American Eagle (red side) front seat on-ride HD POV Six Flags Great America

This Intamin out and back wooden racing coaster opened in 1981 as the fastest (66mph) as well as having the tallest drop (147 feet) of any coaster in the world. In spite of being nearly a quarter century old, it still remains the tallest, fastest and longest (4,650 feet) wooden racing coaster in the world.
Check out the blue side front seat on-ride POV video we posted to see what it's like to be on the other side of this thrilling coaster: • American Eagle (blue s...
Six Flags Great America is located north of Chicago in Gurnee, Illinois.
This is us: www.coasterforc...
Read CF tweets: / coasterforce
Like us on Facebook: / coasterforce

[@tigerrocks503chase8]

American Eagle....this ride is so special to me because Its the only roller coaster I have a personal bond with. While it may not be in my top 5 in the park, I love love love this thing. The first time I went to Six Flags Great America in 2009 or 10, I was not tall enough to ride some of the other rides, but this ride I was able to get on and my little 9 year old self was blown away. This may have not been my 1st coaster ever, but I just love this ride so much. Every time I go to Six Flags Great America, I always have gone on this ride EVERY TRIP. Both 🔵 and 🔴 sides Dueling and not. In all rows front, middle, and the back! During spring, summer and fall. In the morning, afternoon, beautiful sunsets, evenings, twilight, dusk, and even very late at night being one of the last riders of the day. I have experienced a full moon on this ridden this both on a harvest and blood moon, starry sky’s, on hot and cold days, during sunshine, rain, and breezy winds. I also rode this 2 times on my birthday on November 6th. This even has been my final rides of the year before the off season begins. I am not lying, because of all these experiences on this iconic woodie, I never ignore riding it. The ride is kinda getting rough and it does not duel much like it used to......but I don’t care.😉 People who want RMC to turn this into a hybrid: 👎 I’m sorry but I actually disagree. Yeah it would be cool: but I like Eagle the ways it is! GCI retracking I’m fine with! Call me silly but every time I get off the ride, I don’t leave the station just yet, I give the train I ride a pat on the front and say: “Thanks buddy! Keep staying strong!* 😊 While this ride may not last forever I want this ride to last for a super long if it can. Me and American Eagle have never had a problem with each other and will always be secret best friends! 😍😇 🇺🇸 🔵🦅 🔴 🎢

[@vulpkip2172]

Aww that's so cute!

[@jfidnsosnskdidnsodosms1948]

Cool

[@BHV0810]

There are rumors that American Eagle could be RMC'd. I'm shocked and sad just to hear that. American Eagle is a good ride, although not the best. Goliath in my opinion is the best one there.

[@dontheking33]

I agree I would rather like American eagle get retracked by gci

[@tigerrocks503chase8]

Same here I want a GCI refurb. Sadly I don’t think the park would bother in spending money to refurbish and get it racing again. :(

[@mackenzie_biggs]

Girl: *screams* Guy: "No don't do that"😂

[@MsIvargas]

Mackenzie Biggs that's so me

[@cecir.240]

Mackenzie Biggs Honestly, my sister did that at the top, it was silent and she just went, "ACK" even though she's been on it before

[@KotoriHabane]

xD That was the funniest thing I've heard today.

[@LazySkeptic23]

Me!!

[@BHV0810]

More like Girl: *screams* Guy: "Do that!"

[@pairje5582]

On the first day this ever opened, my uncle waited 5 hours in line to ride it, as soon as he was about to get on the ride, they shut it down for mechanical reasons. xD yes he was pissed.

[@TheCampingBay]

Hellomynameisblank LMAO XD

[@gameingwithjollygaming872]

Hellomynameisblank omg sorry

[@Will-pl4tp]

I would have been very mad too.

[@ellakirchman5994]

Oof

[@Will-pl4tp]

Ella He waited *5 hours!* I know how he feels.

