Labeling itself as “Missouri’s Coaster Capital”, Six Flags St. Louis is primarily a coaster park. It veers far into the amusem*nt 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. Consequently, I’ve noticed a significant drop in crowds during my visits in the past 10 years. That could change a lot with a single new headliner on par with modern coasters at other parks.
This questionable state hangs over my rankings today of the roller coasters at Six Flags St. Louis. There are some fun rides, but some are pretty standard for amusem*nt parks across the country. They also veer into the steel coaster craze of the 1990s. There are definitely enough rides to create an enjoyable day, but the variety could be stronger. The main options for families score high on my list for that reason. Upkeep is also a concern given the painful experience on several coasters.
I visit Six Flags St. Louis nearly every year, 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 this park, and it finally added a new coaster! Rookie Racer is now part of this updated list. 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.
10. Boomerang
Type: Vekoma Boomerang (Steel)
Opened: June 8, 2013
Speed: 47 miles per hour
Height: 116 feet
Inversions: 3
Although it opened here in 2013, 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. Additionally, this ride is 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.
9. Ninja
Type: Vekoma Custom MK-1200 (Started by Arrow Dynamics) – Steel
Opened: April 8, 1989
Speed: 54.7 miles per hour
Height: 108.3 feet
Inversions: 4
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 major 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. 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 never experienced it. So this ranking is just for the original Ninja that still runs today.
8. Pandemonium
Type: Gerstlauer Spinning Coaster (Steel)
Opened: April 21, 2007
Speed: 31 miles per hour
Height: 48 feet
Inversions: 0
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 when she was younger. Even so, there are no huge drops or inversions on Pandemonium.
For the Disney fans out there, it’s in the vein of the extinct Primeval Whirl at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Pandemonium is a better ride, but that’s not a ringing endorsem*nt. Its location in Six Flags St. Louis is dominated by concrete and not an attractive spot. It also tends to build long lines quickly.
7. Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast
Type: Premier Rides Shuttle Catapult Coaster (Steel)
Opened: April 11, 1998
Speed: 70 miles per hour
Height: 218 feet
Inversions: 1 (experienced twice)
Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast provides another example of the back-and-forth format. 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 is different than the version at Six Flags Over Texas, and I appreciate the move to keep rides fresh. I’d place Mr. Freeze above my lower picks in terms of excitement, but it shares the feeling that it’s more of a trick than a full experience. Enthusiasts often rank Mr. Freeze as the best in this park, and I can’t argue that it’s one of the headliners. It’s jut not my favorite type of coaster.
6. Rookie Racer
Type: Vekoma Junior Coaster (Steel)
Opened: September 30, 2023
Speed: 27 miles per hour
Height: 41 feet
Inversions: 0
Six Flags St. Louis desperately needed a family coaster, and Rookie Racer fulfills that need perfectly. Young riders who might not be ready for Pandemonium or the River King Mine Train should be okay with this quick ride. You traverse the 843 feet of track twice and go directly through the station before starting over. During my visit, the park was just running one train, which did lead to a slow queue. I’d recommend heading to this new coaster first and then hitting The Boss immediately afterwards next door.
Rookie Racer is a pretty tame ride without any real airtime, but the first drop is a fun element for a junior coaster. I did enjoy the race announcers that you hear on the lift hill, and the loud racing sounds support the overall theme. It might be a little much to spend too much time in the station given the volume, though. It’s an extremely smooth coaster, which isn’t a surprise from modern Vekoma. In a park filled with thrill rides, Rookie Racer is definitely a step in the right direction.
5. Batman: The Ride
Type: B&M Inverted Coaster (Steel)
Opened: April 22, 1995
Speed: 50 miles per hour
Height: 105 feet
Inversions: 5
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. Because it’s so compact, this coaster thrives on whipping you around in tight spaces. Unlike the Ninja, the inversions on Batman flip you at your core. There’s also some theming in the queue, which makes Batman more than a typical steel coaster.
4. The Boss
Type: Custom Coasters International Wooden Terrain Coaster
Opened: April 29, 2000
Speed: 66.3 miles per hour
Height: 122 feet
Inversions: 0
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. Surprisingly, 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 a few years ago. If you can handle the pain, The Boss provides serious thrills. It just falls short of its potential. I would love to see RMC take a shot at redoing this coaster on par with huge recent successes like Wildcat’s Revenge.
3. River King Mine Train
Type: Arrow Dynamics Steel Hybrid Terrain Coaster
Opened: June 5, 1971
Speed: 37 miles per hour
Height: 32 feet
Inversions: 0
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.
The lap bars of River King Mine Train are surprisingly loose, so you’ll be moving all over your seats. There’s a cool 360-degree section in the middle, and the ride closes with a surprising indoor drop into the mine. Three lift hills give you a chance to take a break after each quick sequence. The park needs more attractions like this if it wants to draw a wide audience.
2. The Screamin’ Eagle
Type: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Wooden Coaster
Opened: April 10, 1976
Speed: 62 miles per hour
Height: 110 feet
Inversions: 0
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, the Screamin’ Eagle 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
Type: Great Coasters International Wooden Coaster
Opened: June 20, 2008
Speed: 48 miles per hour
Height: 82 feet
Inversions: 0
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. Also, the Millennium Flyer trains make it a ride that I enjoy doing multiple times without concerns of nausea or a brutal experience. Finally, it’s an air-time machine and is worth the visit if you’re trying to experience the best coasters across the country.
Become a Member of The Tomorrow Society on Patreon and support the site!
Follow The Tomorrow Society on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!
Related Articles: Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis Trip Report (July 2016)
The Tomorrow Society Podcast, Episode 15: Top 5 Attractions at Six Flags St. Louis
Justice League: Battle for Metropolis Review
St. Louis Post DispatchArticle: “Woman Killed in Fall from Six Flags Ride” (July 7, 1984)
The Tomorrow Society Podcast, Episode 50: A Visit to Six Flags St. Louis
