Negative-G - Six Flags St. Louis The End Of The Hannibarrels 2013

The Long Broken & Abandoned Hannibarrels Ride at Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka, Missouri

TheHannibarrels main circular platform rotates six times an minute and then are three other circular platforms on it that also rotate when the ride is up and running making for some serious spinning. for those of you who like that.

On each of the three rotating platforms are six "barrels" where you could squeeze six riders into for a "barrel full of fun". At the center of each barrel is a hand wheel where the riders can add even more spin to the ride by spinning the barrel. Being the type who gets motion sickness in Imax movies or spinning around a lot the Hannibarrels is not my type of ride.

As if the spinning on the main platform, secondary platform and in the barrel wasn't enough when the Hannibarrels got up to speed two hydraulic cylinders would tilt the entire platform up fifteen degrees throwing in a little more lateral forces to it.

The problem is that the Hannibarrels hydraulic system went out in 1997 and after 26 years of running and declining ridership the accountants decided it was better scrap the Hannibarrels instead of putting in the money to fix it.

The problem is as the Hannibarrels was built into the park and part of several buildings. Removing it would leave a huge hole in the theming and would expose the backs of stores to guests so the decision was made to just leave it there as it was not that visible with the ride elevated above the nearby midway.

In the following sixteen years since the Hannibarrels broke nature has had its way with the ride. From the looks of all of the trash and that lone shoe there in that barrel a few Six Flags employees has snuck up there for something other than work related duties during that time.