[@aly1346]

My uncle helped build this :) it's one of my favorite rides

[@jukingeo]

Really? That is interesting that you have an uncle that built this wonderful ride. I am giving away my age when I say that I have seen this coaster go up and there was big talk about it back in the 80's. This coaster was part of the late 70's / early 80's wooden coaster renaissance when parks started to build wooden coasters again. The one that started it all was the John Allen built the Coney Island Racer over in Cincinnati Ohio (now taken over by Kings Island). That one coaster caused a resurgence in wooden racing coasters and soon they started to pop up all over the place. The American Eagle went up, Rolling Thunder at Great Adventure went up, Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion went up, it's sister coaster at Carowinds, Thunder Road went up. A very big era in terms of racing wooden coasters making a comeback. But when steel coasters started to go upside down and they put Lighting Loops in at Great Adventure....everyone wanted a coaster that went upside down. So wooden coasters once again took a back seat to these coasters. It wasn't until the mid 90's when there was another wooden coaster resurgence which is still continuing today.

[@AnastasiaCant8]

Aly that’s awesome

[@chaoticzomba-gameplayandmo225]

Aly Wow I would see believe that.

[@EarthySmerky]

Sorry if this might hurt your feelings but I see a lot of this on KZbin comment and I’m starting to not believe them so ehh yeah

[@relaxinginpeace1310]

That's great! People have relatives. People also have skills and jobs so what's not to believe. Everyone is related to Somebody

[@elizadodge9892]

This video makes the ride looks so much steeper than it is in real life lmfao

[@hopeslife8166]

Eliza Dodge lol yes

[@flipdash8760]

Ikr

[@ss-vm7vw]

Eliza Dodge the video makes the drop look least steep to me, boy I was wrong

[@wiredtvcraze]

Always been one of my favorites since opening back in the 80s. That first drop is a monster and the smaller air borne hills later were always fun. The newer coasters maybe taller and faster but the Eagle is just one of those special coasters which must be ridden at least a billion times.

[@AwkwardBlackGal613]

The Last Outpost Wow I didnt realize it was that old.

[@andrewpennell7920]

Maybe a BILLION times is kinda overdoing it...

[@CloudStrife8894]

And the Wizzer as well.

[@Preppykel]

@@CloudStrife8894that’s a kid ride tho

[@richardc1720]

I always found this as the big dipper

[@ryanbaisa9830]

Rich Kastrey TRUEEEEEE

[@keelyvillarreal3583]

True

[@andrewpennell7920]

So gosh darn true

[@coleflannery2820]

Lol this is literally the big brother of the Big Dipper or the dad of the Big Dipper

[@savannahd.9877]

yuppp lol

[@kickthesky]

This was the first coaster I ever rode. It was 1981 and the coaster opened brand new that year. It was the scariest ride in the park at that time according to everyone. My young, thirteen year old self, who had, up to that point, been terrified to even think about riding a roller coaster, decided to tackle the scariest one in the park to get over that fear. I was terrified going up the lift hill. That brief moment, looking over the edge of the first drop as that train briefly pauses my heart was throbbing out of my chest. And then we dropped...and it was pure heaven! Been riding coaster since. Over two-hundred different coasters to date. Not my favorite coaster by any means, but it sill holds a special place in my heart. I will be saddened someday when they decide that it has to go.

[@BigAl1976]

I rode this lots of times and enjoyed it every time. In 1991, for the 10-year anniversary of its opening, one of the trains was turned around backwards so you could ride it either facing forward or backward.

[@mrbigg7255]

Always loved the eagle. Always felt like it was going to break apart. 😁 I remember when they reversed the train so you went backwards.

[@adamkaczmarek2393]

It used to be the tallest roller coaster in the world but now you can walk up with no line because no one goes on it but it takes 5 minutes because of how long the path is because there used to be very long lines

[@ellakirchman5994]

Adam Kaczmarek I know it's so sad it's so fun!

[@MikeB3542]

Best ride in the park

[@trdsupra3514]

@Jessica Schnittger yesterday I went and no line

[@israeldelarosa5461]

Used to? I waited nearly an hour about 6 years ago!

[@foebwildn3757]

In 2021 the lines have returned

[@koine2002]

This was my first coaster ride. I think it was in 1982 or so. I was scared silly. We went the next year and I loved every minute of it being better prepared.

