Roller Coasters in Iowa

There’s one proper theme park for roller coasters in Iowa, but there’s a new one attached to the state’s largest water park and a fun classic lakeside park in the north of the state. Let’s take a look! (Always check hours and prices before you go!)

Click on the coaster name below for a video of each ride! Ride all the roller coasters in Iowa from your sofa!

Adventureland

Adventureland near Des Moines is Iowa’s biggest theme park, with six roller coasters. The Monster has an over-banked twisty track with 5 inversions and short trains. The brand-new Dragon Slayer is a looping wing coaster with spinning seats. The Tornado and Outlaw are classic wooden coasters. And the Underground is a wooden mine train/dark ride (and apparently is actually under the ground – it reminds me of Blazing Fury at Dollywood, though I hope it’s better!) And finally, the Phoenix is a steel coaster with spinning cars.

New for 2023 is a seventh coaster, the Flying Viking. This family coaster will have a track that intertwines with the newest iteration of Adventureland’s beloved log flume ride, Draken Falls.

Other rides include high swings, a swinging pendulum, drop tower, sky ride, a Ferris wheel, several spinning rides, plenty of kid’s rides, and a train around the park. There’s also a water park in the back and lodging and a campground nearby.

Tickets

One-day admission to Adventureland is $60 at the gate, or right now you can buy a ticket for $45 online, or even $40 if you go before June 30. Parking costs $21 at the gate or $16 online.

Lost Island Theme Park

New to Waterloo in 2022, is the Lost Island Theme Park, a decent-sized theme park addition to the existing water park (see below.) Inside the five Polynesian-themed lands are three roller coasters. The Nopuko Air Coaster is an inverted steel coaster, the Lokolo is a kiddie caterpillar ride, and the soon-to-open Matugani is another steel coaster, this time with normal seating. I think they have all been relocated from other parks.

There’s also several thrill rides, like spinning pendulums, a dark ride, drop tower, and A-frame rides. Rounding out the lands of water, fire, air, earth, and spirit are several kid’s rides and some non-water-park water rides. There’s supposed to be a big log flume but it got damaged in the off-season and they’re working to get it open.

Tickets

Online tickets are date-based and seem to cost between $43-48 each. At the gate, all tickets are $52. You can also purchase tickets that cover both parks. Two parks in one day costs $62, while a two-park, two-day pass costs $75. While the two parks are across the road from each other, they’re not easily walkable between the two. And while parking is free at the water park, it’s an extra $10 at the theme park.

Arnolds Park

Arnolds Park on the shores of Okoboji Lake in northern Iowa is Iowa’s oldest park, featuring three roller coasters. The Legend is a (recently refurbished) 91-year-old coaster. Wild Mouse (video from its previous location) and the Little Coaster for kids are the other two options. There’s also a log flume, a train, two fun houses, concert spaces, and several flat rides, mostly for kids. The adjacent Queen II gives a lovely boat tour of the lake. There are even three small museums that you can also visit for free!

Entry to the park, museums, and beach/lake area are free to enjoy. To ride just the Legend is $8, while the rest of the rides are between $4-6 each. A pass for all the rides costs $38. There’s also a go-kart track for $8-10 or you can include unlimited rides on it and all the amusement rides on a $60 pass. Tickets on the Queen II are $17 and under, or you can include it on an unlimited rides pass for $50. Only riders need passes or tickets, chaperones are included for riders under 42 inches.

Modern Woodmen Park

Next to the Modern Woodmen Park baseball stadium in Davenport (across the river from Moline, IL) are a few amusement rides that are open during home games. There’s one kid’s coaster, the Genesis Kidz Coaster, one of those spinning, figure-8 rides. There’s also a Ferris wheel, a swinging pendulum ride, a drop tower, and other kid’s rides. All rides cost either $3 or $6 (the coaster is $6), or you can get an unlimited-rides wristband for $15. Parking is $5.

Water Parks in Iowa

There are a couple of big water parks in Iowa, Lost Island and the one attached to Adventureland. And as usual, several smaller, regional parks you probably wouldn’t travel to see, exactly.

• Lost Island Water Park in Waterloo has 11 big slides, including a thrilling water coaster called Wailua Kupua! There’s also a lazy river, a wave pool, a lagoon activity pool, 3 areas for kids, and a mermaid experience! Plus, there’s mini-golf and go-karts. Water park tickets cost $39 at the gate or $32-36 online. $47.50 includes one round of mini-golf and one go-kart ride. Two consecutive days at the waterpark cost $58.50. Parking is free. Combined with the theme park, you can get one day at both for $62, or two days at both for $75.
• Adventure Bay at Adventureland near Des Moines has 8 slides, 3 kids areas, a large wave pool, and a lazy river with a pool and pool bar in the middle. The cost is included in your Adventureland ticket, $60 and under, plus $16-21 in parking. (Buy online!)
• Coming soon to West Des Moines is The Grand Experience, a large indoor waterpark. There are no exact numbers on how many slides or how much it will cost, but it’s supposed to be “two and a half times” the size of your average Great Wolf Lodge.

• King’s Pointe Resort at Storm Lake has indoor and outdoor water parks with a combined 8 slides, a lazy river, multiple kid’s areas, and activity zones. Admission is $15 and under. Parking is free.
• Huck’s Harbor Water Park in Burlington has 5 slides, a lazy river, a splash pad, and a lap pool. There’s also an indoor portion (currently closed for renovations) with a pool, hot tub, and kid’s play area. Admission is $12, or $5 every day after 5 pm.
• Beach Ottumwa has 4 slides, a wave pool, a kid’s play area, and a sand volleyball court, plus an indoor competitive pool. A day pass is $4. Located in Ottumwa, sort of middle-of-nowhere-in-particular Iowa.

• Siouxnami Water Park near Sioux Center (an hour north of Sioux City) is a neighborhood pool with at least 3 slides, a water zip line, a climbing wall, and a lazy river. A day pass costs $8 and under during the summer, a little less during the school year.
• Boji Splash Indoor Water Park in Arnolds Park at the Bridges Bay Resort has “waterslides for all ages” (at least two), a hot tub, and kid’s play areas, including a big dump bucket. A $25 (and under) day pass for non-resort guests includes two rides on the adjacent zip line. Prices are less after 4 pm and in the off-season (no zip line.)
• Pirate Cove Water Park in Council Bluffs has 2 slides, a play area, a diving board, and shaded seating. Admission is $5 with the waterslides, $4 without.

Did I miss anything? Have you been to any of these parks? What are you looking forward to doing this summer? Let me know in the comments below!