You hear it before you see it. That rhythmic, thunderous clack-clack-clack that echoes across the parking lot of Gurnee, Illinois. It’s a sound that’s been a staple of the Chicago suburbs since 1981. Honestly, the American Eagle Six Flags Great America is more than just a ride; it’s a massive, white-painted wooden skeleton that defines the park's skyline. If you grew up in the Midwest, you probably have a core memory of standing in that long, winding queue under the structure, listening to the screams from above and wondering if the "Blue side" or the "Red side" was actually faster.
Most people just see an old wooden coaster. They're wrong.
When it debuted, it was the tallest and fastest racing wooden coaster on the planet. Built by the legendary Intamin and designed by the firm Figley-Wright, it was a feat of engineering that pushed the limits of what 2x4s and 2x6s could do. It’s got a massive 147-foot drop. It hits speeds of 66 mph. But the raw stats don't capture the actual experience of that first drop, where the car feels like it’s trying to outrun its own shadow.
The Engineering Genius Behind the American Eagle Six Flags Great America
Why does this ride feel so different from modern coasters like Goliath or Maxx Force? It’s the friction. Or rather, the lack of "smoothness" we’ve become accustomed to in the era of RMC (Rocky Mountain Construction) steel-tracked hybrids. The American Eagle Six Flags Great America is a true wooden coaster. It breathes. It shifts. On a hot July afternoon, the wood expands and the grease on the tracks gets slicker, making the ride significantly faster than it is during a chilly Fright Fest night in October.
The layout is a classic out-and-back design. You climb that massive lift hill, which feels like it takes an eternity, giving you a perfect view of the Illinois landscape and maybe a glimpse of the Chicago skyline on a crystal-clear day. Then, you plummet. The "racing" aspect is what makes it competitive. There’s something visceral about looking to your left or right and seeing another train full of strangers just inches away, screaming just as loud as you are.
Red vs. Blue: The Great Debate
Ask any local and they’ll have a preference. Red side or Blue side?
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Conventional wisdom suggests the Blue side is smoother, while the Red side feels a bit more aggressive. Is it true? Kinda. It often comes down to maintenance cycles. Six Flags maintenance crews work tirelessly on "re-tracking" sections of the ride every off-season. Because the Eagle has such a massive footprint—it takes up a huge chunk of the park's back-end—they can't always fix everything at once. One year, Red might feel like a dream; the next, it’s a bit of a kidney-shaker.
The most famous part of the ride isn't the drop, though. It's the massive 560-degree helix at the end. You’re banked hard, the lateral G-forces are pinning you against the side of the car, and the structure is rattling around you. It’s intense. It’s loud. It’s exactly what a wooden coaster should be.
Why It Hasn't Been "RMC'd" Yet
Every year, rumors swirl. "Is the Eagle closing?" "Is RMC coming to turn it into a steel hybrid?" Fans of the American Eagle Six Flags Great America are fiercely protective of it. While rides like Colossus at Magic Mountain were converted into Twisted Colossus, the Eagle remains (mostly) in its original state.
There are a few reasons for this:
- Scale: The ride is gargantuan. The amount of steel required to convert a dual-track coaster of this size would be astronomical in cost.
- Capacity: When both sides are running, the Eagle is a people-mover. It eats through lines faster than almost any other ride in the park.
- Heritage: It’s a landmark. Taking it down or fundamentally changing it would alter the soul of Great America.
That said, the ride hasn't been without its struggles. For several seasons, the park has opted to run only one side at a time, or run one side backwards (which was a fan favorite for years but is rarely seen now). Running a forty-plus-year-old wooden coaster is expensive. The wood needs constant inspection, the trains need overhauls, and the sheer manpower required to staff both sides is significant.
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The Backward-Running Era
If you were lucky enough to ride the American Eagle when the trains were flipped backward, you know it was a completely different animal. Dropping 147 feet without being able to see the ground is terrifying. It changed the airtime dynamics completely. You weren't being pushed into your seat; you were being pulled out of it in a way that felt much more unpredictable. Sadly, due to modern safety regulations and the wear and tear on the chassis of the trains, backward running is a rarity these days.
