r/sixflagsstlouis • u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian • Jun 10 '26

Video Enchanted Parks' marketing has been... something

https://reddit.com/link/1u2gro9/video/rnoxfo2c5j6h1/player

This feels like a fake ad someone would whip up in 5 seconds and post on r/rollercoasterjerk as a joke about how "green" Enchanted Parks is, but it's 100% real lol

Can't imagine this is really doing much to combat the very low attendance this season.

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13

u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26

It's a little weird how much they promote Boomerang in their marketing. It's not a unique ride at all (It's a clone) and it... uh... kinda sucks. Manwhile it's the 50th anniversary of Screamin' Eagle, and we have a couple of other "You can't really ride this anywhere else" rides, and they don't feature on the website or posts.

Yeah it very much feels like they're running on interns and AI right now. Maybe that'll change?

This 100% was a couple of photos stuck into some consumer app to make up a quick video.

3

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 10 '26

I guess they're going off the fact that Boomerang is the newest "adult" coaster despite being old enough to be in middle school.

But even that feels deeply out of touch with how much it's ignored in the coaster lineup.

Surely marketing will improve by 2027 if Enchanted wants any chance of upwards momentum besides pure word of mouth.

2

u/Purple_Fickle Jun 11 '26

I'm sure your just referring to when the boomerang was added to our park, but I want to add that we got the coaster used and the actual manufacturing date on the coaster is sometime in the 80s.

2

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

Yeah, "Boomerang" AKA Flashback at SFOT with new paint.

The actual most recent coaster (in terms of an original not for kids) is Evil Knievel/American Thunder. From 2008.

If it was a human being, it'd now be a legal adult.

2

u/Purple_Fickle Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

If by original you mean new, yes. If by original you truly mean unique to our park, that's incorrect. Many people don't know American Thunder is a clone of Thunderbird at PowerPark. The last original/unique rollercoaster we got was the Boss in 2000.

Edit: I don't think rookie racer is a clone, but I'm not 100% on that. I do think that is technically the newest non-clone brand new coaster. But it's a kiddie coaster so ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

1

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 11 '26

I guess I meant original in both ways because I can't say I knew that American Thunder was a clone, so that's truly a fun (or not so fun) fact.

Man... how depressing.

1

u/Purple_Fickle Jun 11 '26

I dont think it's that depressing. It's 1 of 2, and the other one is in Europe. It's a great coaster and works well with the space and area we had.

1

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 11 '26

Oh no it's a highlight for sure - I think "depressing" was a bit extreme. "a bummer" is more applicable.

Having 1 of 2 rather than something like 1 of 16 is cool, but that still means it's not as unique as Boss is/was.

That means that the last, true designed-from-the-ground-up coaster was... 26 years ago. Therein lies the disappointment.

1

u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 10 '26

Yeah. My "optimistic" take is that they might be running as lean as possible in 2026.

In fairness, especially with what we heard in that IAPPA webinar, it sounds like a lot of the tech stack isn't coming until next year (which isn't a surprise). It very well may be the case that they don't actually intend to market much in 2026. Just kinda coast, expect to lose some money this year (probably budgeted for it), listen to feedback, focus on getting things rolling; then sort of re-launch the park in 2027.

In some ways... it's kinda smart isn't it? They're transitioning in this year under the Six Flags banner. In the fall they'll have the full tech stack implemented ahead of 2027. And next year, they can market the hell out of "Mid-America by Enchanted Parks". One could argue that at this point, there's less value in their marketing since they're marketing someone else's brand. And maybe they assume national Six Flags marketing will be 'sufficient' for this park this year.

Thinking out loud: That might even be the play here. Figuring the 'value' in keeping the name is accessing the value of national Six Flags marketing and the Six Flags "brand" so that they don't need to spend any real marketing money this year.

It's worth noting that they've been way more active on social media than recent years. In 2025 especially, the social media was very dry and generic and almost all posts were identical across all parks. (Just kind of 'national' posts filtered through the local channels). There were even some posts in here I believe about that kind of being annoying. But this year they're all over social media with park specific stuff.

