Six Flags St. Louis formerly known as Six Flags Over Mid-America is one of the original Six Flags parks, opening in 1971 just outside of St. Louis Missouri. After building parks in Texas and Georgia, Six Flags Over Mid-America was the chain’s push into the heartland of the United States.
Six Flags St. Louis came well before Great America in Illinois and at a time when Silver Dollar City near Branson was just beginning to grow into a bustling theme park. The park’s early highlights included iconic wooden roller coasters like the Screamin’ Eagle, which gained recognition as the largest and fastest roller coaster when it opened in 1976.
However, as the theme park industry has evolved and other parks have expanded within the Midwest, the competition has grown fiercer. Unfortunately, Six Flags St. Louis has not seen the same growth and investment as some of its local competitors like Six Flags Great America and Silver Dollar City.
Unsteady Growth
In the early 2000s, the park embarked on a period of reinvestment, introducing new attractions. Additions included Hurricane Harbor water park and thrill rides like Superman: Tower of Power. These efforts were aimed at reinvigorating the park and keeping it competitive in a rapidly changing industry.
Over the years Six Flags has also invested in the upkeep and updating of much of the park’s landscape and scenery. The park is well-kept, which does make a big difference to the park-going experience. However, it seems since the early 2000s, more attractions have been removed than added, including Superman: Tower of Power.
Furthermore, many of the attractions that have been built since the early 2000s are flat rides, and the park lacks a “big” attraction to bring guests in. The park has only added four coasters since 2007. Of the 10 coasters that the park does have, a few are clones of other coasters throughout the Six Flags chain, and a few are relocated coasters from other parks.
Only about half of the coasters are unique to only Six Flags St. Louis. While Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast may offer a unique coaster experience, it is a very short ride, and many of the other coasters are simply not exceptional enough to draw in new guests who don’t live in the area.
A Worthwhile Investment
Is Six Flags St. Louis destined for growth and expansion or it will remain a smaller park that caters to mostly locals? One key factor is the commitment of Six Flags to the park’s development. Six Flags St. Louis has received at least some type of new, albeit small, investment each year for the last several years. This suggests a least potential willingness to invest further in the park. It doesn’t seem like Six Flags is done with the St. Louis park, it is just a matter of adding the right attraction.
The park’s location also plays a vital role. Unfortunately, St. Louis is not a growing metropolis and has actually decreased in population over the last decade. People leaving the area means the park is losing some of its main customer base. By offering a new and innovative attraction, Six Flags St. Louis might attract a more diverse audience, including both local residents and tourists.
The park needs a large investment in the form of an E-Ticket coaster that could help to draw new guests to the area and to the park. This new coaster shouldn’t be a clone or a relocated coaster from another park. Many believe that The Boss getting the Rocky Mountain Construction treatment could be an investment that would greatly improve the park.
However, the park does have the space for an entirely new coaster as well. Whatever coaster Six Flags might decide to add to Six Flags St. Louis must be a unique attraction, and it must bring the thrills. While Rookie Racer is a great family addition, it isn’t drawing in the thrill seekers to St. Louis.
Whether Six Flags St. Louis remains a lower-tier Six Flags park or experiences growth and increased popularity depends on the company’s decision to invest more money into this smaller park, or let it remain mediocre. It is a shame that one of the first Six Flags parks hasn’t seemed to live up to its potential while other parks nearby thrive.
We will just have to see what Six Flags decides to do with Six Flags St. Louis over the next few years, and hopefully, the park will get the attention it desperately needs. Let us know what you would like to see coming to Six Flags St. Louis by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
