The Most INSANE Theme Park EVER: Marine World Africa USA

Before it became Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Marine World Africa USA was perhaps the ultimate animal theme park. Boat safaris, water slides, water skiing elephants, a unicorn, and more!
Long before the roller coasters, this arguably dangerous theme park had stories of a San Francisco 49ers player and even more. You could say it's a west coast action park.
0:00 Intro
0:38 An Idea
1:50 Construction Begins
2:42 Marine World
4:38 Judy the Waterskiing Elephant
5:13 Attendance Drops
6:38 Africa USA
7:55 Marine World Africa USA
10:41 Animal/Safety Concerns
13:27 The Park Grows
14:00 New Competition
15:43 Interesting Stories
17:05 Whale of a Time World
19:30 Park in Trouble
20:32 Tiger Mountain Rapids
23:04 Campeau Corp
23:50 The Unicorn
25:49 Save Marine World
27:33 Randy Cross Incident
29:06 A New Location
32:52 Moving to Vallejo
33:56 Reopening
34:54 Pep Rally Tiger Incident
35:58 New Attractions
40:26 The Decline
43:05 Cougar Mauling
43:29 Debt
44:07 A New Operator
47:00 Roller Coasters
48:16 Tiger Mauling
49:40 The Park Changes
50:02 The Six Flags Era
52:50 The Park Today
53:59 Outro
Medusa thumbnail image by Tinned Elk
Tiger attack (WARNING: UPSETTING): imgur.com/gallery/IdgygAp
Music:
You're Fake (Instrumental Version) - Zorro
Whut Ya Sayin' - Booker and the Yeomans
Getaway Rock (60s Pop Version) - Elliot Holmes
Don't Bother Brother - Jerry Lacey
Turtle Beach - Oakwood Station
Afternoon Sun - Sahara Skylight
Below Thunder - Wendel Scherer
Souvenirs From Africa - Sight of Wonders
Serat - Much Lesdds Sense
Safari Trails - Sahara Skylight
Bad Hair - Wanda Shakes
Hide and Sneak - The Fly Guy Five
Seatbelt On - Brightarm Orchestra
Looking Over Your Shoulder - Stationary Sign
Low Boogie - Dime Deep
Like That I Guess - Stationary Sign
Oudstock - Yinon Muallem
I Will Be Waiting (Instrumental Version) - Cacti
Sneaky Business - J.R. Productions
The Friendly Ghost - Arthur Benson
Strange Clouds - Sarah, the Illstrumentalist
Always a Party - Ryan James Carr
Your Touch (Instrumental Version) - Particle House
Me vs Me - Jharee
How Many Times (Instrumental Version) - Fox Drop
He's Taking Over (Instrumental Version) - Birgersson Lundberg
Habanero - Timothy Infinite
Say It (Instrumental Version) - Elijah N
Mario Bava Sleeps In a Little Later Than He Expected To - Chris Zabriskie
On Division Multiplying (Instrumental Version) - Xavy Rusan

[@Goliath146]

I got to experience the water slide that you ride down with multiple people, bumped into someone once, me and that person were laughing so hard, we became best friends after that

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

That's pretty lucky. I feel like most people would have cursed you out lol. He sounds like a good guy. Thanks for commenting!

[@Goliath146]

@@ThemeParkCrazy yeah but we became best friends after that and we still are today, it’s one of our favorite memories and we still laugh at it

[@gameslikes0grolls]

@@Goliath146 thats really awesome, im about to go to sfog, anything i should know?

[@Goliath146]

@@gameslikes0grolls yes, get the fast pass it’s worth it for Long lines like Goliath, mindbender, Batman, and twisted cyclone, from what I know those can get the longest lines in the park

[@gameslikes0grolls]

@@Goliath146 thank alot man!

