Lost Island versus Adventureland

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DISCLAIMER
Information on this site is unofficial. It is compiled by fans of Lost Island Themepark in Waterloo, Iowa. There will be inaccuracies and omissions. For official Lost Island Themepark information, visit the official website. To get an idea on the direction of this project, see my Adventureland history site. If you are interested in contributing content to this site, e-mail me at allen@parkhopping.com

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This page was last updated on 02/11/2025. Total Pages: 116. Total Files: 75.

5/18/2023 Update: FigmentJedi has been adding lore details to many entries. Walk-thru videos have been added to Realms pages and Whalebone Grill and Totara Market.


Home / Information - Lost Island versus Adventureland


It should be no surprise that the most-asked question about a new theme park in Iowa is how it compares to the other theme park in Iowa. This page will try to answer that, but none of this matters. If you love wooden roller coasters, Adventureland has two and Lost Island has zero. You would prefer Adventureland. If you love 4-D motion simulator interactive dark rides, Lost Island has one, and Adventureland has none. You would prefer Lost Island.

This page will list all the similar and dissimilar rides at each park to help you decide which one has more of what you are interested in.

(This page is loosely based on a page I created in the mid-1990s contrasting Disneyland in California against The Magic Kingdom in Florida: http://www.disneyfans.com/dlvstmk/)

Your Milage May Vary

Lost Island is a tiny park compared to Adventureland. Just like you wouldn't compare the gas station convenience store down the street to the huge mega grocers across town, comparing parks of different sizes doesn't make sense. Adventureland clearly offers way more rides and things to do. However, if the convenience store had the items you wanted, and the mega grocers did not, you might find yourself choosing smaller over larger.

Lodging

If you want to stay at an on-site hotel that is walking distance to the park (or ride the shuttle bus), Adventureland is your place. There is no official hotel for Lost Island.

Water Parks

If you want to visit both a dry park and water park in the same day, Adventureland may be cheaper ($90 versus $101) but that is not including the combo tickets that may be discounted. You can also walk between both, while Lost Island Waterpark is down the road with its own parking.

Dining

We won't talk much about food here. If you like to eat, there are many more options at Adventureland, BUT that doesn't matter if your favorite items is only at Lost Island.

Booze

If you like drinking adult beverages, Adventureland has full bars and way more alcohol locations, but it is more expensive. Lost Island only has a few draft beers, canned beers and seltzers, and frozen cocktails. Their $9 draft beer offers $1 refills if you keep the cup they serve it in.

Statistics

With that said, here is a list to help you decide if Lost Island has the things you want.

General Statistics as of 9/2022
Year Opened Adventureland Lost Island
Size TBA TBA
Areas 8? 5
*Real Rides 38 22
Shows 4 0
Restaurants 12 6
Shops ? 3
Admission $69.99 $52
Parking $20 $10
Cash/Credit Credit Only Cash or Credit

TODO: ATMs, restrooms, water fountains, etc.

Notes:

  • A "real" ride is anything with a ride vehicle. Adventureland offers "over 100 rides, shows and attractions" but only about 40 of those are rides.
  • Only rides that were operating are listed. Lost Island has three more rides that were not ready for the 2022 season, and Adventureland has a few that are listed as closed on the website.
  • Shows only includes daily scheduled items, and does not include things like the dozens of musicians that play at the bars during the season.
  • Restaurants is permanent food locations, and does not include carts or places that serve only drinks. For Adventureland, it includes the amusement park locations only, and not those inside the connected water park.
  • Admission price is what you pay at the front gate. Both parks offer discounts for buying tickets in advance.

Themed Areas

Adventureland

Most of these areas may no longer exist. Signage for Dragon Island, Iowa Farm and County Fair were removed long ago. Many changes to other areas have been made removing any consistent theme in the area. If you know of any missing details, please let me know.

  1. Bavaria (may or may not be a park area any more)
  2. Boulevard (may or may not be a park area any more)
  3. County Fair (games area, where Tornado is)
  4. Dragon Island (where Dragon used to be, but since it is gone...?)
  5. Iowa Farm (where Stormchaser is)
  6. Main Street
  7. Outlaw Gulch (where Outlaw is)
  8. River City (food court where Lady Luck used to be)

Lost Island

  1. Ara Matua (Entrance) - the "Main Street" of the park
  2. Awa (Water)
  3. Mura (Fire)
  4. Tamariki (Spirit)
  5. Udara (Air)
  6. Yuta (Earth)

Rides

Ride Categories

NOTE: Some rides may be in multiple categories. There are kiddie rides that spin, for example. The main three categories (Kiddie, Thrill and Family) are based on those listings on official park websites. Please help with corrections for the other categories.

