Cobra is a family-friendly steel coaster tucked into the Oasis Plaza area of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. Built by German manufacturer Zierer and opened in 2000 as part of the same expansion that brought the park its looping Medusa coaster, Cobra was designed to give younger riders and first-timers a taste of coastering without any inversions or steep drops.
As a Zierer Tivoli-Large model, Cobra belongs to a compact family of coasters found at parks worldwide, prized for smooth, snaking layouts that wind through tight turns at modest speed. At Discovery Kingdom, it has quietly served as an entry-level ride for a generation of young guests working their way up to the park’s bigger thrill machines.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- Manufacturer: Zierer
- Opened: 2000
- Height: about 26 feet
- Top speed: about 22 mph
- Length: about 1,181 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Cobra’s layout favors tight, winding turns over big drops, giving riders a quick minute-long cruise through its compact footprint in Oasis Plaza. With a top speed of around 22 mph and no inversions, it’s built for comfort rather than intensity, making it approachable for guests who aren’t ready for the park’s larger steel coasters.
Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride alone, or 42 inches when accompanied by an adult, placing Cobra squarely in the park’s lineup of family and junior rides. It’s included with standard park admission at no extra cost.
Part of a 2000 Expansion
Cobra arrived at the park the same year as Medusa, the floorless looping coaster that became one of the park’s signature attractions. While Medusa drew headlines for its inversions, Cobra quietly filled a different role: giving families and younger riders their own coaster experience in the same era of growth.
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Cobra FAQs
Does Cobra have any inversions?
No. Cobra is a family coaster with no loops or inversions, built for a smooth, mild ride.
How tall do you have to be to ride Cobra?
Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride alone, or 42 inches tall when riding with an accompanying adult.
Who manufactured Cobra?
Cobra was built by Zierer, a German manufacturer known for family-style coasters, and opened at the park in 2000.
Get More from Cobra
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Photo: Kiddo27 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.