Medusa opened at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California on March 18, 2000, making history as the first floorless roller coaster on the West Coast. Built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, the $15 million steel coaster gave riders the sensation of having their feet dangle freely beneath open trains as they hurtled through a course of loops, rolls, and corkscrews.
At 150 feet tall with a matching 150-foot first drop, Medusa reaches speeds of 65 mph and packs seven inversions into a 3,937-foot layout, the longest coaster track in Northern California. The ride includes the first ever “sea serpent roll” element built on a B&M coaster, along with one of the largest vertical loops in the world at 128 feet.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, California
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Opened: March 18, 2000
- Height: 150 ft (46 m)
- Top Speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
- Length: 3,937 ft (1,200 m)
- Inversions: 7
The Ride Experience
Riders board floorless trains that leave their legs hanging free as Medusa climbs a 150-foot lift hill before plunging into a sequence of inversions. The signature 128-foot vertical loop is among the largest of its kind anywhere, delivering a rush of weightlessness before the train rolls into the coaster’s namesake sea serpent element, a first for any B&M floorless design.
With three trains running 32 riders each and a maximum force of 4.5 Gs, Medusa keeps lines moving while packing a full 3 minutes and 15 seconds of airtime, corkscrews, and high-speed transitions into its Northern California setting near San Francisco Bay.
A West Coast Milestone
When it debuted in 2000, Medusa broke new ground as the first floorless coaster to operate on the West Coast, part of a wave of B&M floorless designs that redefined steel coaster thrills in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The ride remains a signature attraction at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and one of the park’s tallest, fastest rides.
Explore more: Browse more roller coasters.
Medusa FAQs
How tall is Medusa at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom?
Medusa stands 150 feet tall, matching its first drop height.
How fast does Medusa go?
Medusa reaches a top speed of 65 mph.
How many inversions does Medusa have?
Medusa features 7 inversions, including a 128-foot vertical loop and a signature sea serpent roll.
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Photo: Tinned Elk / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.