American Thunder is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri, built by Great Coasters International (GCI) and designed by Jeff Pike. It opened on June 20, 2008, originally themed around motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel before being renamed American Thunder for the 2011 season.
Riding on smooth Millennium Flyer trains, the coaster packs 16 hills and steeply banked turns into a compact footprint, with its 2,713-foot layout crossing over and under itself seventeen times. It has remained a fixture on Golden Ticket Awards’ list of the world’s top wooden coasters since opening.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags St. Louis
- Manufacturer: Great Coasters International (GCI)
- Opened: June 20, 2008
- Height: 82 ft
- Top speed: 48 mph
- Length: 2,713 ft
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
American Thunder’s layout is defined by its tight, twisting turns rather than sheer size. After an 80-foot first drop, the train navigates banked turns of up to 67 degrees along with a series of closely packed airtime hills, a signature of GCI’s wooden coaster designs.
The ride uses Millennium Flyer trains, a low-slung train style built for comfortable, precise cornering on wooden track. Two 12-car trains, each seating 24 riders two across, keep the line moving at a capacity of about 850 riders per hour.
History and Theming
The coaster debuted in 2008 as Evel Knievel, themed to the famed motorcycle stuntman, before Six Flags rebranded it American Thunder in 2011. In 2015 it was briefly renamed Cubs Thunder as part of a lighthearted wager between Six Flags parks tied to Major League Baseball.
Since opening, American Thunder has regularly placed on Golden Ticket Awards’ annual Top 50 Wooden Coasters rankings, reflecting its lasting reputation among wooden coaster enthusiasts.
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American Thunder FAQs
Who manufactured American Thunder?
American Thunder was built by Great Coasters International (GCI), a manufacturer known for smooth wooden coasters using Millennium Flyer trains.
How tall and fast is American Thunder?
The coaster stands 82 feet tall with an 80-foot first drop and reaches a top speed of about 48 mph.
Was American Thunder always called that?
No. It opened in 2008 as Evel Knievel and was renamed American Thunder in 2011; it was also briefly called Cubs Thunder in 2015.
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Photo: Unknown / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.