Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

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**Six Flags Discovery Kingdom**

Location	Vallejo, California
Website	www.sixflags.com
Owner	Six Flags
Opened	1968
Operating season	Late March through December
Area	140 acres
Rides	46 total 7 roller coasters 2 water rides

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is an amusement and animal park located in Vallejo, California. It offers a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, with a number of animal exhibits and shows. As its name implies, it is a part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks.

1 History
2 Rides and attactions
3 Park names
4 Trivia
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

The park first opened in 1968 as Marine World, 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 [1] 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-and-improved 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.

[edit] Conversion to a theme park

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(this was 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 greatly increased over the next few years, including the addition of several major roller coasters. In 1998, The park's name changed again, this time to The New Marine World Theme Park. The 1998 season saw the addition of two major roller coasters, Kong and Boomerang: Coast to Coaster. 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.

[edit] Addition to the Six Flags chain

Roar Wooden Roller Coaster

After more additions of amusement rides, Premier made a name change to Six Flags Marine World in 1999. 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 and was the first floorless coaster on the West Coast.^{[citation needed]} With a first drop of 150 feet, it lasts three minutes and is the park's most visited ride.^{[verification needed]} With the addition of Medusa, the park also received the Cobra family coaster. The park also built a new parking lot south of the park.

The park received its fifth major roller coaster in 2001, "V2: Vertical Velocity". 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.^{[verification needed]} 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.^{[original research?]} 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. ^{[original research?]}

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.

[edit] Seasonal Events

The biggest seasonal event at Discovery Kingdom is their annual Fright Fest Halloween event. Two haunted houses, scare zones, and many gouls 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 for the 2007 season.

[edit] Rebranding to Discovery Kingdom

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 seperated 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, opening Memorial Day 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 rays and Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins as well as getting up close to South American Penguins.

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 (California) in Santa Clara, next to San Jose.

[edit] Rides and attactions

Main article: Rides and attractions at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

[edit] Park names

Marine World - 1968-1985
Marine World Africa USA - 1986-1997
The New Marine World Theme Park - 1998
Six Flags Marine World - 1999-2006
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - 2007-

[edit] Trivia

In 1978, a local star, professional basketball player Clifford Ray, saved the life of a bottlenose dolphin 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 is still named "Marine World Parkway".