[@edob1970]

Wow… this brought back memories. In 1981, my parents brought my brother and I to the park. I fell off the zip line and hit the tarpaulin hard and lay there with concussion. I was rushed to hospital (3 days before we due to return to England). The park stayed in contact with my parents throughout and offered us free tickets to go back. I recovered and we returned and had the full VIP treatment. The highlight was being taken backstage. The head keeper brought out their largest tiger Naji. I remember this gigantic creature bounding towards us before lying down and rolling over so she could have belly rubbed. When she was done, she stood up and promptly p1ssed all over my brother. The park and the head keeper stayed in contact with me for years afterwards. I loved receiving the long handwritten letters and photo updates of Naji. Marineworld Africa USA was something else. Thank you so much for yet another wonderful video.

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

A concussion? Damn. At least you got some good memories out of it! Thanks for commenting!

[@degeneratemale5386]

What did petting the tigers belly feel like? How fluffy was the belly?

[@supme7558]

Sure!

[@karlnorgaard9447]

A monkey bit me at rainbow valley zoo in Edmonton Alberta.

[@bugglemagnum6213]

they were buttering you up to avoid litigation 😂😂😂

[@rgs8970]

For all their faults, I'm impressed that none of Marine World's incidents led to euthenization of any wild animals! (I mean, I'm also happy the human beings survived, of course, but the animals weren't the ones initiating contact, after all.) Really great overview of the park! I'm glad I found your channel!

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

I'm glad you found my channel, too! Thanks for watching!

[@motivatedchange]

As a Bay Area native in my early 40’s, this video brought back a lot of memories of going to the park in Vallejo as a kid. I remember that blue whale playground, I remember when some of those exhibits opened (like the shark experience), the roller coaster announcements making the news, and the general panic that happened when Six Flags bought the park as a lot of people thought it meant the park would be shut down. I also have vague memories of seeing that 25 anniversary commercial you showed on tv. This was a really fun watch.

[@sliiimelord_]

That ball pit smelled like pee every time lol

[@PenningtonThe4th]

Omg I saw the "unicorn" at the Ringling Bros show as a child. I still have the program magazine my mom bought me, it comes with a fold out poster of the unicorn. I should get that framed and put it in my bathroom 😅

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Cool history.

[@PenningtonThe4th]

@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214 Yeah, I had no clue the history of it, but I remember my mom telling me it wasn't really a unicorn. About a year ago, she found the program and asked if I wanted it. Of course, I said yes. Wasn't until I got them from her that I fully remembered the unicorn. I guess I just always figured it was a mutation or birth defect. It's a big pink 80s poster with "the living unicorn" in the middle

[@shadowhawke]

Yeah I remember that year.. I was disappointed in their "unicorn" all they did was have it in a wagon or carriage and just circled the center ring. Couldn't see it unless you have front tow seats which we never did.

[@supme7558]

Meto it was a sheep

[@wonderrob3225]

I remember that show too and in the same show a guy got shot out of a cannon!

[@twistedimagev2]

OMG THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS!!! Ive been waiting for years for a video like this!!! Marine World Africa USA was my local Theme Park as I grew up in the next town over, only about a 15min drive away. (The Vallejo Location) I LOVED that place as a kid it was GREAT!!! The stage shows, the animal shows, the Ski Show on the lake were all so memorable!! I remember Petting and Riding Elephants, playing inside the big blue whale ball pit, seeing the butterflies in the Butterfly house, I also remember seeing the acrobats of china show many times, and I remember going to the brand new Shark Experience when it first opened. I remember the animatronic Dinosaurs and the 3D simulator ride also. Six Flags rally ruined the park and destroyed its legacy. But hey they have roller coasters so the teens like it. I guess.

[@awesumtoast97]

Fairfield?

[@aggiesjc]

I got to go to Marine World Africa USA in Redwood City a couple of times. As a kid, it was an absolute thrill. I remember the stadiums and the orca and dolphin shows, with the ability to watch from windows underwater; the water ski shows; the animal enclosures around the perimeter and the motorized raft boat ride that toured guests to see them; all the bridges and canals that the raft boats cruised; elephant and camel rides; Tiger Mountain Rapids water slides; big cats being walked on leashes through the park; the ball pits for kids to play, with the best one positioned over water so it felt like a water bed on the floor.

