Six Flags Marine World
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| Location | Vallejo, California, United States |
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| Coordinates | 38°8′16″N 122°13′48″W / 38.13778°N 122.23000°WCoordinates: 38°8′16″N 122°13′48″W / 38.13778°N 122.23000°W |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Previous names | Marine World, Marine World Africa USA, The New Marine World Theme Park, Six Flags Marine World |
| Operating season | Year round |
| Area | 135 acres (55 ha) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 38 |
| Roller coasters | 8 |
| Water rides | 3 |
| Website | www |
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (formerly known as Six Flags Marine World, Marine World, The New Marine World Theme Park, and Marine World Africa USA) is a 135-acre (55 ha)animal theme park located in Vallejo, California, roughly halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento on Interstate 80. The park includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides. Discovery Kingdom has been part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks since 1999.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom first opened in 1968 as Marine World, a small zoo in Redwood City, California. In the mid-1970s, it merged with a failing land-animal park called 'Africa, USA' and became Marine World Africa USA.
In late 1985, the increase in value of the park's property became too great a tax burden. Following an intensive search for a new site led by Michael B. Demetrios, construction began on a new and larger park in Vallejo, California, about 55 miles (89 km) north of Redwood City. The new Marine World opened to visitors in 1986 and remained under control of the non-profit Marine World Foundation, using Garfield the cartoon cat as a mascot at various points. The park defaulted on its debt to the city of Vallejo, after which the city took ownership in 1996.
Vallejo hired Premier Parks (now known as Six Flags Entertainment Corporation) to manage the property, 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 "Dino Island" for its first season of operation. The theater has since changed films numerous times.
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