, formerly '''Six Flags Marine World''', '''Marine World''', and '''Marine World Africa USA''', is an Amusement and Animal Park located in Vallejo, California . It has a variety of Roller Coaster s and other Amusement Ride s, with a number of animal exhibits and shows. It has been part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks since 1999.
The park first opened in 1968 as , a small oceanarium in Redwood City, California . In the mid- 1970s , they merged with a failing land-animal park called 'Africa, USA' (not the same as The One That Existed In Florida {Link without Title} from 1953 to 1961), and became '''Marine World Africa USA'''.
In late-1985, the increase in the value of the property the park occupied became too great a tax burden. Following an intensive search for a new site, construction began on a new and larger park facility in Vallejo, California (about 55 miles north from Redwood City). The new Marine World opened to visitors in 1986, and remained under control of the non-profit Marine World Foundation, using Garfield as a mascot at various points. The park defaulted on its debt to the City of Vallejo, and thus became owned by the city, in 1996.
The city then hired Premier Parks (now known as Six Flags Inc.) to manage the park, upgrade it, and improve its attendance. Premier added some non-animal attractions, particularly amusement rides, to increase attendance. In 1997, the park added two major ride attractions, "Popeye's Seaport" and "DinoSphere". Popeye's Seaport offered eleven children's attractions, including an interactive foam ball play structure and an interactive water play area. DinoSphere took the place of the park's Australian Walk-A-Bout attraction (also the former home of the "DINOSAURS!" attraction). DinoSphere was an Iwerks Turbo Theater, capable of seating 100 riders per showing. The theater played the Iwerks film called "Dino Island" for its first season of operation (the theater has since changed films numerous times).
The number of amusement rides increased over the next few years, including the addition of several major . Kong was relocated from Opryland USA after that park shut down in 1997 and opened at the Marine World in May of 1998. Other major additions that year included Hammerhead Shark, a Zamperla Prototype Hawk 48; VooDoo, A HUSS Top Spin ; Monsoon Falls and White Water Safari, Intamin AG water attractions. DinoSphere also received a new ride film, "Dino Island II: Escape from Dino Island" which featured improved graphics along with a new storyline.
After more additions of amusement rides, Premier made a name change to in 1999. The most notable result of the name change was the rights to Warner Brothers ' Looney Tunes characters. With the new name, the park received the wooden roller coaster called Roar . Built by Great Coasters International Inc., it made history as being the first coaster to feature Millennium Flyer trains. The 1999 season also saw the introduction of Tasmanian Devil, a Frisbee flat ride manufactured by HUSS , and Scat-A-Bout, a typical Scrambler flat ride. Although both rides opened in 1999, they were purchased by the park in 1998 but not constructed until 1999 because of construction timetables that prevented them being constructed in time for the 1998 season opening. Popeye's Seaport was rebranded "Looney Tunes Seaport" and received the Roadrunner Express kiddie coaster.
In 2000, the park opened its fourth major roller coaster dubbed Medusa . Medusa was built by Bolliger & Mabillard . With a first drop of 150 feet, it lasts three minutes and is the park's most visited ride. With the addition of Medusa, the park also received the Cobra family coaster and built a new parking lot south of the park.
The park received its fifth major roller coaster in 2001, . Built by Intamin AG, the ride was the first "Spiraling Impulse Coaster" on the west coast and took the record for being the tallest and fastest coaster in Northern California. The ride was plagued with technical issues when it opened, which resulted in extensive down time. The park also eventually turned off the LIM motor on the back tower that held the train in position for a few seconds on its second trip up the tower. The park also added the "Warrior of the Dawn" film to its DinoSphere theater.
2002 saw a notable modification to Vertical Velocity that brought the forward tower to a 45° angle that spiraled over the park's main entrance and the reverse tower was lowered 36 feet. The park turned the LIM motor on the reverse tower back on in 2002 season; however the motor failed to hold the train completely in place and slipped significantly. The motor was eventually turned off again in the 2003 season. Also the park began to show "7th Portal" in its DinoSphere Theater.