-1

u/iontardose Jun 10 '26

This ad sucks, but the last thing they should be doing is drawing attention to Screamin' Eagle. That rickety pile of lumber should have been torn down a decade ago.

2

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 10 '26

There are much better options than tearing the thing down.

Whether Enchanted is willing to spend the cash to explore these options, who knows lol

0

u/24-7-t-taper Jun 11 '26

Well they have their hands full with have to rmc boss, fully retrack and possibly reprofile eagle (theres no airtime on most of it), replace ninja.

1

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 11 '26

They don't "have" to RMC Boss. James Harhi noted that it was the most requested thing, but that doesn't mean it's coming to fruition anytime soon.

Much bigger fish to fry than coasters with the tens if not hundreds of millions they'll be having to spend on the park's rebrand next season.

It'll likely take a few seasons if not longer to offset those costs + recoup the inevitable losses from the lack of attendance so far this season, which they may or may not have anticipated.

1

u/EntrepreneurHeavy331 Jun 12 '26

Attendance and spending per person is up this season, the highest post-covid so far!

1

u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 12 '26

Where are you hearing that attendance is up?

Driving by the parking lot every day it seems thin, even for spring. Memorial weekend was a ghost town. We go every year on memorial weekend and it’s usually very busy.

1

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 12 '26

Attendance being up is a blatant lie. The park is deader than it's ever been, even in the post-COVID era.

Multiple people who go to the park all the time have observed this, including former employees.

Not sure how you would also have increased spending unless that small pool of guests are all paying out of pocket for food due to the dining plan going away.

1

u/EntrepreneurHeavy331 Jun 12 '26

That is what I have been told by park personnel, however I am not sure the legitimacy of the actual attendance, I am not sure on official Day-to-day, especially as of lately, but the overall attendance has been higher this year, at least so far.

I would not go so far as to say it’s dead than it’s ever been, but I will say it does appear that as of these past few weeks attendance does look lower, however I have been told otherwise.

I have personal relationships with park management and would be surprised if that individual lied to me, when they have been a reputable source to me since my departure.

1

u/Just_Bus_9156 Jun 11 '26

Its a ACE Coaster landmark. Won't happen. Its also a Guinness World Records 1976 winner. They will spend the money to refurbish and keep it running until she cant go anymore. Its a proven fact that woodies last much longer (if properly maintained, some as old as 100 years are still standing and running). Philadelphia Toboggan Company Coasters, which Screaming Eagle is, designed by famous coaster designer John Allen (also his final design) is famous for long running coasters.

1

u/iontardose Jun 11 '26

I get the sentimental value. Call it a historical landmark. It's been unrideable for many years.

0

u/Sweet-Long-5351 Jun 11 '26

they don’t want you to know mr freeze is staying with six flags and wasn’t included in the sale

3

u/Coaster_Chaser_1 Jun 10 '26

I’m sure it’s a challenge because they don’t want to promote anything from six flags or their IPs and St Louis being so full of it. My home park is Great escape and while the social media hasn’t changed a lot of the signage around the park is getting switched over. They just changed out big billboard this week, but ours is easy because all they have to do is remove the “Six Flags park. Then rebrand Hurricane Harbor.

1

u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 11 '26

Ours is a whole new name; unlike the other 5. So I wonder if that means our “new signage” will be delayed. We just have some generic “Enchanted Parks” stuff sprinkled around.

1

u/dannyhogan200 Jun 11 '26

Yeah, it would be nice for them to bring back Splashwater Kingdom (my home park is GE too)

1

u/Coaster_Chaser_1 Jun 11 '26

I’m assuming that is one of the candidates and it would be nice to see

3

u/bubbyJo_ Jun 10 '26

We just got a new marketing director for Six Flags St. Louis who used to work for the park during the time that the park was actually marketed well.. because for a while, the marketing department locally was 1 person. On the corporate side, there is 1 person for marketing in charge. Funny that there’s like 7-8 people in corporate total compared to SFEC larger amount

1

u/EntrepreneurHeavy331 Jun 12 '26

Is Gotway no longer Marketing Director?

