KONG

KONG is an inverted roller coaster located at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. It is a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster, a ride type in which the train runs beneath the track and riders experience several inversions while suspended below the rails. The attraction first entered public operation under a different name: The Hangman at Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee. The Hangman was announced on October 8, 1994, and opened on May 1, 1995. It was the final major attraction added to Opryland before that theme park closed after the 1997 season. The ride occupied the American West section of Opryland, on land previously used by the Tin Lizzies antique-car attraction. After the park closed, the coaster was dismantled and sold to Premier Parks. Premier Parks subsequently acquired the Six Flags chain, and the ride was transported to California, reconstructed, and renamed KONG. KONG debuted at the New Marine World Theme Park during Memorial Day weekend in 1998. The park later became Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. At its California opening, the ride was promoted as the tallest and longest inverted coaster in Northern California. Its layout includes a 115-foot lift hill, a 103.5-foot first drop, a rollover, a sidewinder, a turn, and two consecutive inline twists before the train enters the braking section. The ride's design emphasizes inversions and the visual effect of a suspended train passing beneath the track. The attraction's guest-access arrangement has changed over time. Its entrance was originally situated near the iWerks theater, also known as the Dino Sphere. In 2007, the park relocated the regular entrance to Oasis Plaza, where guests approach the station by walking beneath the coaster. The former entrance area was reopened as an accessible entrance by 2024, according to the referenced account. KONG also received temporary virtual-reality overlays. During Fright Fest in 2016, riders could optionally wear Samsung Gear VR headsets using Oculus technology for an experience called Rage of the Gargoyles. The overlay presented a futuristic fighter-jet scenario in which riders acted as co-pilots confronting demonic creatures. In February 2017, Six Flags announced another VR concept, The New Revolution: Galactic Attack, centered on an alien invasion in space and described by the park operator as a mixed-reality attraction powered by Oculus VR. KONG remains an individual amusement-park attraction rather than a broad consumer brand. Its identity is tied to the coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, while its earlier identity as The Hangman reflects the relocation and repurposing of the ride after Opryland's closure. The referenced material does not identify a separate corporate entity, standalone website, public listing, or independently reported financial results for KONG.

KONG's history begins at Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee, where the ride operated as The Hangman. Opryland announced the attraction on October 8, 1994. Manufactured by Vekoma as a Suspended Looping Coaster, it opened on May 1, 1995, in the park's American West area. The site had previously been occupied by the Tin Lizzies antique-car ride. The Hangman became the last major attraction added to Opryland before the park closed at the end of its 1997 season. Following Opryland's closure, the coaster was dismantled and sold to Premier Parks. The buyer moved the ride to California after acquiring the Six Flags chain. It was reconstructed at the New Marine World Theme Park and reopened during Memorial Day weekend in 1998 as KONG. The receiving park later became Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, tying the ride's long-term identity to the Six Flags destination in Vallejo. At the time of its California debut, KONG was described as the tallest and longest inverted roller coaster in Northern California. Its track arrangement begins with a 115-foot lift hill and a 103.5-foot drop. The train then traverses a rollover, sidewinder, turn, and two back-to-back inline twists before entering the braking area. The ride's inverted configuration places passengers below the track and gives the attraction its characteristic suspended appearance. The park altered the guest approach to the attraction in 2007, moving the main entrance from the vicinity of the iWerks theater, also known as the Dino Sphere, to Oasis Plaza. The new route takes guests beneath the coaster before they reach the loading platform. The former entrance was later reported to have reopened by 2024 as an accessible entrance. KONG's experience was temporarily expanded through virtual-reality overlays. During Fright Fest 2016, riders could choose Rage of the Gargoyles, which used Samsung Gear VR headsets and Oculus technology to create a 360-degree, three-dimensional fighter-jet scenario. In February 2017, Six Flags announced The New Revolution: Galactic Attack, an Oculus-powered VR concept built around an alien invasion in space. The available reference does not establish the duration of either overlay or whether either remains in operation. The reference material describes KONG as an operating attraction at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, but it does not provide a separate legal owner, financial data, executive roster, independent corporate website, or standalone commercial business structure. Accordingly, KONG is best classified as a named amusement-ride brand or attraction rather than a conventional packaged-goods brand.

• 2024

  Former entrance reported as accessible entrance

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The former entrance near the iWerks theater was reported as reopened primarily for accessible access.

• 2017

  Galactic Attack VR experience announced

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Six Flags announced The New Revolution: Galactic Attack, an alien-invasion VR experience for the ride.

• 2016

  Rage of the Gargoyles VR experience

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  A Fright Fest VR overlay using Samsung Gear VR and Oculus technology was offered on KONG.

• 2007

  Main entrance moves to Oasis Plaza

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The park moved the attraction's primary entrance to Oasis Plaza.

• 1998

  KONG opens in California

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The relocated coaster reopened as KONG at the New Marine World Theme Park during Memorial Day weekend.