The park added its sixth major roller coaster, Zonga, in 2003. The ride was relocated from Six Flags Astroworld and received major track modification by Premiere Rides before it opened at Marine World. Zonga opened in late April to a sporadic operation. The ride was often closed because of mechanical problems, and when it did operate, it often closed for short periods of time due to ride errors. Eventually the park delayed its opening to 12 noon every day, completely blocking the ride plaza to park guests. The park also began showing "Stargate SG3000" in its IWerks 3D Turbo Theater which finally received new branding and was no longer called "DinoSphere". Stargate, however, did not feature the 3D effect and rarely received good reviews from guests.
2006 saw the addition of Tava's Jungleland, a children's area located in the back of the park near the main land animal attractions, featuring nine new attractions for families and small children to enjoy. In addition, Zonga was removed during the winter of 2005-2006 after not operating most of 2005. The roller coaster was sold in winter 2006 and removed from the parking lot in early 2007.
The biggest seasonal event at Discovery Kingdom is their annual Fright Fest Halloween event. Two haunted houses, scare zones, and many ghouls are added throughout the park. Tinseltown Terror haunted house is normally located in the park's bumper car ride. Brutal Planet haunted house is normally located in the Roar plaza near where Zonga used to be. The scare zone is located between Ocean Discovery and the entry plaza. This is where the world famous cockroach eating contests are held.
The other seasonal event which was supposed to make its debut in 2006 was Holiday in the Park. The event was going to extend the park's operating season until late December. It is now scheduled to premiere November 23, 2007. The event will feature Santa Claus, holiday themed shows, and other seasonal treats.
On January 17 , 2007 , the park announced its new name, "Six Flags Discovery Kingdom." The new name reflects the image of an animal park, a thrill-ride park, and a marine park. The park will now be separated into different themes of Land, Sea and Sky. $16 million will be spent on park improvements including new signage, new shows, and converting the 3D theater into a "4D" theater. The park also added a Thomas The Tank Engine -themed children's area, which opened June 20 2007 .
The animal aspects of the park have not vanished under this onslaught of steel and lights, and the park continually adds animal attractions every year. Discovery Kingdom continues to showcase its marine mammals and is currently home to the Orca Shouka, who was at the Six Flags park in Ohio until 2004. In 2005, the park added "Ocean Discovery", a major interactive marine animal area that lets guest interact and pet Sting Ray s and Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin s as well as getting up close to South Africa n Penguin s.
On June 5 , 2007 , Six Flags confirmed media reports that Six Flags will exercise their option to buy the park. {Link without Title}
Today, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom provides major revenue to the city of Vallejo. The park's major competition in the San Francisco Bay Area is Great America in Santa Clara , next to San Jose .
- - A Vekoma Boomerang clone. This was the first roller coaster to open at the park.
- - A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster and the second roller coaster to open at the park. Kong was relocated from the defunct Opryland Themepark in Nashville, Tennessee where it was called The Hangman , following the 1997 operating season. In 2007 the ride's entrance was moved to Oasis Plaza near Medusa. Riders now walk under the ride to enter.
- - A wooden coaster built by Great Coasters International Inc., ROAR! was the first coaster to feature millennium flyer trains. While the ride is a near clone of Six Flags America 's ride of the same name, Marine World's version was designed with tighter turns to enhance the feeling of speed. ROAR! is the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in Northern California.
- - Built by Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland , Medusa stands 150ft tall and reaches speeds of 65mph. When the ride opened in 2000, it featured the tallest vertical loop in the world at 128ft tall. Medusa shares its name with its sister coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure but features a different layout. The ride was the first coaster to ever feature the "Sea Serpent" element, a variation of B&M's popular "Cobra Roll" element. At 3,985ft long, Medusa is the longest roller coaster in Northern California and shares the height record with V2: Vertical Velocity, also located at the park.
- - California's first and only Spiraling Impulse Coaster, Vertical Velocity was built by Intamin AG and opened in 2001. It stands 186ft tall and reaches speeds of up to 70mph. In 2002, the park was forced to modify the ride so that it no longer exceeded 150ft due to local height restrictions. In doing so the front tower was tilted to a 45-degree angle and the reverse tower lowered to 150 feet. The ride still holds the record for Fastest Coaster in Northern California at 70mph and is tied with Medusa for Tallest Coaster in Northern California.
- - A 26ft tall family coaster located in Oasis Plaza, Cobra opened in 2000.
- - A kiddie coaster located in the park's Looney Tunes Seaport section. Roadrunner Express opened in 1999.