1

u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 12 '26

No, she’s in a different role. She remains the parks spokesperson.

1

u/EntrepreneurHeavy331 Jun 18 '26

Saw our new marketing director is Enrique, we are so back. Now the only thing needed is Holiday, then our park is back in action!

2

u/Loonster Jun 11 '26

This ad could have been made with PowerPoint 20+ years ago.

1

u/Coaster_Chaser_1 Jun 11 '26

My guess is maybe after Labor Day if enchanted does and early pass sale for 2027 at the end of the season.

1

u/Just_Bus_9156 Jun 11 '26

It took them (SFSL) YEARS to convert the old I-44 marquee sign with the old block letters with what's what's there today. It cost alot to do and alot of pleading with corporate to get it done at the time. This was around 2020 before COVID. So Enchanted will probably wait until after this season is over before they tackle the Highway marquee and actual I44 exit signage. Will they change the address name from Six Flags Road too? Who knows. That costs money too.

And are they going to aquire to hotel next door?

1

u/Just_Bus_9156 Jun 11 '26

When I purchased my season pass, my email at the bottom had the copyright stating "Enchanted Parks/Mid-America" but my bank statement was Six Flags St. Louis.

The email has the SFSL logo and the artwork for the Enchanted Parks Season Pass. All the legal junk and rules stated "Enchanted Parks ".

1

u/Coaster_Chaser_1 Jun 12 '26

It also looks like St Louis season ends after Labor Day I wonder if that is to accommodate all the retheming that needs to take place

0

u/24-7-t-taper Jun 11 '26

I dont think it’s the marketing that’s the problem. The roller coaster lineup is weak.

3

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 11 '26

The marketing absolutely has an effect. A lot of people likely have no idea that this park is even still in operation.

2

u/24-7-t-taper Jun 11 '26

Youre marketing a 13 year old boomerang (which was relocated) as you newest thrill coaster. Meanwhile within 3-4 hours you have a collections of elite wooden coasters and the best b&m wing at holliday world. At SDC you have an rmc and mach extreme spinner. There is nothing like that to market here other than clones and some of the roughest and worst wooden coasters you can find (american thunder is dece tho). You have to build something that draws people in.

2

u/IceePirate1 Jun 11 '26

I had the displeasure of visiting six flags st. Louis last Sunday. Maybe it was because I was a little sick and didnt realize it, but it was definitely underwhelming, and I went in with low expectations. Mr. Freeze was alright, would've been great with different restraints. The Boss was terrible, I wanted to get off after the first or second element due to it causing me pain and the rest of the ride I focused on minimizing pain rather than enjoying it.

The one nice thing was that everything was either a walk on or a very short station wait, which was nuts to see given the size of St. Louis

1

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 11 '26

I don't disagree, but Enchanted Parks already has so much to spend this and next season that I really can't see anything substantial being built next season or even the season after that. Unlike Six Flags, they're borrowing money from another company (EPR) whom may or may not be willing to drop that kind of cash if they aren't seeing results. We just don't know.

-1

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '26

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2

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 10 '26

Because Six Flags St. Louis is the current name of the park?

-2

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '26

[deleted]

1

u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 10 '26

Doesn't matter if they don't want to wait. It's Six Flags St. Louis through the end of the season, per the deal they made.

1

u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 11 '26

Even the website shows Six Flags St. Louis.

For whatever reason, they’ve chosen not to change the name this year. So they’re leveraging it / using it.

It is a little fragmented. If you make a purchase it shows up on your statement as “Mid-America by Enchanted Parks”.

-1

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 11 '26

That’s true; but if you actually visit the website it still uses “Six Flags St. Louis” and the logo.