[@mateacrnjac7423]

The first time I went on American Eagle I was praying on the way up

[@PANTHERESSDARK]

me too i was like 7

[@kaelyn306]

Right I was so scared

[@linaraoul]

1:25 no, dont do that! 😄😄

[@haleyraeee]

This was the first ride I ever went on!

[@djkreigline2760]

Djk34💘💘💝🥰 are you single how old you are

[@bakiecakes938]

I've only ever been on the blue side...

[@lilred4852]

Owl Blue. same but I'm going there this Saturday for a field trip for choir

[@samsfrags4852]

+it'sMonday i went this weekend for band

[@samsfrags4852]

+it'sMonday i went this weekend for band

[@skylarelliot4357]

I went a few weeks ago and the red side was the only one open so I really had no choice haha

[@isisbonilla6280]

me too i feel safe more on on the blue side

[@_rat_5758]

One of my all time favorites

[@thecoasterarmy7502]

AE is getting a repaint. I was at the park opening weekend and there was a fresh new coat of paint on the wooden support beams. There was fresh paint on the ground and the footers were also freshly painted as well. AE is not going anywhere, so don't expect RMC to come in and iron horse it any time soon.

[@2007disneyhouse]

I don't think they would put two rmc ' s in one park

[@2007disneyhouse]

+Airboss I actually really enjoy this ride as is and goliath

[@2007disneyhouse]

+Airboss I feel they will just continue replacing parts since it is officially counted as a nation landmark

[@Spalonebabbaguscooties]

Airboss there can be 2 if rmc wants

[@DrCranberry]

There actually can't, when AE was first built the highway wasn't there nor was the neighbourhood nearby the park, infact back in like 1999 Six Flags had to fight to keep AE, due to the city of gurnee passing a "noise law" bill. Since AE is too close to the highway and breaks noise law they cannot build another thing on AE's spot which is one of the reasons they cant take it down, nor can they RMC or remake it. All they can really do is repaint, redo some parts and attempt to keep it pristine because they can't do anything with that spot if it goes down.

[@bryceknowles1380]

My first coaster at SF, rode this back in… middle school, I think, with my dad. Was a great ride.

[@alaynatrevino8577]

This ride was my very first roller coaster

[@lilq7222]

Alayna Trevino sane I was FORCED ON IT

[@711store6]

@@lilq7222 me too 😂😂

[@montezoomasrevengefanboy6477]

1:39, I can feel that, lol

[@BobMocarski]

Was 6 years old when i first Rode the Eagle and the Demon. Those two will always have a place in my heart

[@AbandonedMines11]

Not a bad coaster! That 360° turn halfway through was pretty unusual. Looks like it would be a fun ride!

[@nylamarie2533]

I can’t believe I actually got on this😭💀💀

[@miahcatania3114]

samee

[@sub-zero5433]

me n my friend were in the front car and teared up cause of all the wind in our faces lmao

[@raelynnolinger2283]

i used to really like the American eagle last year ... but i just wemt to six flags gurnee last week and it has gotten really jerky and bumpy since last time i rode it .... tbh i think its too old

[@reneeacevedo2245]

Kiara O. Right before it was our turn to go on the blue side the riders got stuck up there. And this was my second rollercoaster ever. Lol

[@keelyvillarreal3583]

That's where I go but its fun when it's jerky

[@chicagocarless]

Such a terrible ride now, completely destroyed by lack of maintenance and trim brakes everywhere.

[@ellakirchman5994]

Kiara O you're too new

[@_lylac_3066]

Kiara O yea I just went today and it was really jerky and it was creaking a lot.

[@PyroBear1776]

Wooden coasters are classics for a reason.

[@adventures223]

Absolutely love the Eagle brings back so many great memories from the 80s and 90s classic wooden beast a true icon

[@xclusiveeken1]

That first dip is 🥶🥶

[@liamcasey3585]

How are you able to film on the rides? Do you need special permission from the park?

[@coasterforce]

+Liam Casey Yes. We get permission to film on the rides beforehand.

[@liamcasey3585]

***** How exactly do you get the proper permission?

[@coasterforce]

Liam Casey By contacting the park management to arrange a date and time to film.

