Six Flags has always been a Summer Staple in St. Louis

The Eureka amusement park has been a landmark in the city for years

By Ryan Boman | August 12, 2025

For years, a jewel off in the distance represented both Eureka, Missouri, and the St. Louis area in general. With its mighty banners flapping in the wind, Six Flags was a staple of many childhoods in the immediate radius of the Gateway City for generations.

Six Flags Over Mid-America opened in the Summer of 1971, and within a short amount of time, it became a major attraction. Its popularity only grew as the amusement park became a hoosier haven in the 1980s and beyond. Along with its live shows, radio remotes, and plenty of fatty foods, Six Flags offered more than just a handful of roller coasters. It offered a piece of STL culture… served on a stick, of course.

Our annual pilgrimage to the mecca known as Six Flags was an adventure before we even got there. Living on the East Side, it was a journey just to get to Eureka. And along the way, my sister and I would make sure to ask if we were ‘there yet’ at least a hundred times apiece.

By the time we would get to the park, the August sun had already been beating down on everything it surveyed. When I was a kid, passing through those hot metal turnstiles felt like you were being cut in half by Darth Vader’s lightsaber.

Upon entrance to this strange carnival-esque world, you take in its massive size and throng of rides and games. You experience all the sights and sounds right away. And when it comes to park goers who wear tank tops, you unfortunately take in a few smells as well. But honestly? After a few trips to Six Flags, it just becomes part of the charm of the place.

It was there that I tested my courage the first time I rode the Screamin’ Eagle. Years later, it’s where I held my high school sweetheart’s hand as we sailed down Thunder River. It’s also the same place where I found out that eating a waffle cone right before you go on a loop-de-loop can often lead to involuntary regurgitation. (PS - My apologies to that lady for ruining her sundress back in 1988.)

Today, theme parks don’t have quite the same luster as they used to. Like any form of old-fashioned entertainment, technology has sorta pushed outdoor activities to the side in 2025. That’s being reflected in Six Flags’ profit and loss column, a topic that was touched upon last week on KLIS’ morning show, Arch City Now.

As the fellas discussed, the park’s parent company, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, reported a net loss of $99.6 million in the second quarter of 2025, compared to a profit of $55.6 million in the same period last year. Any more downturn could lead to them closing a couple of their properties. Or perhaps eventually shutter everything and go away forever.

That scenario isn’t far-fetched at all. For example, one only needs to look at the Ringling Brothers Circus. But you can’t, because it went out of business almost 10 years ago due to a lack of interest and rising costs.

I certainly hope that never happens to our venerable old park here. It just doesn’t seem right to think of the city’s amenities without mentioning Six Flags. It’s as much a part of the fabric of the STL as the Arch, the Zoo, and high crime rates. It’s a rite of passage for kids of all ages.

I certainly hope that our Six Flags never goes away. Not only does it represent childhood memories for all of us, but it also represents the future. The kind of place you want to take your kids and your grandkids. It’s that destination you plan a yearly trip around, and it’s an experience an entire family can share.

Sure, it’s not perfect, but neither are we. That’s why Six Flags St. Louis fits the city just right. It’s a place that, for a few glorious hours, you can let your hair down, spend too much money, and eat massive amounts of calories.

Now? Let’s go grab ourselves a funnel cake.

Ryan Boman is a contributing writer for On SI at Sports Illustrated and the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter, a Collection of Essays Looking at Life with Laughter & Love. His previous work has appeared at MSN, Heavy, the Miami Herald, Screen Rant, and Yardbarker. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman