American Thunder (roller coaster)

American Thunder is a wooden roller coaster located in the 1904 World's Fair section of Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. Opened on June 20, 2008, the coaster was originally named after and themed to the famous motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel. It was renamed American Thunder for the 2011 season.[1] To help promote the opening of the then-Evel Knievel Roller Coaster, Knievel's son, Robbie Knievel, jumped a Honda CR-500 motorcycle over 25 Dodge Chargers on July 3, 2008.[2]

For other uses, see American Thunder.
American Thunder
The then-Evel Knievel Coaster in 2008
Six Flags St. Louis
LocationSix Flags St. Louis
Park section1904 World's Fair
Coordinates38°30′45″N 90°40′38″W
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 20, 2008
CostUS$7,000,000
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerGreat Coasters International
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height82 ft (25 m)
Drop80 ft (24 m)
Length2,713 ft (827 m)
Speed48 mph (77 km/h)
Inversions0
Capacity850 riders per hour
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 12 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
American Thunder at RCDB

As a result of the St. Louis Cardinals losing to the Chicago Cubs in the 2015 National League Division Series, Six Flags St. Louis lost a friendly wager with Six Flags Great America, resulting in the temporary name change of the roller coaster to Cubs Thunder.[3]

Ride experience

This $7 million GCI wooden roller coaster, which is identical to the Thunderbird at PowerPark, features an 80-foot (24 m) drop with a top speed of 48 mph (77 km/h), going through a course of 2,700 feet (820 m) of track.[4] This ride features 16 hills and multiple high banked turns at up to 67° angles.[4] The layout crosses over and under itself seventeen times. This ride also features two 24-passenger Millennium Flyer trains for better cornering.[4]

Awards
Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192022
Ranking 44[5]13[6]23[7]22[8]31[9]25[10]31[11]39[12]33[13]40[14]38 (tie)[15]39[16]49[17]

References
  1. "Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers". 25 November 2010 – via LA Times.
  2. "Robbie Knievel Jump to Promote New Ride".
  3. Moran, Dan (October 15, 2015). "Six Flags St. Louis loses bet, renames coaster 'Cubs Thunder'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  4. New ride comes to Six Flags St. Louis Post Dispatch Retrieved and Dated 26 September 2007
  5. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  6. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  7. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  8. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  9. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  10. "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  11. "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  12. "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  13. "2016 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  14. "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  15. "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  16. "2019 Top 50 Wood Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  17. "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2016.


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