Ultimate Rollercoaster

Our Memorial weekend trip almost didn’t get off the ground in a couple of ways. First, it almost had to be cancelled outright just a few days before departure. Then, our Friday flight out of SFO was delayed for 4 hours due to mechanical trouble. So needless to say, by the time we finally got into O’Hare it was later than planned. How late? Well, let’s just say that by the time we checked into our hotel at 4am someone else was checking out to hit the road early. That late. But we had promised Colleen’s aunt a visit on Saturday, so after a few hours sleep (and I do mean a few) we drove to the bustling town of Kewanee to spend the day visiting Aunt Carol. After dinner, we hit the road again and headed to Des Moines for our first park stop.

After a good 7 hours sleep Saturday night (about twice what we had the night before), we drove to Adventureland and arrived a few minutes before the 10am opening. As we stood outside the park waiting for the gates to open, something seemed familiar to us even though we had never been here before. Then as we walked in it dawned on us that the Adventureland entrance is much like that of Disneyland. Train station dead center on a berm to block your view into the park, entrance tunnels on the left and right, and a main street plaza area once inside.

With a chance of showers forecast, we decided to hit the coasters first and then do other rides as time & weather permitted. Crowds were light this early, so it didn’t look like long lines would be a problem. Walking toward the right, the first coaster we came across was Tornado, a wooden out & back with PTC buzz-bar trains. We queued up for a front row ride first, then took a ride in the back row. While no airtime monster, Tornado is a nice ride with a couple little pops of air. The ride seemed a bit better in the front, as later rides in row 1.3 would confirm. Continuing on we rode Dragon next, an old double-looper that has probably seen better days. Not the worst steel coaster we’ve come across, but nothing special either. We took our one ride for the count and moved on.

As we reached the back of the park, another wood coaster named Outlaw awaited. Again we lined up for the front row first, and then the back row. And while not the biggest or the best of the CCI’s, Outlaw delivered a decent ride over its twisted course. Again not all that much in the airtime department but a good ride nonetheless, and we would return later for a couple more rides before leaving the park. Then, since it was right next door to Outlaw we took a quick spin on Saw Mill Splash, one of those raft rides that spin their way down a water slide. This was a little tame compared to the much larger version we rode over in France a couple year back, but still fun (and thankfully not very wet).

Next we made our way back toward the center of the park to line up for Underground, another CCI. While this ride is technically a wood coaster, with its chain lifts and coasting (slowly) through its course, it’s really more of a dark ride. Just don’t go in expecting much in the way of speed, drops, laterals, or airtime and you’ll be fine, LOL. It’s still not bad for a dark ride, and it fits in with the park quite well. We liked it, but not enough to wait in line for another ride later.

So with the coasters out of the way we hit some of Adventureland’s other attractions, including the Giant Skywheel, Carousel, Train, Skyride, and their Cuddle-Up (you gotta love a park with a Cuddle-Up). We also took time out for some lunch, which was a reasonably priced and quite tasty fried chicken meal. After lunch there was just enough time for another quick lap around the park for a few more rides, mostly on Tornado and Outlaw, then we hit the road for our next park. Overall we really liked Adentureland, as they have a decent variety of rides in a very pretty setting. Three wooden coasters doesn’t hurt either. If we’re in the area in the future, we’ll certainly visit again (and maybe we can stay longer than 4 hours next time).

So at 2:15 we headed out and made the 3½ drive, zigzagging north and west along the uncrowded highways, to Lake Okoboji to spend the evening at Arnolds Park. We arrived to find a small, old-time amusement park set right on the shore of the lake. We bought our ride wristbands and, seeing that the park was not at all crowded, also bought tickets for the evening boat cruise on the lake. Since we had some time before the cruise departed, we headed into the park and took a couple rides on Legend, the park’s John Miller woodie with PTC buzz-bar trains (how I love buzz-bars). As is typical with a Miller, we looked at the shape of the hills on Legend and figured we were in for some airtime. Man, was that an understatement! We rode the very front row first and then in the back (see a pattern here?) and we were shocked at how much air this coaster was dishing out. For a smaller coaster (63’ tall and about 2000’ long I think), there was major airtime throughout the course, including some fairly intense ejector air. Is Legend always this good a ride, or did we just hit it on a good evening? I guess we’ll have to come back again someday to find out.

After a few Legend rides, we took our boat cruise on Lake Okoboji. The cruise lasted almost 90 minutes, included some history on the park and surrounding resorts, and gave us some nice views of the park and lake area at sundown. After the cruise, it was some quick pizza for dinner and then back into the park. We did the train, tilt house, bug house (think of a manually-run old-time version of a Vekoma mad house), and some flat rides including a funky old “teacups” kind of ride that used fully-enclosed “apples” instead of teacups (you climbed into the apple through a door, got locked in, and started spinning away). And of course, we took many more air-filled rides on Legend. I think row 1.3 ended up being our favorite spot on the train, no surprise really. Legend may not be that large of a coaster, but there’s lots of quality air on this little gem. And Arnolds Park is a nice little traditional park; perhaps not enough there to suit everyone, but Legend was enough for Colleen and I.