• 1997

  Opryland USA closes

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Opryland closed after the 1997 season, leading to the dismantling and sale of The Hangman.

• 1995

  The Hangman opens at Opryland USA

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster opened to the public on May 1, 1995, in Nashville.

• 1994

  The Hangman is announced

  [1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Opryland USA officially announced the future coaster on October 8, 1994.

A high-intensity inverted roller coaster positioned as a signature thrill attraction at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, with a layout centered on multiple inversions and a suspended-under-track ride experience.

• Inverted roller coaster · 1998

  KONG

  KONG is a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The ride uses an under-track train and features a 115-foot lift hill, a 103.5-foot drop, a rollover, a sidewinder, a turn, and two consecutive inline twists. It originally operated as The Hangman at Opryland USA before being relocated to California and renamed.

• Virtual-reality ride overlay · 2016

  Rage of the Gargoyles

  Rage of the Gargoyles was a temporary Fright Fest overlay that used Samsung Gear VR headsets and Oculus technology to add a 360-degree, three-dimensional fighter-jet narrative to the KONG ride experience.

• Virtual-reality ride overlay · 2017

  The New Revolution: Galactic Attack

  The New Revolution: Galactic Attack was announced as an Oculus-powered mixed-reality experience themed around an alien invasion in space.

• 2017The New Revolution: Galactic Attack

  United States

  The announced VR experience reframed KONG as a space-combat attraction involving an alien invasion and Oculus technology.

  Outcome. The experience was announced as a new VR offering; its later operating duration is not established by the reference.

  Source
• 2016Fright Fest: Rage of the Gargoyles

  United States

  Six Flags used its seasonal Fright Fest program to add a virtual-reality narrative to KONG, allowing participating riders to experience the coaster as a futuristic fighter-jet mission.

  Outcome. A temporary themed ride overlay was offered.

  Source

• 2017

  Announce The New Revolution: Galactic AttackProduct launch

  Background

  Six Flags announced a further VR concept for the attraction following the earlier Rage of the Gargoyles overlay.

  Action taken

  The operator announced an Oculus-powered experience featuring an alien invasion in space.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not document the overlay's subsequent operating history.

  Source

• 2016

  Add the Rage of the Gargoyles VR overlayProduct launch

  Background

  Six Flags was incorporating virtual reality into selected ride experiences and seasonal events.

  Action taken

  KONG received an optional Samsung Gear VR and Oculus-powered overlay during Fright Fest.

  Aftermath

  The coaster temporarily offered a narrative layer in addition to its physical track layout.

  Source

• 2007

  Change the KONG entrance locationOther

  Background

  The original entrance was located near the iWerks theater.

  Action taken

  The park moved the regular entrance to Oasis Plaza.

  Aftermath

  Guests approached the loading platform by walking under the ride; the former entrance was later associated with accessible access.

  Source

• 1997

  Relocate The Hangman after Opryland's closureM&A

  Background

  Opryland USA closed after the 1997 season, leaving the coaster available for sale.

  Action taken

  Premier Parks purchased, dismantled, transported, and reconstructed the attraction at the New Marine World Theme Park, where it received the KONG name.

  Aftermath

  The ride reopened in California in 1998 and became part of the later Six Flags Discovery Kingdom attraction lineup.

  Source

• 2024

  Former KONG entrance reopens as an accessible entrance[1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The attraction's former entrance near the iWerks theater was reported as reopened and primarily used for accessible access.

• 2017

  The New Revolution: Galactic Attack announced for KONG[1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Six Flags announced a new Oculus-powered VR experience for KONG based on an alien invasion in space.

• 2016

  Rage of the Gargoyles VR overlay is introduced[1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Campaign

  During Fright Fest, riders could use Samsung Gear VR headsets powered by Oculus for a themed virtual-reality experience involving a futuristic fighter jet and demonic creatures.

• 2007

  KONG entrance moves to Oasis Plaza[1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Six Flags Discovery Kingdom moved the attraction's primary entrance from the area near the iWerks theater to Oasis Plaza.

• 1998

  The Hangman is relocated and reopens as KONG[1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Product launch

  After Opryland USA closed, the coaster was dismantled, sold to Premier Parks, moved to California, and reopened at the New Marine World Theme Park, later known as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, under the name KONG.

• 1995

  The Hangman opens at Opryland USA[1]Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster opened to the public at Opryland USA in Nashville under the name The Hangman.

1. 1Kong (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kong acquires Insomnia to offer new API testing capabilities - SiliconANGLEsiliconangle.com
3. 3Kong Inc. Acquires Insomnia; Expands Service Control Platform to Unify Design, Testing and Management Across REST APIs, gRPC, GraphQL and Kafkaprnewswire.com
4. 4Kong Inc. Donates Open Source Kuma to the Cloud Native Computing Foundationprnewswire.com
5. 5Kong launches Kong Konnect, its cloud-native connectivity platformbusinessghana.com
6. 6Kong launches Kong Konnect, its cloud-native connectivity platform | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com