American Eagle Blue at Six Flags Great America to run backwards again.

After a 6 year hiatus, it looks like the the Blue side of Eagle will run backwards to mark the 30th anniversary starting August 8th. The facebook page has been throwing hints.

Facebook hints.

Sweet - was planning to be up that way around 2 weeks later for inaugural laps on "the new Zippin Pippin", and wanted to get more Viper and my first laps on Little Dipper in its new location. Wood coaster weekend (Aug 25-28ish)!

So this means those who haven't can gain another credit :)

Gator, I think you've been to Little A before but ride my train and the haunted house for me :)

Hmm.. when I rode Screaming Eagle in June, it went so slow it seemed like it was going backwards... (it had a problem getting up the first hill).

Hopefully cedarfair will start running the racer coasters backwords again.

Pretty sure that'll never happen.

And riding a coaster backwards is a new credit? Wow...

Agreed...

Hey Clint are you reaching Ocboulderfest this September.

Of course it is. I always sit in the back seat and turn my head around the other way so I can add another coaster to my track record. ;)

Does it count as a separate credit if you go both ways on the same coaster? ;)

Eating a Gyro, then immediatly going on a gravitron also counts as a credit.

They made it official on Facebook. Eagle Blue will run backwards from Aug. 8th to September 17th.

Was hoping they were going permanent with this but oh well!!!!!!

I thought they'd at least run it that way for the duration of this season. Seems like a waste of time to switch everything around for 28 days of operating it backwards. Then I assume they'll switch it back to have both sides forward for Fright Fest as I don't think they can afford to be down a whole side for the end of the season.

Doesn't Read to Succeed end around the beginning of August too? That seems like another busy time to be down one side of the coaster if they are getting things ready.

Wow, not even for Fright Fest?

Oh well. I don't understand much of the hoopla surrounding this mediocre coaster, but Backwards Blue is a thing.

Mediocre? I think the red side still packs a decent punch. And for a large scale wooden coaster that is 30 years old, it has held up alot better than most other coasters of its size and is still easy to ride without being rattled to death.

^Heck yeah! And arguably, the best woodie in the chain. Red side is like a bat outta hell on the run back. It's smoother and faster than it has been in years! The first drop is still a great one, as it has the pause and gradual steepness increase (versus the tip you over, then drop - like most newer woodies).

^^Let's not forget (for anyone who experience the Eagle, year-for-year) there were many years between the late 80's and early 2000's where the ride was actually pretty lame. It was very rough on the run out (until the steel I-beams were added around 1996) and the helix was rough and slow. I think they've got it pretty fined tuned, now.

Hmm, interesting. Didn't PTC issue a bulletin & legal documents a few years ago stating that their stock was not designed to be run backwards and doing so absolves them of any responsiblity in the event of injury and/or accidents?

^Something like that; that's when Cedar Fair turned around the trains on Rebel Yell, Thunder Road and Racer. I'm sure Rideman can fill us in on the details.

^I see you appreciate this coaster like me. Been riding this bad boy since it opened. Blue side has become boring so I would like for them to keep it backwards because that just adds to the thrill.

I will always love Eagle unless they completely not maintain it.

I'm surprised that it isn't being kept running backwards for Fright Fest too. I guess I won't get the chance to ride it in reverse. Bummer. I bet Flash Pass sales will benefit from the down time of one side, so part of me doubts the park will mind having it out of operation for a period of time.

Eagle's easily my favorite racing woodie. It's runs like a race horse right out of the gate and has no trouble gaining that speed back up again after it's trim. The end helix is mediocre and breaking is heavy, but I just love front seat rides in the cold fall weather.