[@lisapt6702]

Loved this! I was born in the 60s and often forget how much has changed. Zoo exhibits and animal shows always seemed a bit sad back in the day - seeing a large ape sitting listlessly in a bare metal cage never seemed right. I’m so glad standards have changed. Coasters are much more fun anyway.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

I like that.

[@liamcollinson5695]

Yeah I went to a zoo as kid and saw this depressed polar bear in a small cage I left feeling the same way and never went to a zoo again

[@stellviahohenheim]

standards have changed?

[@kaitourobin840]

​@@stellviahohenheimIn the top zoos, yes. They usually charge people $30 or even more though. But for good reason. Up Keeping for animals for these Zoos are great. However last year I went to my first city run, free admission zoo. Though half Zoo was updated, the half was still from 1920s. It was the first time in my 28 years of life I can see where people were coming from. And I realize majority of people who visit Zoo, are most likely go to these free Zoos or low price Zoos. And honestly they're the problem. They cannot generate enough funds that are required to maintain a proper facilities for both Animals and Human comfort.

[@eristineforever6934]

I actually love zoos and animal shows.

[@johnnymacchicago]

Wow, Peter, I had no idea of the history of this park! I literally didn't know this was Discovery Kingdom until the end. Now I am even more excited for this year's ACE Coaster Con. Thank you, brother!

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

Glad you enjoyed it! This was an extremely enjoyable project!

[@mjbraighboy]

I visited this park in 1994 on a school field trip. I vividly recall the big play area and being afraid of the shark tunnel aquarium. I got a dinsaur card game as a souvenir bought by one of my classmates parents. Some of the Walkabout stuff was open because I remember learning what a walkabout was and seeing koalas. I visited the park again twice in the summer of 2001 as teenager after Six Flags bought it. I have photos I took myself of V2 and a souvenir portrait of my friends and I riding an elephant. Thank you for making this video I was always curious about this place.

[@currentlypettingdogs]

Hi! Wow, this was actually a really rad video to see. I used to work for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom back in 2018 as a part of the wildlife exhibit education team (they refers to as "Explorer Guides" and they gave us these awesome khaki uniforms), and working there was some of the most fun I ever had. It was amazing being on a team that cared so deeply about the education and conservation aspects of our wildlife exhibits. Yes, we truly care for the animals behind the scenes, and a lot of our animals at the park are rescues! Honestly, I didn't know too much about the park's history before this video -- having grown up only knowing about the Vallejo park -- and I never made the connection between Oracle's campus and the old Redwood City location. Thank you so much for making this video. It was very well-produced and I learned a lot of things. :)

[@user-hy4ny8uk2m]

That tiger mountain rapids commercial takes me back . My dad worked for channel 2 and every year they had a company pic nic at marine world with all day slide passes

[@Camerenyoo9]

Please do more of these long form park history!!! Loved it. Great work.

[@heatherc2239]

Growing up I lived on property next to where the park was. When traveling down the bike path you would see remnants of the place they didn’t bother to clean up. Bleachers, water ski show props etc. Definite blast from the past!

[@ram7021]

that story about the dolphin and the NBA player is amazing

[@gojirazillasaurus6341]

For real!

[@drummerv5726]

As a kid who grew up in Vallejo and still resides here today, this video brought me back!!!! Wow!!!!! Thank you for this!!!

[@newbiegamelover4767]

It's amazing how long it took for a tiger to attack someone. And that the first incident being so minor, knowing how powerful those animals can be. I'd never want to get up close and personal with a full grown tiger, but I have to admit, the idea of petting a cub is a very tempting idea (even if it's not a very good one). Also, I especially feel bad for the goats that were turned into unicorns. I really hope that the placement of their horns didn't cause them any discomfort.

[@mattyt1961]

Even petting a fully grown one is tempting. I had the pleasure of feeding a tiger at Dreamworld in Australia. I did this when I was in my 30's. They warn you to use the tongs to handle the meat and to keep back form the fence. I thought, what kind of idiot would want to pet a tiger, then I got close, and it was so cute, I had to mentally stop myself from even thinking I should pet it.... Then it got up on it's hind legs, and it's paw where a foot away from my face and I decided I didn't want to pet anything that had paws bigger than my head (and I have a huuuge head).

