the nostalgia of a SBNO ride, we love history, and we love to see what time has done to the ride and how they are getting ready for removal and taking out of the old ride. It's history in the making for a lot of us.

 

^ We want pics to show what work has been done so far, and to have a timeline of the transformation of that area of the park. And as far as Tom's Twister, I wouldnt mind having a rotor in the park again. I cant handle spinning rides but a lot of people love them. I still hear stories of "the ride where the floor drops out" all the time. Its very popular with the GP.

 

Yes exactly my point, we want to preserve the parks history because there are many who would not as long as they they get what they want. And Vonnie that's exactly what I was thinking, that's why I was inquiring about them, it is a classic ride. And omg the floor dropped also how freaking awesome. I if I remember from pics the queue line had some where you could stand up high and look down and watch people spin that is very cool.

 

 

I really hope they theme our Aqua Twist to Frontier/Old West to blend in with the area and surroundings, but I dont expect it. In fact, I highly doubt it. But none the less, I'm so excited about it! I've not been this excited about a non-coaster addition to the park in a long time! It just seems so perfect for our park, and I'm just so glad they are FINALLY doing something with the Hannibarrels! I cant wait to see that area of the park next year!

[jk1w]

I really hope they theme our Aqua Twist to Frontier/Old West to blend in with the area and surroundings, but I dont expect it. In fact, I highly doubt it. But none the less, I'm so excited about it! I've not been this excited about a non-coaster addition to the park in a long time! It just seems so perfect for our park, and I'm just so glad they are FINALLY doing something with the Hannibarrels! I cant wait to see that area of the park next year!

 

Thats what I thinking about with the theaming, if only if someone can give them a nudge to do it right haha. I would think if they gut the old ride and make the aqua fit, that could save some money, and to re-theme the ride itself. And I'm glad to see that side of the park get some love, it needs it.

[Vonni]

^ Thats a great idea, but I honestly think the intire structure needs to go. Its just too old, and SBNO for so long has defintely put the wear on it. But I'm sure everything will look really nice once finished.

 

And side note, its funny, we are talking about it like its confirmed lol! I'm just sure its what we are getting. Boy would I be surprised next Thursday if we find out we are getting something completly different lol!

[jk1w]

^ Thats a great idea, but I honestly think the intire structure needs to go. Its just too old, and SBNO for so long has defintely put the wear on it. But I'm sure everything will look really nice once finished.

 

And side note, its funny, we are talking about it like its confirmed lol! I'm just sure its what we are getting. Boy would I be surprised next Thursday if we find out we are getting something completly different lol!

 

Yeah true, but you never know, the wood could still be reusable as all they would have to do is replace what is rotten. Now if they do it that way and like I've said already, they open it back up, that would make it look awesome. But like you said they might actually make it look pretty nice, I mean they did so with boomerang. It looks like it was almost meant to be, but it still is suckish to lose the bumper cars.

 

And haha, I know right, hey people can dream lol. I hope it is something similar, if it turns out not to be a aqua; I ain't looking for a big ticket attraction, just something nice to squeeze in next season. But if we get something all together different, well of course yes that would become a shocker, just everyone dont lose your cool when we see what we get haha

[nrs2420]

I love the history of parks as much as the next person and I would completely understand the pictures if we were getting a coaster. So I guess I just don't care about our new splash twisty battle doohickey. Sure it would be great to have all the old rides but there would be expensive up keep and not many people would ride it when they can go ride more exciting things. You have to replace old with new otherwise the park will never move forward. If you left six flags like it was in 1971 no one would want to go to it. That's what memories are for. Would I like to go back and ride the Screamin Eagle before the removed the double up and banked the corners more? Ride the jet scream? Heck what about the other St. Louis parks like Forest Park Highlands and Chain of Rocks Park. Sure, I would love to be able to do those things, but I can't. I do get to hear awesome stories though from my parents and grandparents.

 

I'm more of a car freak so I do understand your point. I cringe when someone cuts up a perfectly good 32 Ford to make a hot rod or modify a perfectly good muscle car.