Kong is an inverted roller coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, where riders dangle below the track through a tangle of loops and corkscrews. Built by Dutch manufacturer Vekoma as a Suspended Looping Coaster, it’s a classic example of the inverted-seating design that defined a generation of mid-size steel coasters at parks across the country.
The ride didn’t start life in California. It first opened as Hangman at Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee, in May 1995, two years before that park closed for good. Premier Parks bought the trains and track, shipped them west, and reopened the ride as Kong at the park then known as Marine World in May 1998, giving it a second life it’s now held for over 25 years.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- Manufacturer: Vekoma
- Opened: May 1998 (originally 1995 as Hangman)
- Height: about 109 feet
- Top speed: 50 mph
- Length: 2,260 feet
- Inversions: 5
The Ride Experience
As an inverted coaster, Kong seats riders with their feet dangling freely below the track rather than in an enclosed car, which sharpens the sensation of every loop and corkscrew. The single train of ten two-across cars climbs a chain lift to a height of about 109 feet before plunging back down and hitting a top speed of 50 mph.
From there, the layout packs five inversions into a compact 2,260-foot footprint, with the ride lasting about a minute and a half and pulling forces up to 2.5 G along the way. It’s a tighter, punchier experience than Discovery Kingdom’s bigger loopers, built for quick, intense cycles rather than a sprawling layout.
From Nashville to Vallejo
Kong’s backstory connects it to a now-defunct piece of theme park history. It debuted as Hangman at Opryland USA, a Nashville park owned by Gaylord Entertainment that closed permanently in October 1997 despite drawing strong attendance, a casualty of the owner’s decision to redevelop the land commercially.
Premier Parks, which would soon merge with and take over the Six Flags brand, purchased the ride and relocated it to what was then Marine World in Vallejo. It reopened under its current name in May 1998 and has remained a fixture of the park’s coaster lineup ever since, now operating as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
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Kong FAQs
What type of roller coaster is Kong?
Kong is a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster, an inverted-style ride where riders’ legs hang free below the track.
Was Kong always at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom?
No. It originally opened as Hangman at Opryland USA in Nashville in 1995, then was relocated and reopened as Kong in Vallejo in May 1998 after Opryland closed.
How tall and fast is Kong?
Kong stands about 109 feet tall, reaches a top speed of roughly 50 mph, and features 5 inversions across its 2,260-foot track.
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Photo: David Blaikie / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.