Park section 1904 World's Fair Opening date June 20, 2008 Type Wood Max speed 77 km/h Opened 20 June 2008 Park Six Flags St. Louis | Status Operating Cost US$7,000,000 Height 25 m Height restriction 1.22 m Track length 823 m | |
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Manufacturer Great Coasters International Address Allenton Rd, Eureka, MO 63025, USA Similar The Boss, Screamin' Eagle, River King Mine Train, Mr Freeze, MR FREEZE: Reverse | ||
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. 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.
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.
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. This ride features 16 hills and multiple high banked turns at up to 67° angles. The layout crosses over and under itself seventeen times. This ride also features two 24-passenger Millennium Flyer trains for better cornering.