[@machinesofgod]

I definitely remember this place as a kid in the early 1990s. I had my birthday party there one year. They allowed me to go in the back area and pet a full grown tiger, its head was bigger than me. No way that happens in this day and age, there's simply too much liability. Great park for the time and I hope any surviving animals (if any) are living better lives.

[@GoetiaTV]

Lots of nostalgia for this one. I remember going to Marine World Africa USA when the Butterfly exhibit opened and then when the Shark Encounter opened. And those commercials unlocked the part of my brain that had them burned into memory. Once they started to put in the rollercoasters I lost interest but it was still cool seeing all the changes happen from the freeway when you crest the hill into Vallejo. Thank you for this excellent documentary.

[@DreadfulAssassin3]

Glad I came across this video. Being an 80's child from Vallejo, CA, I have many fond memories of Marine World Africa USA. Thanks a bunch.

[@Never2old.]

Judy the waterskiing elephant and other animals were in a 1981 movie called Honky Tonk Freeway, i do not remember much about the film but remember the elephant.

[@lincolncwynar1547]

Now this is something awesome to explore/document.

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

It really is! A truly fascinating park!

[@scottsalas1803]

I worked there in the mid to late 90s and had season passes until moving away in 2003. There are so many more crazy stories. I remember B celebrity J.D. Roth bringing a road version of his kids show (similar to double dare) to the park and kids getting slimed and otherwise messy. I ended up with a pair of his shoes, they had all matter of gunk on them. One of the guys I worked with would regularly finish sodas, hot dogs, pretzels, and any other manner of food abandoned in the show stadiums afterwards when we had to go in and clean up.

[@schmxnderz5928]

Grew up going to both Great America and Discovery Kingdom (formerly Marineworld), so it’s cool to see the history of the park from before I was born. Thank you for this!!! Great video!

[@Splitter4416]

I only lived in the bay area for one year, when I was four years old. I only went once with my best friend at the time Philip and I only really remember the dolphin show and the whale of a time playground specifically the blue whale ball pit, which really was just absolutely astounding in size and scale when you’re that little. Thanks for reminding me of those memories!

[@ekojar3047]

You weren't lying. This is the most insane park and story i have ever heard in my life!

[@Demetrisadventures]

Thank you so much for making this video. I’ve been looking for a video on discovery kingdoms passed for the longest time. You did this really well

[@VoorTrekker88]

Fun Fact: Lancelot the unicorn goat was also briefly owned by the notorious serial killer Leonard Lake.

[@gregsurrell598]

My family & I used to go there when we visited my grandfather, who lived in San Jose in the early 70s. I remember the whales, puppet show, ski show, etc. It was a fun place. Lots of memories.

[@Laffinatu]

I’m of the Six Flags Marine World eras, I have the Zonga credit! I don’t even care if people hate that roller coaster. It was so freaking fun for me. My best friend nearly cried because that was his first rollercoaster and it scared him so much. I also had the luck to see the best 3D Turbo theater Film ever at the park: Stan Lee’s The 7th Portal. It is a shame to know those experiences are lost forever. There is an added thrill to going to a theme park and having two amazing opportunities that many people never had. Final note: We need another Batman Forever show.

[@paultidd]

Great documentary! I worked at the park for 11 years through all of the weird name changes. From when the city owned it, and it was still called Marine World Africa USA, all the way to when it became Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

[@tommybutler2454]

You sure did a thorough job with all the videos and stills and information you gathered. Wow ! I'm in ! Liked and subscribed.

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

Welcome aboard!

[@Bluerat91]

When you said "This is the most insane theme park ever" you were not kidding man!

[@ronin_user]

I loved this park. Loved. I completely forgot about it until right now.

