American Thunder (roller coaster)

American Thunder
The then-Evel Knievel Coaster in 2008
Six Flags St. Louis
Park section	1904 World's Fair
Coordinates	38°30′45″N 90°40′38″W / 38.51250°N 90.67722°WCoordinates: 38°30′45″N 90°40′38″W / 38.51250°N 90.67722°W
Status	Operating
Opening date	June 20, 2008
Cost	US$7,000,000
General statistics
Type	Wood
Manufacturer	Great Coasters International
Height	82 ft (25 m)
Drop	80 ft (24 m)
Length	2,713 ft (827 m)
Speed	48 mph (77 km/h)
Inversions	0
Capacity	850 riders per hour
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	2 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 Pictures of American Thunder at RCDB

American Thunder is a wooden roller coaster that opened June 20, 2008, at Six Flags St. Louis. 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]

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 PowerLand, 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
Year	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Ranking	44[5]	13[6]	23[7]	22[8]	31[9]	25[10]	31[11]	39[12]

References

1. LA Times Report Rethemed Rides at Six Flags
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 September 24, 2015.
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 September 24, 2015.
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 September 24, 2015.
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 September 24, 2015.
9. "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
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 September 24, 2015.
11. "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
12. "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.

External links

• American Thunder at Six Flags St. Louis Official page
• Review of American Thunder Roller Coaster