While some believe "Storm Chaser" is clearly a thrill ride, it is listed as a Family ride by Adventureland and will be included as such in this table.

Ride Categories as of 9/2022
Category Adventureland Lost Island Notes
Family 17 ? Adventureland has 2 more that are currently closed.
Kiddie 15 ?
Family & Kids 31 6 Adventureland was 2 currently closed. Lost Island has a new family/kid ride opening in 2023.
Thrill 6 5 Lost Island has a new thrill ride opening in 2023.
Spinning ? 10
Coaster 6 2 The Underground is technically a coaster. Lost Island has two more coasters set to open in 2023.
Dark Rides 1 1
Water 1 1 Adventureland and Lost Island both have a new water ride set to open in 2023.

Ride Height Restrictions

If you have young/short children, there will be far less things for them to do at both parks. Adventureland raised high requirements for many rides in 2022, causing some kids who were able to ride last year to no longer be able to ride. With that in mind, check the height requirements at both parks before bringing the kids out so you know how many (if any) they can ride.

TODO: Ideally we should be listing the number of rides with height restrictions. Lost Island's website shows you height requirements, while Adventureland lets you filter by height to show how many rides you can ride. Adventureland shows rides with a 31" minimum height in this filter, but another page shows those rides as 32". Unclear which one is correct.

Ride Height Restrictions as of 9/2022
Height Adventureland Lost Island Notes
31" 3
36" 6 9 Some require an adult.
42" 3 7
44"
48" 3 4
52" 1 4
56" 1 The 2023 coaster.

NOTE: Adventureland Hampton Cards and Red Barons have a 54" maximum height. Similar maximum height restrictions exist at Lost Island (TO DO).

Lost Island Rides

  1. Alzanu’s Eye Ferris Wheel
  2. Amara Aviators
  3. Awaati Water Battle
  4. Dream Spinner
  5. Eeki Eeki Escape
  6. Golapa Sprouts
  7. Kapulele Gliders
  8. Kukui Station
  9. Lokolo
  10. Mama Pezaki
  11. Matugani
  12. Mura Dancer
  13. Mura Fury
  14. Nopuko Air Coaster
  15. Ohu Hoppers
  16. Rokava
  17. Sea Swell
  18. Shaman’s Curse
  19. Skyborne Drop Tower
  20. Tuka Tumbler
  21. Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol
  22. Wakani Whirl
  23. Yuta Falls
  24. Zulawa Wave

Coming in 2025:

  • Nika’s Gift Carousel
  • Fire Runner

Adventureland Rides

  1. A-Train
  2. Bernie's Swing
  3. Carousel
  4. Chuck Wagon
  5. Circus Balloons
  6. Clipper
  7. Convoy
  8. Dragon Slayer
  9. Dragon's Nest
  10. Flying Tigers
  11. Frantic Freeway
  12. Frog Hopper
  13. G-Force
  14. Giant Sky Wheel
  15. Hampton Cars
  16. Junior Jockeys
  17. Lady Bugs
  18. Leap Frogs
  19. Lighthouse (New)
  20. Monster
  21. Outlaw
  22. Phoenix
  23. Red Barons
  24. Revolution
  25. Rockin' Rainbow
  26. Runabouts
  27. Saw Mill Splash
  28. Shakin' Bacon
  29. Sidewinder
  30. Space Shot
  31. Speedway Racers
  32. Tea Cups
  33. Scrambler
  34. The Underground
  35. Tilt-A-Whirl
  36. Tornado

Listed as closed, so not included:

  • Galleon (temporarily closed)
  • Parachutes (temporarily closed)
  • Storm Chaser (closed for the season)
  • It appears the Sky Ride and Raging River have been removed from the Adventureland website.
  1. Himalaya - removed after 2022

Coming in 2023:

  • Flying Viking
  • Draken Falls

Similar Rides at Both Parks

This includes rides that are different rides, but are similar in style. The bumper cars are very different, but they are still basically bumper cars.

In almost all cases, the rides at Lost Island are more themed (except for the bumper cars and thier Space Shot, which are generic).