[@jukingeo]

Seems plain and simple enough! You guys do great work. The new cameras you are using are crystal clear and very stable compared to the ones you used years ago. Prior to that I been mostly watching TPR's reviews. But now I love the new High Res videos you guys have been posting.

[@jasonhook3884]

Speaking of which, if you don't mind me asking- is there a specific rig and setup you guys use?

[@Thioester66]

I never want this ride to end.

[@TheHadouJHyrule]

@CoasterForce, if you haven’t re-ridden this lately, you may want to. They removed all of the unnecessary upstop bolts, making it unbelievably smooth.

[@TheBABS09]

This will always be my favorite ride ever since I was a kid only one I would ride back to back and the backwards😮 forget about it!

[@joshuaweiske8322]

I am a Resident of Illinois I have been on the American Eagle that ride is a piece of cake

[@BiggySn1p3r]

I've gone on this forwards and backwards.

[@InsaneElite1]

I went on this over and over and over one day when it was raining during frightfest. Best day ever I went on everything over and over!

[@ss-vm7vw]

Me and my friend held hands on this ride and when the drop cane we both screamed mommy 😂😂

[@riaheunique3850]

Looks like this was filmed in Illinois 😂 I been on this ride TOO MANY TIMES!

[@xhaanfilms2479]

No it’s the other eagle at the six flags great America somewhere else

[@dingusmcweeb9198]

personally my favorite ride.

[@eysevera1162]

Norman Bates same

[@myatobar9419]

I love this ride

[@reneeacevedo2245]

I went to six flags my second time this summer and I have a fear of heights. I cried on almost every ride lol. And right when we were about to board the blue side the riders before us got stuck up there and I was so scared. 😧😥

[@BHV0810]

It's usually not scary when you get stuck on the lift hill or brake run. Why? Either they continue you on the rest of the ride, or you are evacuated from the ride using the catwalks on the side of the track.

[@bg147]

They built this when I was a kid and I always loved it. What kind of maintenance is involved with all of the wood? It seems like a huge job.

[@coreycoyle9548]

I rode on this Coaster When I was seven years old. I hope to get back to Great America Whitin the next few years. Great Video!!! F+ L, Corey

[@mansaagony366]

It’s my home park it’s awesome I got on today four times no lines bc it’s rained so people left

[@brycefourn2001]

Cool ride and POV! It does look very smooth and is my fourth favorite ride at SFGAM. :)

[@AaronFree12]

Yeah this isn't smooth

[@c360276]

Well, woodies aren't supposed to be smooth.

[@brycefourn2001]

iSkoopz Some of them are, including El Toro.

[@mdubs54]

+BryceFourn 2001 Well el toros a prefab, those shouldnt hopefully be too rough.

[@chaoticzomba-gameplayandmo225]

BryceFourn 2001 personally the bumpyness is thrilling.

[@calebwilliamstime]

super underrated

[@Will-pl4tp]

I've only been on the red side and I need to know which one is better.

[@sharkboyryan195]

Red is

[@michaelsivan184]

Looks nice and smooth, I like

[@cecir.240]

michaelsivan18 x Hint, it's really not. It's actually very bumpy and rough, but that's what makes it super fun! The drop is huge too, you can barely scream as you go

[@melkost8922]

michaelsivan18 no no no very bumpy but soooo fun

[@andyblarblar279]

HeyItsCeciButYouCanCallMeLia what its not very bumpy at all

[@doritosauce6632]

This ride is the opposite of nice and smooth

[@CassieIsGae]

I pass this ride to and from school every day

[@kickthesky]

The video does a great job of showing just how unbearable the final helix on each side of the coaster have become. The whole ride needs retracking and that helix needs some rework.

