Screamin' Eagle is a

wooden roller coaster A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also ...

located at Six Flags St. Louis in

Eureka, Missouri Eureka is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, adjacent to the cities of Wildwood and Pacific, along Interstate 44. It is in the extreme southwest of the Greater St. Louis metro area. As of the 2020 census, the city ...

. When it opened on April 10, 1976 for America's Bicentennial celebration,

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

listed it as the largest coaster at high and as the fastest coaster at . The ride is a modified 'L'-Shaped Out And Back. The Screamin' Eagle was manufactured by the

Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world. Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry Auchey and Chester Albright under the name Philadelphia ...

and was the last coaster designed by John Allen, who was a designer of roller coasters. Allen believed a coaster should inspire awe, not only from a ride full of thrills, but also from its magnificent beauty. Originally Allen wanted to design a coaster to replace the Comet at

Forest Park Highlands Forest Park Highlands was an American amusement park in St. Louis, Missouri. It operated from 1896 to 1963. Forest Park Highlands opened in 1896 as a beer garden. Sophie Tucker, John Philip Sousa, and Jack Dempsey appeared there. It featured ...

, but lack of funds prevented him from doing such. The Screamin' Eagle is reminiscent of the Comet, mirroring its L-shape, but to a much larger scale.

Renovations

In 1990, the trains were replaced, the turns banked and a double up hill was removed from a section of the track. From 2003-2006 the Screamin’ Eagle received significant repairs such as painting, re-tracking and replacing of the control panel.

Awards

* Designated by the American Coaster Enthusiasts a "Coaster Landmark" on June 21, 2016

References

External links

Screamin' Eagle at Six Flags St. Louis Official PageGuinness World Records Web Site
{{ACE Coaster Landmarks Roller coasters operated by Six Flags Six Flags St. Louis Roller coasters in Missouri Roller coasters introduced in 1976