The Unexpected Story of Iowa’s Lost Island Themepark

How did a theme park end up in Waterloo, Iowa? Is it on par with world-class theme parks?
This is the challenging story and unique joy of Lost Island Themepark.
Article Version: storybookamusement.com/blogs/...
You may also enjoy: parklore.com/vault/lost-island/
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Waterloo
• Waterloo, IA | A 4K ... ( / @wanderingwalksofwonder )
Enchanted Forest
• Ice Mountain Bobsleds ... ( / @canobiecoaster )
Efteling
• Efteling Off-Ride Foot... ( / @canobiecoaster )
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas... ( / @canobiecoaster )
Lost Island Waterpark
• Lost Island Water Park... ( / @thecoasterspot )
• Lost Island Waterpark ( / @teckgk )
Sally Dark Rides
• IAAPA 2016 | Sally Dar... ( / @sallydarkrides )
• Challenge of Tutankham... ( / @sallydarkrides )
Matugani / Kanonen
• Kanonen Liseberg Onrid... ( / @themeparkstudent )
• Matugani POV Lost Isla... ( / @wheelgap )
• Matugani Queue Walkthr... ( / @craft7185 )
Mamba, Worlds of Fun
• Mamba Off-Ride Footage... ( / @canobiecoaster )
Time Traveler, Silver Dollar City
• Time Traveler Off-Ride... ( / @canobiecoaster )
Super Nintendo World
• Super Nintendo World O... ( / @canobiecoaster )
Lost Island Themepark
• First riders get a tas... ( / @kwwl7496 )
• My Second Visit to the... ( / @anneckhart )
• What Is Auk Modu? (Los... ( / @lostislandparks )
• No Coaster Con 2024 Te... ( / @lostislandparks )
Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol
• Volkanu Queue Video | ... ( / @sallydarkrides )
• ALL NEW Volkanu Dark R... ( / @themeparkhd )
Yuta Falls
• Lost Island Yuta Falls... ( / @valleythrills )
Skyborne
• Skyborne at Lost Islan... ( / @wcfcourier )
Amara Aviators
• Amara Aviators POV Los... ( / @wheelgap )
Nopuko Air Coaster
• Nopuko Air Coaster POV... ( / @attractionexperience )
📚 SOURCES
• AP Podcast Episode 308...
• The Coaster101 Podcast...
www.sallydarkrides.com/post/e...
www.sallydarkrides.com/post/a...
www.costofwisconsin.com/the-l...
www.kwwl.com/news/top-stories...
wcfcourier.com/news/local/bus...
0:00 What is Lost Island?
1:35 Lost Island Waterpark History
4:18 Expansion
5:25 Creating Lost Island Themepark
8:36 Lost Island Themepark Opens
10:21 Exploring Lost Island
13:16 Mura (Fire Realm)
16:36 Yuta (Earth Realm)
19:30 Awa (Water Realm)
21:02 Udara (Air Realm)
24:53 Tamariki (Spirit Realm)
25:53 What Makes It Special?
29:02 Thank You
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide, I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting the content on this channel!
#ThemePark #RollerCoaster #ThemeParkHistory

[@rgs8970]

I love that Lost Island is focusing on immersive theming, rather than relying on existing IP. I know it's early days still, but I am rooting for the park!

[@StorybookAmusement]

Absolutely! I'm hoping they get rewarded someday for their creativity.

[@506363]

Existing IPs cost money, of course they wouldn't use them. Its the fact that they are focusing on theming at all instead of just dumping rides in an empty parking lot.

[@StorybookAmusement]

@@506363 IPs also can get outdated

[@technosworld2]

What a nice, clean park. It definitely looks great with the wide open spaces. A few more trees and vegetation to flesh it out would be great but I'm guessing they'll be growing/adding over the years.

[@StorybookAmusement]

That's probably the No. 1 criticism of the park. I applaud what they've built so far, but it does feel a bit bare. Those trees need time to fill in.

[@TechKingGame]

Definitely needs more trees both to fill it in and for shade

[@IvyArtChannel]

I've been to lost island and I can say it is one of my favorite water parks

[@universalgames2901]

I honestly really hope Lost Islands gets more successful and expands, it really is a THEMED, PARK and everything is different, yet cohesive. With the trees being planted, it could easily made into an even more beautiful place once they finish growing. It could become quite similar to those amazing european parks.