[@DylanLTindall]

The fact that they used to let the public get up close and pet wild animals is mind blowing. I bet if they did this now, they would probably get shut down by officials.

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

Oh definitely! Times were different back then.

[@toddjones1480]

They’ll kick you out if you try to pet them, but it’s possible for some of the larger animals to touch guests on their own terms at some serious zoos. Feeding giraffes is pretty common, but I’ve also fed a rhino as a guest fairly recently. The rhino was a mom and was actually nursing while I had my arm in her mouth.

[@Bird_Stork_Amenphus]

Oh man, I remember as a teenager getting stuck on the boomerang was a rite of passage! That ride broke down SO OFTEN!

[@warchild4069]

Loved the play area and water slides. Playground almost killed me but it was so awesome.

[@TrthWrld]

We used to take field trips to Marine World every year in elementary school. Memory lane in this video. Cheers to the late 80's early 90's for letting people experience danger up close and personal.

[@hershbrown2342]

What a wonderful very thorough video about a park that had some wonderful years before government regulators, insurance agents and protestors caught on - and up. Company parties were so much fun - tigers walking right behind your lunch tables, tug of rope with an elephant and Stormy Schooner and Bayo and this friends Yagga and Vigga.

[@jamieking3062]

This looked like a lot of work. Great job I really enjoyed it!

[@MisterSpiffy]

47:28 Kong is by far the roughest coaster of its type I have been on. It beat the heck out of my head, and I had a headache for a couple hours afterwards.

[@kyrabresnahan8215]

I noticed you mentioned Geauga Lake in this video. I’d love a long form video like this one on that park, the evolution of that one is just as nuts!

[@mynameiskrysta]

That ai bit was WILDDDD

[@slopper]

Wow this was so cool! I grew up and still live in Redwood City less than a mile from where the theme park was. The main street is still called "Marine World Parkway". The area is now all tech/biotech companies. Sadly, our remaining theme park, Great America in Santa Clara, is facing the same fate and will also close within the next handful of years.

[@GPK1075]

I went to the park the same day you uploaded this, they're so different now.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Of course.

[@Pantheraleo1545]

16:11 Probably one of the best theme park/zoo stories I’ve ever heard (and you tell it so well). God bless Clifford Ray for doing them that favor and saving the flipper boi and I hope Mr. Spock “lived long and prospered” after that unfortunate accident

[@Pantheraleo1545]

What’s even more mental is that this is not even the only occurrence of a tall man reaching into a dolphin’s stomach to save it… Google Bao Xishun

[@beaandjuno]

This was my fave park in the 70s and with tiger mountain rapids. I still remember when the animals were moved across the bay to vallejo. We lived in foster city and you could hear the lions and tigers at night, separated by a tiny bit of water, on the bike trail.

[@Coasterlover72]

My first visit to the park was just after Premier Parks took over operations. Kong was my first ever slc. I even got to ride Medusa on its opening year. Thank you for this video. I knew it was exclusively an animal park for a long time, but I had no idea that it was originally at Redwood City. I found this video very interesting and enlightening.

[@caucasoidape8838]

The mountain lions were excited to have him back. LOL

[@RachelKoszycki-lc4iu]

"A cassowary petting zoo" :) LOL

[@therainbowcat3]

this video was well worth the wait! awesome job

[@jackpijjin4088]

You know, out of all the information here... ...I think I appreciate the 'period-appropriate' music you chose for each era the most. XD Definitely worth the wait.

[@landonmj7263]

I never thought that a park like this would've ever existed! Great video!

[@ThemeParkCrazy]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@Mulluns]

I live about two hours from here, and I remember going here when it was just Marine World Africa USA, then seeing the Dinosaur area. That ride was an absolute blast. They actually made a sequel to it a year or so later, but then on year, after it was rebranded Six Flags, it was replaced by some odd chariot ride with a Greek Mythology setting. I think it's called Six Flags Discovery Kingdom now, and I'm surprised it still has animal exhibits there. Well, that's my rant. PS, as a Modesto, CA resident, nice to see the Modesto Bee used as a reference a few times. Great video as always.

