American Thunder (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids American Thunder |
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The then-Evel Knievel Coaster in 2008
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| Six Flags St. Louis | |
| Location | Six Flags St. Louis |
| Park section | 1904 World's Fair |
| Coordinates | 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 |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| 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 |
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| American Thunder at RCDB | |
American Thunder is a super fun wooden roller coaster at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. You can find it in the park's 1904 World's Fair area. This awesome ride was first called the Evel Knievel Roller Coaster. It was named after a very famous motorcycle daredevil named Evel Knievel. In 2011, its name changed to American Thunder.
To celebrate the ride opening, Evel Knievel's son, Robbie Knievel, did an amazing stunt. On July 3, 2008, he jumped his Honda CR-500 motorcycle over 25 Dodge Charger cars! It was a huge event.
There was even a funny time when the ride changed its name temporarily. In 2015, the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team lost a friendly bet to the Chicago Cubs. So, for a little while, the roller coaster was called "Cubs Thunder"!
What's the Ride Like?
This exciting wooden roller coaster cost about $7 million to build. It was made by a company called GCI. The ride is very similar to another roller coaster called Thunderbird at PowerPark.
American Thunder has an 80-foot (24 m) drop, which is like falling from an 8-story building! You'll reach a top speed of 48 mph (77 km/h). The track is about 2,700 feet (820 m) long.
The ride is packed with action! It has 16 hills and many high-banked turns. Some of these turns tilt you at angles up to 67 degrees. The track crosses over and under itself 17 times, making it a really twisty ride. The roller coaster uses two special trains called Millennium Flyer trains. Each train can hold 24 riders, and they are designed to make cornering feel super smooth.