When the park closed at 10pm, we hit the road and drove part of the way toward the Wisconsin Dells before bedding down for the night in Austin MN. If we had one more day we would have headed a bit north and included Valleyfair and the Mall of America on the itinerary, but that would have to wait for another trip. As for tomorrow, we had a Memorial Day appointment with 5 wood coasters in the Dells. That promised to be another fun-filled day ahead of us.

Rick W - AirBear

Nice trip report.

I've never been to Arnolds but we really enjoyed our trip to Adventureland last year. Due to it's location, it doesn't get much attention in the enthusiast community but it's really a nice park. Outlaw was much better than I expected and they have a good selection of flat rides. I love the skyride that goes right through the trees. The employees there are among the nicest I've ever come across.

I think Tammy and I spent about 2 hours playing bingo the afternoon we were in the park.

Kyle

Rick and Colleen, Adventureland is definitely worth a repeat trip if in the area. The entrance was funny to see the first time, it was very cute. When I was there, there were a lot of older ride ops and they were all quite friendly, I am wondering if you had this as well?

As for Arnolds Park, I had great air on the Legend and was totally blown away by the little park. I am wondering if you also tried their rock-O-Plane?

Great Parks, both of them. Iowa is definitely worth the visit.

Ed

Great TR, Rick. Glad you and Colleen got to experience the two great parks of Iowa. Isn't Arnold's Park and that whole lakes resort area great on a spring/summer evening?

Are you guys up for meeting up at SCBB this Sat (6/25)? Flying out Thu morning, with BG and Winchester on taps for Thu, PGA on Fri, SCBB on Sat, and SFMW on Sun. Email me at stoneonta@aol.com either way.

-Mark

Thanks for a great TR, Rick. I have never been to either park, but Adventureland has always intrigued me. Looks like a nice classic park that got some nice updates along the way- kind of like the Kennywood of Iowa! :-)

Is Arnold's Park the park with the Phantasmagoria dark ride, or am I thinking of someplace else? That manual mad house sounds like a hoot, too!

Again thanks for a great read... These TR's can get me into trouble though. There's a lot of parks out there I haven't visited yet, and TR's like these get me into "vacation planning" mode!

Ray P.

Rick, You said it was about 3.5hrs from Adventureland to Arnolds. I'd like to know how far Arnolds is from The Dells. We plan to hit there this year and would love to hit Arnolds as well.

Thanks for the TR. Im a big John Miller fan as you know with Screeching Eagle and Big Dipper (Geauga)

Chuck, who's glad you enjoyed your trip and hopes to see you guys sometime soon.

> I think Tammy and I spent about 2 hours playing bingo the
> afternoon we were in the park.

> Kyle

We played Bingo for quite a while when we were there too. It was absolutely pouring down rain and everything was closed so there was nothing else to do.

I loved Adventureland too. I think it may be the most underrated park in the country. The employees were very friendly and the park has a great, well-rounded collection of rides. Arnolds was a great little park too.

Aaron

> Rick, You said it was about 3.5hrs from Adventureland to
> Arnolds. I'd like to know how far Arnolds is from The
> Dells. We plan to hit there this year and would love to hit
> Arnolds as well.

It took us close to 4.5 hours from Arnold's Park to the Dells (part late Sunday night and part early Monday morning). It's I-90 most of the way, and we held fairly close to the speed limit as the authorities were out in force over the holiday weekend.

Rick W - AirBear

> Rick, You said it was about 3.5hrs from Adventureland to
> Arnolds. I'd like to know how far Arnolds is from The
> Dells. We plan to hit there this year and would love to hit
> Arnolds as well.

> It took us close to 4.5 hours from Arnold's Park to the
> Dells (part late Sunday night and part early Monday
> morning). It's I-90 most of the way, and we held fairly
> close to the speed limit as the authorities were out in
> force over the holiday weekend.

> Rick W - AirBear

Thanks Rick!

Don't tell me about the authorities. 75 dollars later, I know :)

Chuck, once again, Thank you!

> We rode the
> very front row first and then in the back (see a pattern
> here?) and we were shocked at how much air this coaster was
> dishing out. For a smaller coaster (63’ tall and about
> 2000’ long I think), there was major airtime throughout
> the course, including some fairly intense ejector air. Is
> Legend always this good a ride, or did we just hit it on a
> good evening? I guess we’ll have to come back again
> someday to find out.

I have asked about this coaster a few times and never got a good answer about how good it is. It is about a 200 mile drive for me and now I think it is worth the trip. Right now all my short trips have been to the Dells, but I think I can pass up Avalanche and Hades one time to try out this ride. Thanks for the TR.