Six Flags Marine World
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| Location | Vallejo, California |
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| Website | www.sixflags.com /parks/marineworld |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Operating season | Summer & Fall |
| Area | 140 acres |
| Rides | 46 total total
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Six Flags Marine World 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.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early history
The park first opened in 1968 as Marine World, a small oceanarium in Redwood City, California. In the mid-1970's, 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 until 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 kids 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. The location is still widely referred to as "Dino Hill").[original research?] 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
After more additions of amusement rides, Premier made a final change of the name 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.[verification needed] The 1999 season also saw the introduction of "Tazmanian 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 timelines 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 4th major roller coaster dubbed "Medusa". Medusa was built by Bolliger & Mabillard and was the first Floorless Coaster on the West Coast. With the first drop being 150 feet, it lasts 3 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 received 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 Norther 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 degree angle that spiraled over the parks 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 kiddie land located in the back of the park near the main land animal attractions. The area features 9 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 rollercoaster now sits on the outskirts of the Marine World parking lot in pieces. 2006 also brought forth a new rumor. It is expected that in 2007 the park will be renamed "Six Flags Discovery Kingdom" to reflect the image of the park of an animal park, a thrill park, and a marine park.
The animal aspects of the park have not vanished under this onslaught of steel and lights, the park continually adds animal attractions every year. Marine World 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 Marine World provides major revenue to the city of Vallejo, and is now a competitor to the San Francisco Bay Area's other amusement park Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara.
[edit] Rides and attactions
[edit] Park names
- Marine World - 1968
- Marine World Africa USA - 1986
- The New Marine World Theme Park - 1998
- Six Flags Marine World - 1999
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - 2007
- A trademark filing was stumbled upon by a roller coaster fansite and later spread across the coaster enthusiast interlink. Six Flags filed for the trademarking of "Six Flags Discovery Kingdom" which is said to feature Thrill Rides, Land Animal Attractions, and Oceanarium Attractions. It is widely believed that this name will be used to Re-brand Six Flags Marine World for the 2007 Season.
[edit] External links
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Conservation biology | List of zoos | List of zoo associations | Zoological Garden | Menagerie | Tourist attraction | Wildlife Conservation | Endangered species |
| Roller coasters at Six Flags Marine World |
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Boomerang: Coast to Coaster - Cobra - Greased Lightnin’ - Kong – Medusa - Road Runner Express - Roar - V2: Vertical Velocity |