[@marchingbandtakemebythehan1887]

this was an awesome video!! I really enjoyed listening to it!

[@Bealzabub]

It was kind of crazy with this video to suddenly realize about 2/3 of the way through that this is the Six Flags that I grew up going to! You were describing all of the additions that they had made and all of the stuff that they had done at the new location and I was sitting there going WAIT A MINUTE.

[@gotvinn6824]

The water ski shows were awsome!!

[@sunceremony7717]

I loved Marine World! My grandparents always had their company picnics there ❤.

[@vectorwolf]

I remember a safari park that was just off the freeway in Irvine. You just drove your car right through the enclosures, and there wasn't anything stopping the animals from coming right up to your car. It's all office complexes now, of course.

[@jurassicmation8440]

4:59 she got back up like nothing happened. Also good video by the way wait to see see more :)

[@worksucks111]

My mom used to take me to marine world when I was a kid. She loved taking us to that park. The park moved to Vallejo and the tech company Oracle built its headquarters on that site. It was a great location.

[@Lizacorn]

I’ve been waiting for this one! 😊

[@TownHousePC]

Great details!

[@adiemuller5422]

I love the inclusion of the ads. The past was wild, lol

[@FilmAndFancies-xf9it]

The football player who had 0 hard feelings towards the tiger is an absolute GOAT for that

[@solo1014]

I rode an elephant at marine world when i was a kid. :)

[@vanapotamus6348]

your telling me they relocated an entire theme park WHY DIDN'T THEY DO THIS TO ASTROWORLD

[@benshepherd6007]

Night shift crew back at it again, what an interesting place!

[@TallGentSFBay]

I used to live up the way from Marine World Africa USA when it was in Redwood City/Redwood Shores. I went almost every weekend. I remember them moving the park from RWC to Vallejo. It was an odd park, but it was educational and often fun.

[@fearandloathingmedia2051]

I basically grew up in Wet N Wild Orlando, 40$ annual pass in 2010, my senior year, i snuck into an afterhours private party by hiding in the bushing during closing time until the party started, i jumped off the raft before the big drop on brain wash, that funnel is horrific without a raft, your friend that stayed in the raft usually collide with you at the bottom of the half pipe, man disco h20 had a camera and they would often yell at you, but the black hole.... the black hole is dark, and nobody can hear you scream.

[@MackieMc8709]

I grew up in the Bay Area and this was an annual destination for all of us kids who spent our summer vacations at our local elementary schools under the supervision of High schoolers working for the cities Parks and Rec Dept. I loved Marine World .... we could get up close and personal with some of the animals, you could watch warter ski teams do tricks, see animals doing many things and I loved it. I have not been to Discovery Kingdom that I probably live 35 minutes ( on a good traffic day) from there but I have never wanted to go there.... Naji was amazing tiger , huge and beautiful. I am going to have to go through your videos and see if you have one on another favorite of mine.... Frontier Village .

[@pennystevens2294]

I lived near Marine World when it operating. Went with family and as a Camp Counselor with The YMCA

[@rae17]

watching this the main thing that stands out to me is Demetrius’ love for the park. this was truly his baby and he did everything to try and make it succeed. I have a lot of respect for his dedication

[@Tasouz]

Im a British person who’s never been to the USA but loves ur vid as usual

[@dervert9743]

awesome

[@maj84]

Imagine my surprise to see my local childhood theme park as the subject of this video! It wasnt this crazy when i was going there in the 90’s i swear 😂

[@kariert]

I only went when it was in the Vallejo location, but it was such a fun park if you were an animal loving kid. The shark exhibit was a really big deal when it was first rolled out and was still a favorite of mine as an adult. I must have done the elephant rides on one of the last years after it was six flags and honestly, it felt like it might be cruel at the time. The reduction in animal exhibits overall was disappointing, but it was nice to see the shift towards showing natural behaviors rather than circus acts. We had season passes for a year around 2010 and in the winter they would bring snow in and had a hill that's you could sled down. In the 90s, ESPN would film some of their ESPN 2 content there, including their "Superdogs! Superjocks!" competitions, which involved athletes having their dogs compete against each other. Cheap Seats had a couple of funny episodes with commentary about these shows.