- - VooDoo opened in 1998 and was the first HUSS Top Spin on the west coast. VooDoo is located at the back of the park near Tava's Jungleland.
- - A HUSS Frisbee ride. Opened in 1999, riders board a giant disk that spins and swings and high speeds for approximately 2 minutes.
- - Riders board one of 2 giant arms and experience 7 vertical loops before completing their 90 second ride. This was the first Zamperla Hawk48 Ride to ever be built; opened in 1998.
- - The theater has been known as DinoSphere and Stargate although it has played 7 different films in its time. This was the original thrill ride to be built at the park; opened in 1997 as a 3D theater, it was updated for the 2007 season to include 4D effects which include water sprayers, seat vibrators and bubbles. The theater now plays the SimEx/iWerks film Wilderness Adventure. Discovery Kingdom is the only park in the world to feature a 3D version of the film which appears to have been reanimated from it original form with better graphics. The park is also the only park to feature a "4D" effect on this film.
- - A Zamperla swing ride; opened in 1998.
- - Bumper Cars ; opened in 1998.
- - A swinging ship; opened in 1998.
- - A Scrambler type attraction; opened in 1999.
- - A circular ride where riders board Orca shaped gondolas and rise into the air approx 15ft; opened in 1999.
- - Teacups ride; opened in 1998.
- - Riders board one of the 16 cars and spin around a giant gorilla at high speeds with sudden changes in elevation; opened in 1998.
- (Intamin River Rapids water ride) - opened in 1998
- (Intamin Spillwater water ride) - opened in 1998
'' (formerly Popeye's Seaport in 1997 through 1998)
- - A large indoor play structure where children and their parents can shoot foam balls at targets or each other; opened in 1997. All foam balls were removed in 2007. Six Flags has not commented on why the balls were removed.
- - A large interactive water play structure; opened in 1997.
- - Small tea cup ride; opened in 1997.
- ( Zamperla Samba Balloons)- A circular ride where kids can spin their cars while the ride changes elevation; opened in 1997.
- ( Zamperla Jumpin' Star) - A children's drop ride; opened in 1999.
- (Sartori kiddie swinging ship); opened in 1999.
- ( Zamperla Lolly Swing) - A children's version of the swing ride; opened in 1997.
- ( Zamperla Crazy Sub) - A yellow submarine where kids and their parents experience quick accents and sudden drops; opened in 1997.
- ( Zamperla Rio Grande) - Train ride; opened in 1997.
- - Pint sized planes where children control how high they go; opened in 1997.
- - A small merry-go-round with exotic animals; opened in 1997.
'' (all rides opened in 2006)
- - A circular ride where children board small elephants and control their height.
- ( Zamperla Rockin' Tug) - A large Tugboat that rocks and spins.
- - Riders board small Jeeps and traverse a track through animal attractions.
- ( Zamperla Samba Tower) - Riders board 4-person gondolas and are taken to heights of 35 feet. Riders are able to spin themselves which allows this tame observation tower become a high speed thrill ride.
- - A circular ride with "hopping" cars.
- - A slow ride for small children that spins in a small water way.
- ( Zamperla Swing Ride) - A tame swing ride that offers no changes in elevation.
- (SCS Interactive “Treehouse”) - A large outdoor play structure with slides and look out towers.
'' (all rides opened in 2007)
- (I.E. Park Unknown Model Name) - Similar to the park's Daffy's Deep Sea Diver, This ride appears to operate faster though.
- (I.E. Park Mini Flight) - A circular ride where children board small helicopters and control their height.
- - Train ride around the Shark Experience passing: Tidmouth Shed, Cranky Crane, Lake Hackenbeck, Hackenbeck Station and loading in a mock up of Knapford Station. Riders board into Thomas' coaches Annie and Clarabel.
- - Riders are harnessed to two long cables and hoisted 100ft above a flamingo pond. The riders must pull a ripcord and drop within 6 feet of the ground before swinging back and forth for a few minutes. Prices range from $35 for a Single Rider, $50 for a Double, and $60 for a Triple.
- - A high speed go cart track near ROAR!. Prices range from $7 per driver, $3 per passenger. Ride duration is 7 minutes.
- - Riders climb a 45ft rock wall. Price range is $10 per person for 3 Climb Attempts. As of 2007 riders are given prizes for completing a climb. Prize sizes are awarded by difficulty of the section they climb.
