St. Louis Union Station Expands with New Family Rides
Photo: Courtesy of Zamperla
(eap) The leisure complex St. Louis Union Station in the U.S. state of Missouri has expanded its Wheel Park outdoor area with three new family rides supplied by Italian manufacturer Zamperla. The attractions – “Loco Motion”, “Flying Louie”, and “Wave Swinger” – complement the existing leisure offerings surrounding the 200-foot (60-meter) high “St. Louis Wheel”.
Photo: Courtesy of Zamperla
Loco Motion is a compact spinning coaster of the “Compact Spinning Coaster 123” model type, featuring a total track length of 403 feet (123 meters) and a maximum height of 16.5 feet (5.1 meters). The train accommodates 16 passengers and has a theoretical hourly capacity of around 370 riders. The ride is accessible to guests with a minimum height of 36 inches (90 centimeters). In addition to the coaster, two other classic rides have been added to the area: the “Galleon 42” pirate ship (Flying Louie) and the “Flying Carousel 64” wave swinger. Classic midway games round off the new family offering at the site.
Photo: Courtesy of Zamperla
The new attractions are designed to reflect the history of St. Louis – the thematic concept draws inspiration from the city’s industrial and cultural heritage, known as a key railroad hub, river port, and host city of the 1904 World’s Fair. “The park asked us to lean into St. Louis history for the theming and design,” said Ramon Rosario, Zamperla’s Director of Sales. “The Compact Spinning Coaster is a nod to the city’s history as a rail hub, the Galleon recognizes the steamships that ran up and down the Mississippi, and the Flying Carousel is a celebration of the 1904 World’s Fair,” he noted. The master planning and design of the expansion were carried out by local architecture firm PGAV Destinations. “The St. Louis Wheel has been a prominent landmark of St. Louis and Union Station for the past six years. The expansion further activates the outdoor space with rides that extend the experience and broaden the appeal to teens with thrilling new attractions,” said PGAV Destinations Architect Andrew Schumacher.
“It was great to hear the laughter and happy screams from St. Louis residents and visitors when they experienced the Wave Swinger, Flying Louie pirate ship and the Loco Motion spinning coaster for the first time. St. Louis has really embraced these exciting additions to the Wheel Park,” said Brian O’Loughlin, Vice President of the operating firm Lodging Hospitaly Management. ■
