Screamin’ Eagle is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri, built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters and designed by legendary coaster architect John C. Allen. It opened on April 10, 1976, as part of the park’s America’s Bicentennial celebration, and Guinness World Records recognized it at the time as both the tallest coaster at 110 feet and the fastest at 62 mph, a title it held until 1978.
Nearly five decades later, Screamin’ Eagle remains one of the most beloved wooden coasters in the country. Its modified ‘L’-shaped out-and-back layout, long airtime-filled hills, and rattling wooden structure have made it a rite of passage for St. Louis-area thrill seekers, and in 2016 the American Coaster Enthusiasts honored it with a Coaster Landmark designation for its historical significance.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags St. Louis
- Manufacturer: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
- Opened: April 10, 1976
- Height: 110 feet
- Top Speed: 62 mph
- Length: 3,872 feet
- Inversions: 0
- Track Type: Wood
The Ride Experience
Riders climb a 110-foot lift hill before plunging down a 92-foot drop that launches the train into a series of sweeping turns and rolling hills characteristic of a classic out-and-back wooden coaster. The nearly 4,000-foot-long layout delivers strong airtime moments and the kind of rough, rhythmic ride that wooden coaster fans specifically seek out, all without a single inversion.
Since its 1976 debut, the ride has seen several updates, including new trains and re-banked turns in 1990 and a multi-year retracking and refurbishment program from 2003 to 2006 that helped preserve its structure for future generations of riders.
A Piece of Coaster History
When Screamin’ Eagle opened for the country’s Bicentennial in 1976, it briefly held the Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, a distinction it kept until Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain and other coasters surpassed it in the late 1970s. Designer John C. Allen, one of the most influential wooden coaster architects of the 20th century, considered Screamin’ Eagle among his final major projects.
That legacy was formally recognized in 2016 when the American Coaster Enthusiasts named it a Coaster Landmark, cementing its place as one of the most historically important wooden coasters still operating in the United States.
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Screamin’ Eagle FAQs
When did Screamin’ Eagle open?
Screamin’ Eagle opened on April 10, 1976, at Six Flags St. Louis as part of the park’s America’s Bicentennial celebrations.
Who built Screamin’ Eagle?
It was built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters and designed by renowned wooden coaster architect John C. Allen.
How fast does Screamin’ Eagle go?
The coaster reaches a top speed of about 62 mph, which made it the fastest roller coaster in the world when it debuted in 1976.
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Photo: Chris Hagerman from New Port Richey, FL, US / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.