Daring to Have Fun in the Heart of America: Daredevil Daze 2021

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originally posted on 10/15/2021

All photos by Paul Drabek. View full-sized image.

With Daredevil Daze normally falling in that space right between summer and fall, the weather is always a game of chance. In some years fall is decidedly the season, and then there are years like 2021 when summer was still in full swing and hanging around on September 18 when 46 ACE members and guests descended on Eureka, Missouri, for a day of fun at Six Flags St. Louis.

Being a long-running event, there is a lot of tradition that goes into making Daredevil Daze an event that people come to year after year. Starting off the day, everyone was led through the crowds back to Batman: The Ride for the first ride of the day. Once everyone had plenty of rides on the classic 1995 Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster, attendees split into groups to roam the park, enjoying ride after ride.

In the early afternoon, there was a picnic lunch down in the World’s Fair Picnic Grove, where everyone feasted on roast beef and chicken tenders with lots of sides before devouring some amazing-tasting cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes that the park brought in for the group. After the meal, door prizes were handed out, and everyone got ready for the surprise of the day.

The surprise came a few weeks before Daredevil Daze was announced when the classic John Allen Screamin’ Eagle was removed from operation owing to the demolition of Superman: Tower of Power. The surprise was that attendees were going to have a behind-the-scenes tour not only of the Screamin’ Eagle but also of what was left of Superman. As everyone headed up the hill and around the Eagle, the only remnant found of the 230-foot-tall tower was a ring of rubble where the ride stood from 2006 until just a few weeks ago. Everything between there and the entrance to Screamin’ Eagle is gone, including the game buildings that were seldom used and that hid the Eagle’s entrance. Replacing these structures will be a new plaza that will breathe life into Screamin’ Eagle, giving it an appropriately grand entrance, as well as a prominent place for the new-for-2022 Catwoman Whip skyscraper ride.

Behind-the-scenes tours are always a treat. View full-sized image.

The tour continued as attendees walked around the woodie, getting to look at the lift chain engine and the storage/maintenance track that sit behind the coaster’s station. From there, ACEers took an unexpected turn as everyone got to walk from the storage track onto the transfer track before heading into Screamin’ Eagle’s station. Walking track is kind of rare, so everyone really enjoyed getting to stand on the Eagle and snap pictures over and over. The tour wound back through the Superman construction area and back around on the Eagle’s access road into the Old Glory Amphitheater before heading back into the park. Those who picked up bolts, nuts, bits of concrete from Superman or an old piece of coaster wood all took their booty back to their cars before spreading out into the park for an evening full of rides.

“Souvenirs” were picked up along the tour. View full-sized image.

View full-sized image.

Nighttime was quickly upon the group, and for Daredevil Daze that means exclusive ride time. While fans were sad not to have the legendary Eagle for ERT, the caped crusader stepped up to the plate adding Batman into the lineup with The Boss, Mr. Freeze and American Thunder. ERT began with The Boss and Mr. Freeze. With two coasters and just 46 people, no one had to get off or switch seats. For ERT at Daredevil Daze, people can just ride to their hearts’ content, which is what most people did. By the time The Boss and Freeze were done for the day, Batman and American Thunder were ready to go for the second half. Knowing that some serious ERT takes a lot out of riders, Six Flags always has drinks and snacks lined up to keep everyone going for the second half.

Mr. Freeze ERT. View full-sized image.

View full-sized image.

American Thunder. View full-sized image.

By the time the final trains of the day rolled out of the block brakes into the station, there was nothing but grins on the faces of all who attended, who were thinking of the fun they had and the fun that is to come for Daredevil Daze 2022.

Keep an eye on the ACE Heart of America social media pages for the 2022 date very soon.

— Paul Drabek, ACE Heart of America Regional Representative