What to Know Before You Go
If you’re planning a trip to Gurnee to tackle this beast, you need a strategy. Don't just walk on.
First, check the wait times on the app, but take them with a grain of salt. Because the Eagle is tucked way in the back of the park near County Fair, the line can look long but move quickly because of the high-capacity trains.
Pro tip: The "Magic Seat." If you want the smoothest ride, sit in the middle of any car. Avoid sitting directly over the wheels (the front and back rows of each individual car). When you sit over the wheels on an old wooden coaster, you feel every vibration of the track. Sitting in the middle row of a car gives you a slightly more buffered experience. However, if you want the most insane airtime, the very back row of the last car is the place to be. You’ll get whipped over the crest of that first hill with terrifying force.
Safety and Comfort
Look, it’s a rough ride. It’s supposed to be. If you have back issues or don't like being tossed around, maybe skip it. But if you want a piece of coaster history, it’s essential. Make sure you use the lap bar correctly—don't leave too much space, or you'll be sliding around the bench seat like a pinball. The seat belts are a newer addition (from a few decades ago), and they definitely help you feel a bit more secure during those high-lateral turns in the helix.
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The Future of the Eagle
What’s next? In the world of theme parks, nothing is permanent. We’ve seen Great America remove classics before—Rest in Peace, Whizzer (wait, the fans saved that one!) and Tidal Wave. The American Eagle Six Flags Great America is currently in a "wait and see" period. With the recent merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair, capital investment strategies are shifting.
Some speculate a "Titan Track" treatment—a product from Great Coasters International that replaces wood track with steel plating while keeping the wooden supports. This would make the ride buttery smooth without losing its "wooden" identity. Others still hold out hope for a full RMC conversion that would add inversions and steeper drops.
But honestly? There’s something beautiful about it staying exactly the way it is. It’s a time capsule. It reminds us of a time when "bigger was better" and engineers were building these massive monuments out of nothing but southern yellow pine and ambition.
Insider Knowledge: The "Trim Brakes"
You might notice the train slowing down slightly at certain points on the layout. These are "trim brakes." Enthusiasts usually hate them because they kill the momentum, but they are vital for the Eagle's survival. By slowing the train down at key points, the park reduces the stress on the wooden structure, extending the life of the wood and making the ride safer. If they let the Eagle run "trim-less," it would likely shake itself apart within a few seasons.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
To get the most out of your ride on the American Eagle, follow these specific steps:
- Timing: Ride it twice—once in the morning when the wood is "cold" and once in the late afternoon when the tracks have warmed up. You will notice a distinct difference in speed and "rattle."
- Seating: For your first time, aim for the middle of the train to gauge your tolerance. For your second time, go for the very back for the airtime.
- The View: Don't just close your eyes. As you're ascending the lift hill, look to your left. You can see the entire layout of the park, including the nearby water park, Hurricane Harbor.
- Weather Watch: If it just finished raining and the tracks are wet, get in line immediately. A wet wooden track is a fast wooden track.
- Check the Side: See which side is running. If both are open, the Blue side usually has a slightly shorter line because people naturally gravitate toward the Red side (it’s more "iconic").
The American Eagle isn't just a ride; it’s a rite of passage. Whether it’s your first "big" coaster or your thousandth time riding it, that first drop still delivers a pit-in-your-stomach feeling that modern, over-engineered coasters often miss. It’s raw. It’s loud. It’s American Eagle.
Go ride it before the rumors of its transformation become a reality. There is nothing quite like the sound of those twin trains racing toward the finish line as the sun sets over Gurnee. It’s a classic for a reason. Don't let the "rough" reputation scare you off; it's just the ride's way of reminding you that it's alive. Grab a seat, hold on tight, and enjoy the flight.