[@MyIphoneGaming]

1:42 Breaks my back every time

[@melinda2513]

I just went to sit flags and great wolf lodge last week, I probably wouldn’t wanna go on this ride again, because I don’t like wooden roller coasters plus when it was turning I hurt my arm

[@jukingeo]

This is a beautiful racing coaster and I hope it stays this way. I have heard what Six Flags did with Colossus at Magic Mountain and for some reason, I like that conversion, but it did mean parting with a classic coaster. Yet, I like the American Eagle more and it does remind of another wooden racer that I used to ride and that was Rolling Thunder, which was at Great Adventure. Sadly the ride was torn down. It shared some similarities to the American Eagle in that the the two runs were asymmetrical...but it didn't have the nice lines and overall good looks as American Eagle has. The American Eagle also reminds me of the classic Coney Island Racer, which supposedly launched the wooden coaster renaissance. I can see that coaster's lines in the American Eagle too. I am hoping that Six Flags will leave this coaster be and not do any kind of steel coaster modifications to it. One thing though, it would be nice if they released the trains at the same time so the coaster can race.

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

+Diaval They're not going to RMC American Eagle any time soon, nor can they replace it due to various noise ordinances.

[@jukingeo]

@@johngriswold4303 In the past, Six Flags wasn't the greatest with upkeep on wooden coasters and sadly Rolling Thunder was a victim of this. Back in the 70's my sister road it and it was one of her favorite coasters. I managed to ride it too, but much later. One of the sides they didn't run anymore and the side I rode on was rough at best. The trains howled in the turns and it barely crested the second hill. There was almost no air-time at all on the ride. Compared to my sister's description when she rode it (back in the day), she was more out of her seat than in it. Well, at least I did get to ride it. It seems the smaller, private parks, like Knoebel's take WAY better care of their wooden coasters. Their coasters run pretty smooth. Granted the newer coasters like El Toro, supposed to be much better, but I have still a ? out for Six Flags and wooden coasters. Now that El Toro is aging, they are having much problems with it. Sadly, I didn't get to ride it yet.

[@rubyjvoss1734]

Six flags is even fun for people that don’t like rollercoasters or haven’t tried them for years!

[@xavieranderson8323]

1:25 "no dont do dat"🤣

[@belladamore2050]

i remeber when i went on this i was praying on the way up😭

[@IVSTUDIOZ]

Can anyone explain what that hut is right at the beginning of the helix on the left?

[@BellaAndZy]

Hey umm is it true at the beginning of the queue of the American eagle there's an abandoned car ride

[@MurphDawg4767]

They should RMC this!! It's been around forever. My parents used to tell me stores of when they rode it in the late 70's lol!

[@BHV0810]

American Eagle didn't open until 1981.

[@MrEliasdl]

Leave it alone. The classic woodies are unique and not many left

[@veronicagomez4109]

A True American Classic

[@dishman8595]

1:24 you can hear the starting tone I’m guessing blue side went down for a trouble light “Warning the ride is now starting” accompanied by a buzzer

[@rickk8086]

It's all about the first drop.

[@dmjortega8723]

CoasterForce go to lagoon they just opened up cannibal their newest ride and it's amazing

[@adelavasquez8779]

Can't belive I went on this

[@ellakirchman5994]

I went on this over the summer and when we were almost at the top,it started slowing and slowing down and I thought we were gonna be stuck on there. That would be really scary at that height but luckily we didn't

[@andrewhutson7065]

My brother got stuck on this at the top and face timed our dad like ‘Yeah we’re stuck’. Five minutes later ‘Ok well were going, bye’

[@Asmr-ng8xe]

I swear our cart almost flew off the track that ride no NOOO it needs a fucken upgrade I ain’t dying on that thing no way

[@mistastoudt404]

That is a LOT of trims.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Riding this on Sunday

[@Binmaru]

The American Eagle 🦅 you are classic beauty. I love coasters of all shapes sizes and styles, but I truly hope they never make this into a hybrid. Maybe recreate it..? But leave the original ride in fully functional condition as well

[@alexandrasmith4666]

This was my first roller coaster. I hated it lol. Now, im a huge fan of roller coasters.

[@BHV0810]

American Eagle is nothing compared to Goliath.

[@emmaMEALS]

going to six flags soon.. i personally only like wooden rollar coasters so this is perfect and ill probably go on it like 10 times

[@CassieIsGae]

maybe I'll see ya there!

