Negative-G - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 2019

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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, California

After flying back from Toronto, packing for eight days in California, driving to St. Louis and taking two flights ending up in the San Francisco area twenty four hours later it was time to kick off the biggest trip I have ever taken. The plan was simple. Four of us were going to take eight days visiting ten amusement parks from Vallejo in the north all the way to Belmont Park a few miles away from the border with Mexico.

The first park on the trip was Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom traces it's history back to Marine World that operated in Redwood, California from 1968 and was owned by the American Broadcasting Company. In 1972 Marine World went bankrupt and was purchased with the new owner adding African animal exhibits to the newly renamed Marine World/Africa U.S.A.

1985 was the last year in Redwood for Marine World/Africa U.S.A. as high property taxes the park to seek a new home. In 1986 the park reopened in Vallejo where it existed as a not for profit animal/marine life park. A decade later in 1996 the not for profit organization that owned Marine World/Africa U.S.A. defaulted on their financial obligations to the city of Vallejo with the city taking control of the park. Shortly afterwards the city brought in Premiere Parks to manage the park, add rides and to increase attendance. The park was rebranded "The New Marine World Theme Park" in 1998 with the addition of the Boomerang and Kong coasters. Then in late October 1998 the parks name changed again. Due to Premiere Parks purchasing the Six Flags chain from Warner Brothers the park received yet another name "Six Flags Marine World".

As you can see by these photos from the parking lot there has been a lot added to the park in the last twenty one years. The park even got another name when it was rebranded "Six Flags Discovery Kingdom" in 2007.

Parking was a little bit of a mess due to Six Flags constructing a solar power system above part of the parking lot. I am all for this as once completed it will help power the park and guests will be able to return to a car that isn't scorching hot because it will be parked in the shade.

Here are my compatriots for this California trip. Joining me was Andrew, Amanda and Travis. If you are not familiar Amanda is flashing the international sign for "Coaster Enthusiast".