- - Guest gets to go "underwater" with sharks as they travel on a moving walkway with a glass dome above them showing and underwater shark habitat. Featured in the film 50 First Dates .
- - Guest can get face to face with 4 walruses. Featured in the film 50 First Dates .
- - Guest can pay $149.99 per person and receive a 1 on 1 training session with the park's dolphins.
- - Located in Ocean Discovery, guests can feed, play and touch dolphins.
- - Located in Ocean Discovery, guests can touch live sting rays.
- - Located in Ocean Discovery, guests can come face to face with South African Penguins.
- - Located in Ocean Discovery, guests can feed Pacific Sea Lions and Seals.
- - An animal exhibit featuring Alligators.
- - Guests enter a large, humid glass building filled with exotic butterflies.
- - A large exhibit filled with exotic Pink Flamingos. Located behind VooDoo and under Skycoaster.
- - Guests can view African Elephants as well as ride them and face them in a tug-o-war (part of the Elephant Show).
- - Guests can get up close to the park's 2 Cougars.
- - Guests can view the park's cheetah. Also home to the park's Snow Leopard.
- - Home of the park's Bengal Tigers. Guests are treated to daily training sessions.
- - Guests can get up close and feed the park's Giraffes.
- - The park's African Lion exhibit.
- - Home to the park's Dolphin Show, guests can also get up close to the dolphins at the viewing window in the main plaza. Ironically, Merlin the Dolphin does not live in this stadium, his home is Shouka Stadium. Featured in the film 50 First Dates .
- - Home of the park's Orca named Shouka. Guests can view Shouka at the viewing windows in the back of the stadium in between shows. Also home to Merlin the Dolphin.
- - Located in Ocean Discovery, home of the park's Sea Lion Show.
- - Home of the Bird Show.
- - Home to new arrivals and animals with special needs.
- - Located in Tava's Jungleland, guest can view various reptiles.
- - Located in Tava's Jungleland, guests can interact with the beautiful birds as well as feed them nectar.
- - A circular ride located near Ski Stadium. The ride was removed after two accidents sent people to the hospital after being thrown from the ride. The ride area is now used to display Toyota Vehicles.
- - The park's train system that transported guests from Shark Experience to Animal Adventure near Jambo. Shoreline Express was removed before the 2006 season to make room for Tava's Jungleland and the newly remodeled Lakeside Pavilion.
- - Built in 2003, Zonga operated for 2 years at the park. The ride regularly opened about two hours after the park and had frequent breakdowns, which contributed to closing down the ride. The ride stood silent for the 2005 season and was moved to the Discovery Kingdom parking lot where it sat throughout the 2006 season, leaving a large empty concrete area at the front of the park. In early 2007 the ride was shipped off after being purchased.
- - One of the first Zamperla "Joker" rides to be installed in the US, the ride opened in 1998 in the rear of the park near VooDoo. The ride operated for the beginning of the 2006 season, but shut down before summer operation. Shortly after, all rides of the same model in the Six Flags chain shut down, and none have reopened. Jambo was removed in the winter before the 2007 season as well as its sister ride, Trailblazer, at Six Flags Great America .
- - A Ferris wheel with balloon gondolas; opened in 1998. In 2007 the ride was removed to make way for the new children's area.
- - Riders are harnessed to bungee cords and jump on a trampoline reaching heights where they are capable of front and back flips. Price was $7 per person for 2 minutes.
- - 1968-Mid '70s
- - Mid '70s-1997
- - 1998
- - 1999-2006
- - 2007-
- In 1978, a local star, professional Basketball player Clifford Ray , saved the life of one of the park's bottlenose dolphins named "Mr. Spock" after the dolphin had swallowed a screw.
- The original Redwood City location was redeveloped into the corporate headquarters for Oracle Corporation . The street in front of the Oracle campus was named "Marine World Parkway" for years, until it was renamed to Marine Parkway in the 1990s.
- Several rides are based upon the animal theme of this Six Flags park.
- Rides named after animals: Tava's Elephant Parade, Nairobis Look Out Balloons, and Zoe's Tree House
- Rides that have actual animals: Ark (Bass in lake under ride), River Journey (occasionally gold fish make an appearance in the water below the boats), Sky Coaster (Flies over Flamingos), Safari Jeep Tours (Tortoises in center of ride)
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