Fictional Expedition Theme Park Videos/The Troubled History of King Cobra and the Birth of Cyberchase: Hack Attack - Expedition Carwardine

Cold Opening
After several years of success, Carwardine Colony looked for a new thrill coaster. What they managed to get, however, wound up creating one of the strangest stories for a coaster in the Carwardine chain.

First "Chapter"
In 1998, Carwardine Colony was looking for a second coaster to open for the 1999 season, but on a cheaper price tag than Monstar. While Christopher R. Carwardine was watching a video edition of Coasters, he saw video of a strange new shuttle coaster that just opened in Saudi Arabia, by the name of Cobra.

*Video of Andrew Brugmann-Bott discussing Cobra*

Manufactured by the Russian firm PAX Design Co., founded in 1988 in Moscow, the Cobra-1 had two versions - a larger permanent version and a smaller portable version. The version that caught Christopher R. Carwardine's eye, however, was the permanent version. One had just been installed at Cobra Amusement Park in Saudi Arabia and another was being installed at Warplaneland in Denmark.

After getting the contact info for PAX, Carwardine Parks ordered two Cobra-1s, one for Carwardine Colony and one for Carwardine Corners. The Carwardine Colony version, however, is the one we're focusing on today.

*Original ad for King Cobra at Carwardine Colony*

The marketing campaign for King Cobra was massive for what amounted to a run-of-the-mill shuttle coaster. Early promotions for the ride included signs nailed to trees in and around the park saying "The jungle awaits".

Second "Chapter"
King Cobra opened at Carwardine Colony on March 13, 1999, with the R&B group Next on hand. Buying a cheaper coaster from an obscure manufacturer proved to work at first, with King Cobra causing a rise in gate attendance for Carwardine Colony.

The first change to the coaster was an addition of a sponsor, starting in the summer of 1999, Mountain Dew sponsored the ride.