The American Eagle is my all time favorite rollercoaster.
I am so happy that Great America chose to keep it classic and original when every other park was converting wooden coasters. Big, old wooden coasters are getting rarer and rarer, and this is a truly great one, and is in pretty great shape over all.
As a kid, I remember the excitement we felt when we saw that big, white helix alongside the highway and we knew that we were almost there. Even now, it's the most visually striking feature of the park that can be seen from the highway.
I do love a thrill ride, but American Eagle fills an essential place in the park. It's thrilling enough, but it's also not super rough and forceful like many of the other rides. I can go on it 10 times in a row without taking a break, and my body doesn't hate me for it later.
I think the absolute best thing about The American Eagle is that wood is such a dynamic material, and the ride will feel completely different on a hot, sunny day versus a cooler day. My personal favorite American Eagle experience is in a light rain, or right after it has rained.
As I get older, and my bones ache and I start to experience headaches from coasters, I take comfort in knowing that this is one I will always be able to ride. Not every coaster needs to be a super intense, forceful experience. Not every wood coaster needs to be snappy like Viper (honestly, that one hurts my neck). Sometimes just the thrill of tearing down a track at absurd speeds, and long drops is enough.
Also, shoutout to that little dip on the red side right after the helix where you feel like the ground just got pulled out from under you. read more