Since Six Flags St. Louis is under new ownership, and park enthusiasts are waiting with bated breath on what’s going to change, I’ve decided to take a little jaunt down memory lane.
For me, a Gen Z kid who grew up in Barnhart, the amusement park was always referred to as “Six Flags,” not the original name, “Six Flags Over Mid-America.”
And, apologies, I’ll probably never get used to calling it by its new name: Mid-America by Enchanted Parks.
Living within 30 minutes of the amusement park was a real treat. My parents would sometimes splurge on the all-you-can-ride summer pass for my brother, Zach, and me. We found the pass, complete with a plastic photo ID card and lanyard, to be very fancy and adult-like. We’d also buy a large souvenir refillable cup. But just one for the family to share (what germs?), since they were pretty pricey. After the season closed, the cup would collect dust in the cupboard for a few years before transitioning to the plant-watering cup or dog-washing cup – take your pick.
It was usually my mom or a neighbor kid’s parent who took us to the park. I’ll never forget the time my mom was pulled over for speeding on our way to Six Flags on Hwy. M, right before you hit House Springs. If you’re familiar with the area, you know it’s always been a speed trap. The rest of the car ride was silent after the officer handed my mom the ticket.
The biggest decision of the day when you’re a tween at Six Flags was where to begin. I always pushed to ride the Batman first: a soaring, smooth roller coaster that makes you feel like the Dark Knight himself. The Batman was the first time I ever went upside down on a roller coaster, requiring an over-the-shoulder harness to keep me in the seat. Needless to say, I was scared out of my mind the first time I rode it, but it quickly became my favorite.
I recall Zach always wanted to ride Mr. Freeze first. That ride had me shaking in my boots, especially when the operators reversed it in 2012, meaning you ascended the 218-foot vertical spike facing backwards. At least with Mr. Freeze, you could escape the hot blacktop for a good 30 minutes while waiting in line.
I was sad to see the Scooby Doo Ghostblasters ride go a few years back – it was always a highlight. You got to ride with Scooby and the gang in the Mystery Machine, blasting nasties with a laser gun. Now it’s based on some superhero group I’m not familiar with.
For this column, I chatted with my coworkers about Six Flags rides and attractions of yore: Tony Krausz brought up the Highland Fling and Tidal Wave; Kevin Carbery mentioned Tom’s Twister and Haunted House; Teresa Inserra remembered the Super Sports Car Ride.
I got to try some of those attractions, like the Highland Fling, now called the Supergirl Sky Flyer, but I hadn’t heard of most of them.
I am glad to say I’ve ridden the famed Screamin’ Eagle ride dozens of times. I didn’t know the park was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ride this year until I saw a post while scrolling through Facebook. It’s fun to think that a ride double my age has stood the test of time, considering so many other rides were removed for newer, improved coasters.
Growing up, the Screamin’ Eagle was a bit lackluster to me: no loop-de-loops or animatronics, just a wooden coaster. As a fully-fledged adult who has to deal with the consequences of loop-de-loop coasters when I wake up the next day, I admire the ride for its ability to inspire thrills while staying firmly planted in my seat.
The ride up the massive first hill, called a lift, gets my adrenaline pumping every time, especially with the loud “clack, clack, clack” of the track as you ascend. The view of the park from the top of the ride is amazing and is certainly my favorite part.
My coworkers also told me about the awesome headliners who put on shows at the Ole Glory Amphitheatre at Six Flags over the years: KC and The Sunshine Band, Joan Jett, The Beach Boys and Britney Spears, to name a few. I’m not sure the park, or even the greater St. Louis area, can attract big names like those anymore. However, I do remember seeing the boy band Big Time Rush at the amphitheater in 2011. They’re no One Direction or NSYNC, but I still saved a piece of confetti and the ticket stub from the concert for my scrapbook.
Not every experience at the park was a good one for me. I remember in middle school, students who exhibited good behavior and grades were treated to a free day at Six Flags at the end of the school year. I was so excited and made sure I got that free ticket. Unfortunately, it began raining right as we got off the bus and wouldn’t let up for the rest of the day. All the rides were closed, and we stayed huddled underneath a pavilion looking like drowned rats until we could go home.
More recently, in 2024, seemingly all of Facebook had the privilege of witnessing me at my absolute best: testing Six Flags’ latest attraction, the Joker Carnival of Chaos ride. A five-minute video of me screaming “OH MY GOD” over and over while trying not to throw up has now racked up 130,000 views, a fact that haunts my nightmares. I’m just hoping those viewers are laughing with me rather than at me.
Regardless of the new ownership, inevitable changes coming down the pipeline, or my troubling digital footprint, you’ll still see me coming back to Six Flags year after year. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush you get from riding the Batman (trademark pending) or smiling and sweating together with family and friends.