Ninja (Six Flags St. Louis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ninja |
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| Six Flags St. Louis | |
| Location | Six Flags St. Louis |
| Park section | Studio Backlot |
| Coordinates | 38°30′54″N 90°40′26″W / 38.514939°N 90.673893°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | April 8, 1989 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Designer | Ron Toomer |
| Model | Custom MK-1200 |
| Track layout | custom |
| Height | 108.3 ft (33.0 m) |
| Drop | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Length | 2,430 ft (740 m) |
| Speed | 54.7 mph (88.0 km/h) |
| Inversions | 4 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train. |
 Flash Pass Available |
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| Ninja at RCDB | |
Ninja is an exciting steel roller coaster located at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. You can find it in the park's Studio Backlot area. This thrilling ride first opened in 1989 at Six Flags St. Louis.
Before coming to Missouri, Ninja was part of a big event called Expo 86 in Vancouver, Canada. It operated there as "Scream Machine" for a few months in 1986. The coaster was started by an American company called Arrow Dynamics. Later, a Dutch company named Vekoma finished building it.
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What Makes Ninja Exciting?
The Ninja roller coaster is packed with cool features that make it a fun ride. It has four inversions, which means you go upside down!
Ride Elements
The ride includes a big loop, where you go completely upside down. It also has a sidewinder, which is a twisty inversion. Plus, there's a double corkscrew, which spins you around twice.
How the Ride Operates
Like most modern roller coasters, Ninja needs at least two park employees to start the ride. One employee works the main control panel. This panel controls things like the safety restraints and the gates. The other employee stands at a separate control spot. Both operators must check that everything is clear and give a thumbs-up. Then, they press their buttons at the same time to send the train on its way.
Virtual Reality on Ninja
In recent years, Ninja has offered a special virtual reality (VR) experience. This makes the ride even more immersive and exciting!
The New Revolution: VR Coaster
On March 3, 2016, Six Flags announced that Ninja would get a new VR experience. It was called "The New Revolution: Virtual Reality Coaster." Riders could choose to wear Samsung Gear VR headsets. These headsets, powered by Oculus, created a full 360-degree, 3D world around you while you rode.
The VR story was like being in a fighter jet. You would fly through a futuristic city as a co-pilot, battling alien invaders. This cool VR feature launched with the coaster when it reopened on May 27, 2016.
Galactic Attack VR Coaster
In early 2017, an updated version of the VR experience was announced. It was called "Galactic Attack Virtual Reality Coaster." This new version offered a similar but even better VR adventure on Ninja.
Ninja's Changing Colors
Over the years, the Ninja roller coaster has had a few different looks. Its colors have changed, giving it a fresh appearance.
Original Colors
When Ninja first opened, it had a bright look. The track was painted a vibrant red color. The supports, which hold up the track, were painted white. The ride's trains were also white with red stripes. The safety restraints on the trains were orange.
Color Updates
In 1998, Ninja got a new paint job. The track was changed to black, giving it a darker, sleeker look. However, the supports stayed white. The trains were repainted red with white stripes, but the orange restraints remained the same.
The ride received another fresh coat of paint for the 2010 season, keeping it looking great for riders.
Other Roller Coasters Named Ninja
Did you know there are other roller coasters that share the name "Ninja"? While they have the same name, they are different rides!
Blue Hawk (formerly Ninja)
One roller coaster used to share the name "Ninja" with this ride. It was located at Six Flags Over Georgia. However, that coaster was renamed "Blue Hawk" in 2016.
Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain
There is another roller coaster called Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain. But this ride is a different type of coaster. It's an Arrow Dynamics suspended swinging coaster, which means the cars hang below the track and swing from side to side.
