Six Flags Discovery Kingdom , formerly Six Flags Marine World , Marine World , The New Marine World Theme Park , and Marine World Africa USA , is an amusement and animal park located in Vallejo, California. It has a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, with a number of animal exhibits and shows. It has been part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks since 1999.
History
Early history
For more details on this topic, see Marine World/Africa U.S.A., California.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', 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 (89 km) 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.
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 (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 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 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.
Addition to the Six Flags chain
After more additions of amusement rides, Premier made a name change to Six Flags Marine World in 1999. The most notable result of the name change was the rights to Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes characters. With the new name, the park received the wooden roller coaster called Roar. Built by Great Coasters International Inc., it was 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. Medusa lasts three minutes, starting with a 150 foot drop 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, 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. The park also added the "Warrior of the Dawn" film to its DinoSphere theater.
2002 saw a notable modification to Vertical Velocity. Because of local building restrictions, the height limit on all roller coasters at the park is 150 feet (46 m), while V2 exceeded that limit by about 36 feet (11 m). Thus, they lowered the reverse tower 36 feet (11 m) and turned the forward tower into a 45° angle with an incline heartlineroll that spiraled over the park's main entrance. So far, Vertical Velocity is the only roller coaster to do this. 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 created by Schwarzkopf, 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. Zonga's last season of operation was 2004, it then sat dormant until it was removed in 2006 and placed in the parking lot for storage. By the beginning of the 2007 season, Zonga was removed from the parking lot. It is now operating at the San Marcos National Fair in Mexico.
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.
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 was separated into different themed lands of Land, Sea and Sky. $16 million was 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 called Thomas Town, 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 rays and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins as well as getting up close to South African penguins.
On June 5, 2007, Six Flags confirmed media reports that Six Flags will exercise their option to buy the park.
For 2008, the park featured its longest operating season since it was branded as a Six Flags park. The park has shut down the IWerks 3D Turbo Theater due to escalating repair costs on the out of date operating system and hardware. The park received its 8th roller coaster named Tony Hawk's Big Spin, which is located on the former Zonga concrete pad. The ride features a unique layout compared to the three other coasters which share the name, including a base frame instead of permanent concrete footers and a higher top speed. Tony Hawk's Big Spin opened on May 23, 2008.
In 2009, the park introduced the all new Odin's Temple of the Tiger. The new tiger exhibit and show features the diving, white tiger named Odin. Discovery Kingdom also acquired two new Bengal tiger cubs, Nalin and Akasha.
2009 also saw the addition of the park's official page on Facebook. Fans of the park can stay up to date with all the latest news, updates, and photos from Discovery Kingdom.
http://facebook.com/discoverykingdom
The park's major competition in the San Francisco Bay Area is California's Great America in Santa Clara, next to San Jose.
Seasonal Events
The haunt 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 hous
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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Family fun park information on hours, admission rates, amusement rides, shows, and special events. Location directions available. Formerly known as Marine World.
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