[@lincolncwynar1547]

Documentaries like this, make me miss how awesome, but dangerous/lax the 80’s standards were.

[@2kthrills168]

"At least I hope that's a heart" 💀

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Good for you.

[@jimbobjones9330]

We had season passes at Discovery Kingdom for a few years when my kids were younger (about a decade ago) Boomerang was actually fine, but Kong beat the living hell out of you. I moved to Northern California in the early 90s (like 1990 exactly), and remember those commercials about Marineworld Africa USA like it was yesterday, though I'm pretty sure we never went. Just couldn't afford it. Medusa was actually the second big coaster my older daughter ever went on (the first was the big coaster at California Adventure in a dumb but silly story) It (Medusa) was also the last coaster I've ever ridden. It was weird. We went in like March. And for some reason, Medusa had pretty much zero line. So I took my daughter on it (she was 10 or 11 at the time). She loved it. No line. We went on it again. And again. And again. With barely a 5 minute wait each time. 11 times. We went on that damn thing 11 times that day. By about the fourth or fifth time, it started to feel like work. And I haven't wanted to go on a roller coaster since.

[@samuelblack7314]

You and your daughter exploited the hell out of Medusa.

[@jimbobjones9330]

@@samuelblack7314 Lol. I'm starting to believe that those 1/2 hour wait times exist for a reason. I didn't get sick, but it was definitely less enjoyable after about the first hour.

[@JWParkerPhDDDiv]

I am amazed at the advancements theme parks are going through right now. Universal Building a new park all together, new land coming to Disneyland, and the new Dolly Parton Experience at Dollywood.

[@nicholaslogan4022]

No lie: When you mentioned bringing Australian animals to be exhibited, my first thought was they should do the real Australia and have taipans, funnel web spiders, and crocodiles. Immediately after, you suggested spicing things up with a cassowary and inland taipan petting zoo. Great minds, right?

[@NostalgiawithJack]

Would anyone like it if someone could revamp Marine World Africa USA? If so, just like in the past, the entire park will be themed around the animals that are found within the park. The park will include 18 animal attractions, 14 thrill rides including several roller coasters, a kid's playground, a monorail which will take visitors around the park, a carousel, an indoor arcade, and an indoor waterpark. This park will be split in three different realms: Terrestrial Treasures, which will be themed around land animals; Marine Marvels, which will be themed around sea animals; and Winged Wonders, which will be themed around birds and butterflies. Instead of just being open during the summer months, the park would be open year-round; but the thrill rides would not be open during the winter months. The park would sit anywhere between 100-300 acres of land and would cost between $200 million to $300 million to build. Instead of being in CA, I would like the park to be in Lexington, KY, since they don't have a zoo there.

[@goopegoop]

would honestly be pretty sick. they would probably have to call it something different though for copyright but it’s a great idea for a park

[@NostalgiawithJack]

@@goopegoop 'Tis true. If the park wasn't called Marine World Africa USA, I was also hoping to call it the Feathers, Fins & Fur Theme Park.

[@kelsey280]

That poor elephant. Good god.

[@QDude24]

Those kinds of ziplines are in a lot of playgrounds over here in Europe, and nobody really cares. We simply think that kids can't learn anything without making mistakes

[@FocusRS2Roush]

