Lost Island versus Adventureland
DISCLAIMER |
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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.
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.
- Bavaria (may or may not be a park area any more)
- Boulevard (may or may not be a park area any more)
- County Fair (games area, where Tornado is)
- Dragon Island (where Dragon used to be, but since it is gone...?)
- Iowa Farm (where Stormchaser is)
- Main Street
- Outlaw Gulch (where Outlaw is)
- River City (food court where Lady Luck used to be)
Lost Island
- Ara Matua (Entrance) - the "Main Street" of the park
- Awa (Water)
- Mura (Fire)
- Tamariki (Spirit)
- Udara (Air)
- 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.
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.
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
- Alzanu’s Eye Ferris Wheel
- Amara Aviators
- Awaati Water Battle
- Dream Spinner
- Eeki Eeki Escape
- Golapa Sprouts
- Kapulele Gliders
- Kukui Station
- Lokolo
- Mama Pezaki
- Matugani
- Mura Dancer
- Mura Fury
- Nopuko Air Coaster
- Ohu Hoppers
- Rokava
- Sea Swell
- Shaman’s Curse
- Skyborne Drop Tower
- Tuka Tumbler
- Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol
- Wakani Whirl
- Yuta Falls
- Zulawa Wave
Coming in 2025:
- Nika’s Gift Carousel
- Fire Runner
Adventureland Rides
- A-Train
- Bernie's Swing
- Carousel
- Chuck Wagon
- Circus Balloons
- Clipper
- Convoy
- Dragon Slayer
- Dragon's Nest
- Flying Tigers
- Frantic Freeway
- Frog Hopper
- G-Force
- Giant Sky Wheel
- Hampton Cars
- Junior Jockeys
- Lady Bugs
- Leap Frogs
- Lighthouse (New)
- Monster
- Outlaw
- Phoenix
- Red Barons
- Revolution
- Rockin' Rainbow
- Runabouts
- Saw Mill Splash
- Shakin' Bacon
- Sidewinder
- Space Shot
- Speedway Racers
- Tea Cups
- Scrambler
- The Underground
- Tilt-A-Whirl
- 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.
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).
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.
- A-Train - miniature train ride
- Bernie's Swing - kiddie swing
- Clipper - kiddie rocking boat
- Convoy - kiddie ride
- Flying Tiger
- G-Force - spinning carnival ride
- Hampton Cars - kiddie ride
- Junior Jockeys - kiddie ride
- Lady Bugs - kiddie ride
- Light House
- Outlaw - wooden roller coaster
- Revolution - kiddie rocking boat
- Runabouts - kiddie ride
- Saw Mill Splash - lift hill, short flume in round rafts
- Shakin' Bacon - kiddie ride
- Speedway Racers - kiddie ride (whip!)
- Scrambler - spinning carnival ride
- The Underground - dark ride
- Tilt-A-Whirl - spinning carnival ride
- 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.
- Amara Aviators - tall circular glider ride, with flaps to control spinning
- Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol - motion simulator dark ride with 3-D screens and guns.
- Lokolo - kiddie roller coaster
- Shaman's Curse- spinner on a back and forth track
- Rokava - similar to Splash Over but with more movement
- Awaati Water Battle - slow boat ride with water guns
- 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).