Similar Rides at Both Parks
Ride Type Adventureland Lost Island Notes
Bumper cars Frantic Freeway Kukui Station Kukui Station has spinning round cars.
Carousel Carousel Nika's Gift Nika's gift not open yet. Planned to have a marine life theme.
Circle hopper Frog Ohu Hoppers Might be the same ride.
Chain swings Rockin' Rainbow Dream Spinner
Dark ride The Underground Volkanu Completely different ride systems.
Drop tower Space Shot Skyborne Space Shot shoots up, Skyborne goes to the top and drops.
Dumbo-type 1.Red Barons
2.Dragons Nest
1.Kapulele Gliders
2.Eeki Eeki Escape
Ferris wheel Giant Sky Wheel Alzanu's Eye Alzanu's Eye is in the center, allowing better park views.
Kid Ferris wheel Chuckwagon Tuka Tumbler
Himalaya Himalaya Zulawa Wave
Rocking Ship Galleon Sea Well
Roller Coaster (steel) 1.Monster
2.Phoenix
3.Dragon Slayer
Nopuko Air Coaster Very different coasters, but in the same category.
Spinning baskets Circus Baloons Golapa Sprouts Golapa Sprouts may raise up taller?
Spinning swing Sidewinder Mura Fury Mura Fury loops all the way around.
Tea cups Tea Cups Wakini Whirl Tea Cups uses two tables and a figure 8 pattern. Wakini is just one table in a circle.

Rides Only at Adventureland

If you believe some of the rides on this list have similar counterparts at Lost Island, please let me know and I will make updates.

  1. A-Train - miniature train ride
  2. Bernie's Swing - kiddie swing
  3. Clipper - kiddie rocking boat
  4. Convoy - kiddie ride
  5. Flying Tiger
  6. G-Force - spinning carnival ride
  7. Hampton Cars - kiddie ride
  8. Junior Jockeys - kiddie ride
  9. Lady Bugs - kiddie ride
  10. Light House
  11. Outlaw - wooden roller coaster
  12. Revolution - kiddie rocking boat
  13. Runabouts - kiddie ride
  14. Saw Mill Splash - lift hill, short flume in round rafts
  15. Shakin' Bacon - kiddie ride
  16. Speedway Racers - kiddie ride (whip!)
  17. Scrambler - spinning carnival ride
  18. The Underground - dark ride
  19. Tilt-A-Whirl - spinning carnival ride
  20. Tornado - wooden roller coaster

Plus play area:

  • Bernie's Barnyard

Rides Only at Lost Island

If you believe some of the rides on this list have similar counterparts at Adventureland, please let me know and I will make updates.

  1. Amara Aviators - tall circular glider ride, with flaps to control spinning
  2. Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol - motion simulator dark ride with 3-D screens and guns.
  3. Lokolo - kiddie roller coaster
  4. Shaman's Curse- spinner on a back and forth track
  5. Rokava - similar to Splash Over but with more movement
  6. Awaati Water Battle - slow boat ride with water guns
  7. Mama Pezaki - kiddie ride

Plus play areas:

  • Akua Maze - water maze
  • Aviarium - pedals and handles to make the sculptur
  • Makatu Shrine - interactive exhibit
  • Pengali Ruin - dig site
  • Sand Castle
  • Tamikoa Grotto

Food

Adventureland has way more food options than Lost Island. I would like to make this section list just the unique items from each park, but menus are not available online. If you can provide menu board pictures, please let me know.

Entertainment

Lost Island features 10 walkaround characters with a twice daily "Lost Island Legend Ceremony" character show.

Adventureland has the Ben Ulin Magic Show.

For 2023, the puppet show, Brad Weston Juggler and Circus were eliminated.

Facilities

Adventureland has a campground, hotel and hotel restaurant.

Lost Island operates a KOA Campground with convenience store.

Water Park

Adventureland's Adventure Bay

Adventureland has Adventure Bay, physically connected to the amusement park and included for the price of park admission. There is no separate entrance to the water park, so it requires walking through the dry park to get to it. You cannot buy just water park admission.

It would cost $89.99 to visit both in the same day: $69.99 front gate ticket price plus $20 parking.

Lost Island Waterpark

Lost Island started out with a water park in 2001. It is located down the road from the theme park, and is not connected. The water park is a separate admission, though combo tickets are available.

It would cost $101 to visit both in the same day: $52 theme park ticket plus $10 park there, then $39 for the waterpark (free parking at the waterpark).