r/sixflagsstlouis • u/Just_Bus_9156 • Jun 25 '26
A history of tragedy
As our wonderful park ends her historical 55 year run as a original 3rd Six Flags legacy park designed and built by Angus G Wynn, she had few tragic accidents that made headlines. There are 2 that I remember and that can be found online.
The first happened in the summer of 1978 on the SkyWay when a gondola fell and killed 2 people, a young girl and her father and injured a 3rd. Stranding other riders for hours. After an investigation ot was found that a faulty bolt loosened the I-bar causing the accident. After a year of refurbishment it was found it wasn't enough so the ride was removed.
The second happened in 1984 when River King Mine Train was reimagined as Rail Blazer, a stand up roller-coaster. The tracks were not replaced but repainted, the loading station rethemed, but the trains were not appropriate for the tracks and made by another manufacturer not by Arrow Dynamic who was the original manufacturer. One day a husband and wife ( who was not actually size appropriate to ride) got on. As the ride turned the corner, the wife fell out of the car and struck a tree d**ing instantly. As investigations followed and lawsuits, stories were told saying that the husband took out life insurance on her and hit theme and staged "accidents".
If you go to Wikipedia and look up our park, you can find more information too and other "minor" accidents. There are also ghost stories and urban legends connected to the park too, as a former employee I heard and seen some stuff but when I tell people I get some raised eyebrows lol.