Adventures at Adventureland Iowa

Today marks the beginning of the second park of the 21' theme park road trip at Adventureland! After spending the night at the campground, my initial impression of this place was somewhat negative due to my tent getting flooded. But let's move on to the trip report!

Located within walking distance of the park, Adventureland Campground allowed me to easily stroll over for the park's opening. As I approached the park entrance, I couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance of the front gate to Disneyland, complete with a tunnel passing under the train tracks for park entry.

Once int he park, I observed that the first area of the park featured a street resembling a bustling thoroughfare, complete with a carousel at its center. However, upon proceeding past the various shops and dining establishments lining this street, it transitioned into a typical park setting.

Dragon Slayer

My first stop was the Dragon Slayer, the ride that replaced the Dragon rollercoaster the year before. It's essentially a smaller version of the Joker 4D Free spins found at Six Flags parks. Surprisingly, the intensity of this ride caught me off guard.

You have the option to choose between two sides: the knight or the squire side, with the knight side offering the most intense experience. Opting for the knight side, I found it to be the most intense 4D free spin ride I had ever experienced. Standing at 112 feet, it felt like my seat flipped multiple times throughout the ride. The next ride would be the Tornado.

Tornado

Following the Dragon Slayer was the park's first out-and-back wooden roller coaster, Tornado, which was constructed on July 4th, 1978. My impression of this ride is that the layout includes some intriguing elongated hills, but this aspect appears to be a drawback. Overall, there isn't much to highlight about this ride other than its minimal air time and roughness.

The Outlaw Gulch

Strolling towards the rear of the park, I came across a western-themed section. The park was quite warm, and one of the highlights was the Sawmill Splash inflatable raft ride, a massive water slide in the arid part of the park. This was the sole water attraction available, as the Raging River was still closed for the season. However, the next thrill ride in line was the Outlaw roller coaster.

Outlaw Rollercoaster

The Outlaw roller coaster stands at a height of 67 feet and offers an exhilarating experience. Featuring a twisting layout, it was among the pioneering coasters developed by the same creator responsible for iconic rides such as Shivering Timbers at Michigan's Adventure and Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce. The ride boasts numerous moments of mini airtime and navigates its course at a thrilling speed exceeding 48mph. This rollercoaster provided yet another exceptional experience at the park, and I was pleasantly surprised by the modest height requirement of just 42 inches.

The Monster

Considered by many as the ride that really made Adventureland famous, the Monster is the next rollercoaster on the list. This Gerstlauer infinity coaster replaced the log flume and features a 131ft tall hill with a 101-degree vertical drop that leads into 5 consecutive unique inversions and a couple of airtime hills, offering a decent amount of airtime at a top speed of 65mph. Additionally, the ride flips over the chairlift at various points, making it quite an exhilarating experience. It's worth noting that this popular ride tends to have long lines and moves slowly, so it's advisable to ride it earlier in the day.

The Underground

The subsequent attraction of the day was the Underground. It is marketed as the world's only indoor wooden rollercoaster, although this claim is widely disputed depending on who you ask. This is another ride where the wait time is notably long. Upon entering the building, there is a pre-show featuring a malfunctioning animatronic that is difficult to hear. Visitors are then directed to a ride vehicle that guides them through what essentially amounts to a dark ride with some stationary animatronics portraying a mining theme. In general, it's a ride worth considering if you're seeking a break from the heat. If you miss it though, your not missing to much.

Phoenix

The final rollercoaster I had to experience was the Phoenix. It is a Mauer Rides spinning coaster where riders face both forward and backward. This only affects the ride when going up the lift; otherwise, you will find yourself facing backward at some point during the ride. The coaster features several banked turns that provide a thrilling spinning experience. It is a great family-friendly coaster in a park that lacks a dedicated children's coaster.

Overall

Adventureland offers a good selection of roller coasters and flat rides. The park is undergoing rapid expansion compared to previous years and has the potential to become one of the top theme parks in the upper midwest. Unfortunately, the park's customer service leaves much to be desired. Food operations are slow, the staff appears unhappy, and there is an unusual policy restricting alcohol purchases with out-of-state licenses. Additionally, I chose not to stay at the campsite for a second night due to poor water drainage in the tent area (I relocated to the Prairie Meadows Casino next door).

Despite my opinions, I urge everyone to visit the park and form their own opinions.

As always, Pictures are included and Keep on Coast'n'