[@CassieIsGae]

I live like 5 minutes away

[@rogueaaron]

reason why i watched this, becuz i missed riding this coaster

[@JMarieCAlove]

This reminds me of the original Colossus at the Six Flags Magic Mountain here in California, before they changed it. Is this just like the same as the one in California? I like older wooden coasters but they can be a little bumpy, but that’s my kind of speed for me. The roller coasters I’m to scared to get on are the coasters where the cars hang in suspension for a few seconds before dropping straight down or too many twists, loops I can handle. My birthday is in November, a big milestone in my life, maybe just once I’ll do something wild on my birthday like I use to do in my teens and 20s! Lol.. Or just go to Hawaii for my birthday 😁

[@myunbrickable]

Red side is now closed

[@KD-ji8hm]

This is the only ride with the less volume of people. That’s how much I love to get on it everytime.

[@oltrusty3865]

I wish it still raced

[@pizza_roller9654]

Never been to 6 flags before and I have an opportunity to go this weekend with my friends, I want to go, but I don't because I feel like I will get there and then realize that the rides are bigger than I thought, and then not want to go on any of them.

[@illinoianautochannel5632]

Same there making a new one... Rest In Peace, Ol’ ‘Merican Eagle, I had so much fun getting my elbows punctured 😖

[@eysevera1162]

This is my favorite ride

[@bradymerlet2433]

there is a deceiving amount of airtime on the first drop

[@frojo9]

The first time I went on this in the early 2000s it ran as "Blue Backwards" and "Red Forwards". Of course we all went on blue backwards.

[@avrilc8715]

I rode it backwards. I like the Blueside the best

[@tealnoise]

Iam able to record this on my phone?

[@Yamhambam]

It says red side but the tracks are blue ??

[@AwkwardBlackGal613]

Oh childhood memories 😺

[@aliagetaqi5979]

Eagle! Great America! :D

[@mooseli4180]

The part where you go up a hill again and hit that chainlift before turning left and going down again is so loud, when I was in the xFlight queue it was so loud. And on the Viper all the airtime hills, when you go down them and you like make impact from coming up it feels like its gonna hurt but the ride just eases into it.

[@nolanjohnson2179]

And that loud noise is my favorite noise

[@WaterSlideLover98]

That looks like a fair race

[@jaelynhessler4691]

that looks fun

[@calebwilliamstime]

I yelled are ya ready kids? on the lifthill and another dude said eye eye captin

[@BHV0810]

Prime titan track candidate

[@waba320sc]

Nah, it makes the coaster louder than before

[@dalilasalas9606]

Only ogs will remember red track😢 I was not a ogs bc I was born in 2014 but I remember my mom telling me about it

[@Jpw824]

That stop at the end though

[@VonMoments]

Just went to six flags and im very glad I went on this. And viper, and Batman. I broke my fear of roller coasters this one was really fun. But the Batman was better.

[@darrentan4579]

Eagle 🦅

[@realin8313]

I went on this today it was mostly chill but those drops were killing me

[@jordanh.8529]

Generally I'm fine with "rough" rides, like the Boss at SF St. Louis, but this one really bothered me. It was incredibly rough and shaky to an uncomfortable level. I'm probably never going to ride this one again

[@D2Kprime]

That's what the American Eagle is all about my friend. It's been that way for over 35 years. Terrifying drop because how steep it is, and the rickety-ness of it being old and wooden.

[@teddybear5636]

Lol ik no one will prob see this but answer my question if u can pls cuz I’m scared so I went on viper and I did not think it was that scary but for some reason I’m rly scared of the drop on this one SHOULD I BE SCARED?!?

[@captainchillie]

DO IT!! Its so fun!! You won't regret it.

[@jar4lifeo-o69]

My first non-kiddie RollerCoaster.

[@TheMilwaukeeProtocol]

I used to ride this and shockwave because the lines were so short. I think I went on shockwave three times in a row once. they might have even just let us go through a second time. i can't remember.

[@MyIphoneGaming]

I went on the viper literally like 50 times in a row all day and never got off until they closed, also I was so hungry because I didn’t eat anything at all the entire day

[@ducheau100]

I rode this with my father summer of 82.