Man wish you talked about The Walrus Experience. That was a huge addition back in the day and also used in Adam Sanders 50 First Dates. Not the only time Hollywood used the park after moving to Vallejo. I once talked with a trainer at the camel exabit who revealed the baby camel they had, who vocally cried a lot was recorded. The recording of the camel cry was then modified and edited into the cry of the baby T-Rex in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. And looking up crying camels, sure can hear the baby T-Rex in it now. Also, kind of went quickly over the removal of orcas. Yaka and Vigga were stars of the park and sadly both passed away in Vallejo. Both were at the original Redwood park and moved to Vallejo. Yaka was massive, she was around 10,000lbs while Vigga and later Shouka were smaller around 5,000lbs. I remember after Yaka's passing the splash zone no longer got as wet; compared to when Yaka was there. After the passing of both Yaka and Vigga the stadium then went dark on and off for years. Some diving and acrobatic shows came and went. But majority of the years after the stadium was dark. So when Six Flags Worlds of Adventure closed their orca, Shouka, was sent to Six Flags Marine World. After years of performances, befriending 2 bottlenose dolphins, she eventually went to SeaWorld San Diego. A resident of Vallejo filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and petitioned for a companion . The resident claimed that housing Shouka alone violated the Animal welfare act. Thus she then eventually went to San Diego where I believe Six Flags received multiple bottlenose dolphins in return. I remember the FedEx sponsored truck with CHP escort arriving in Vallejo with a lot of fanfare. Shouka still performs at SeaWorld to this day. She can do some amazing flips and twists. I've seen very few orcas perform the twist and flips she's learned over the years. Search for Shouka flips on here and you will see she is a star. I missed her at Six Flags but seeing her at San Diego SeaWorld with other orcas and integration into their pod was amazing to see. On my trips down to SeaWorld I'd always ask which one was Shouka. There was also another animal incident happened you didn't mention at all. In 2004 an elephant gored one of the trainers. According to reports the trainers "abdomen was pierced". Man did bring back memories though. I forgot about the tug-of-war with an elephant. But I will never forget the ski show. Seeing the ski boats "thread the needle" with 2 in one direction, another going head on and passing between the other 2. Watching all three ski boats going in unison into a high speed spin.... Man, that made me want a MasterCraft and still do to this day!

[@stephanieraebel8160]

It took me forever to watch this as I kept pausing to read the signs posted around the park😂😂😂😂😂😂😂...I was there on opening day. My mom took us cause it was cheep😂😂😂😂. OMG.... The guy who said sister gone....😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. And Kong was the worst coaster ever!!!!! Hurt you every time. It got stuck really bad once where the fire department had to use the truck ladder to get people down.

[@athenasasmr7472]

It’s time to wake up Theme Park Crazy posted a new video!!!

[@toddsworldofcooking8094]

Wow, a couple pictures of Pat Derby. What a great lady. I knew her well. RIP

[@lyns618]

We used to go there every summer in the late 70's, early 80's. Fun place. Would go to Frontier Village too

[@noelletakesthesky3977]

LOL, OMG I used to go here as a kid, and didn’t think it was unusual. I still have my Girl Scout patch from going there! I remember being so enamored with some white tiger cubs I got to cuddle.

[@bsqwahlE]

My sister and i were show skiiers and worked at Marine world summer '72 and '73. The water was SO polluted by animal excrement.

[@killerpimp01]

You totally need to do a video about Shireland in Hampshire, Illinois. It was a theme park started by the eccentric millionaire inventor of the upside-down spraying paint can. It was only open two nonconsecutive years 1988, and one month in 1991, then sat abandoned for decades. It's truly a wild story!

[@JLAvey]

I went to Marine World a couple of times when I was a kid, way back in the last century. I still remember the names of the orcas.

[@etinarcadiaego7424]

That football player was truly a real man for not holding it against the tiger. I would have done the same. Mad respect.

[@QuaixiAnimations]

Oh my absolutely crazy God! This park was so darn crazy I don’t even believe it existed! But well, it was a great park, and still is, and I would love to go there some day. Great video Theme Park Crazy!

[@300zxbear2]

Went there a lot when I was a little kid in the mid-90s.

[@behindthespotlight7983]

I grew up with Marine World in its original Redwood City location. The place was equally cool and by todays standards woefully inadequate for the animals. But make no mistake: the staff truly loved the animals and the treatment was all love. It’s just that the 1970’s-early 80’s were a different time

[@MrJasonshores364]

I loved that park as a kid.

[@cchild12789]

I live in the Bay Area, so I remember when Discovery Kingdom was still Marine World.