[@StorybookAmusement]

That's a great point!

[@kaniahankston4310]

I’m actually happy to see that a non corporate owned amusement park is successful! It looks great and the detail they spent there is amazing!

[@StorybookAmusement]

It's so refreshing, especially in an age when corporate synergy is a huge influence in major theme parks.

[@tonyaug1981]

The berch family are incorporated. They own berch cabinets and literally compete with MasterCraft in the industry.

[@jkwana]

This park is absolutely incredible! Love the lore and rich detail in every realm. It is also a ton of fun to talk to the characters in each realm as well.

[@StorybookAmusement]

It's a dream!

[@fireblast133]

i had never heard of this place until recently, and I live in Iowa.

[@StorybookAmusement]

Lucky you being so close! I hope you get the chance to go someday

[@JasonRBeing]

I have seen many people posting pictures of the main front gate, had no idea it is in Iowa!

[@StorybookAmusement]

It's waaaay out there, but worth it!

[@Jessking6569]

I live in Waterloo, and this makes me want to visit. Completely forgot the theme park expansion existed.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I hope you get a chance to go!

[@parkpiggy]

Heard about this park while on an internet rabbit hole several months ago- love how unique it is and would love to go one day! It's so adorable!

[@StorybookAmusement]

I hope you get to experience it someday!

[@cyclicmusings2661]

Lost Island looks like a nice and promising park - I'll definitely pay a visit if I'm ever up in Iowa. I live in Orlando and am spoiled with parks but have seen just about everything here!

[@StorybookAmusement]

There are so many great parks across the country! But you've got an epic new park to explore in your area soon!

[@AnnEckhart]

Fantastic video! Lost Island is my home park, and I hope more people come to visit this year!

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thank you! Your videos were a huge help. They're so informative and enthusiastic!

[@TheGBZard]

As an Iowan I would most certainly visit this place if it wasn't so far from where I live 😭

[@StorybookAmusement]

Oooh well maybe you'll be in that area someday!

[@Noct31]

I love this place so much. I can't wait to see how it gets better every year!

[@StorybookAmusement]

It's exciting! I can't wait to see that carousel

[@TheJoyster]

Thank you for making me aware of this. I appreciate it.

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thanks for watching!

[@maxgrimes5388]

This theme park is incredible!! I wish more people would visit as I’m sure they would appreciate the fantastic experience.😊

[@StorybookAmusement]

Absolutely! Hopefully it's not a hidden gem for too much longer.

[@WDWCentral]

Too bad most people don’t know this park exists

[@StorybookAmusement]

Hopefully some local marketing efforts this year help bring some more locals to the park!

[@TempoLOOKING]

​@@StorybookAmusementnope.

[@haydenreilly2844]

Ive been here several times. It is an amazing place. I need to go back there sometime

[@StorybookAmusement]

I'm counting down the days until I can go back too

[@jarathen1625]

It's a great park with a super helpful staff, a wonderful layout, and a rock solid lineup of rides... but it needs a lot more foliage to grow in and help support the feeling of being transported. The food could also take a step up, but I think they'll get there.

[@StorybookAmusement]

Definitely! I personally have a great experience with the food. It was way cheaper than most other theme parks, and it was fresh. There's a lot of potential.

[@gamingdaniel9749]

Ive been there and its awsome

[@StorybookAmusement]

Awesome! What's your favorite ride?

[@gamingdaniel9749]

The green one was my fav because it was super fast 0-60 in 3 seconds was crazy

[@StorybookAmusement]

@@gamingdaniel9749 Oooh yes. It packs a punch!

[@gamingdaniel9749]

Hey thanks for responding normally it does not happen but I just finished my job for today a got the notification

[@-Vanova-]

I hope I get to go someday! With where I am in iowa, it’s probably a three or so hour drive :]!!

[@StorybookAmusement]

I'm roughly 13 or so hours away and think it was worth the drive 😅 Have fun!

[@history_leisure]

I know they've already hinted at a Rapids ride in the short term, but a Gravity Group family woodie and a Chance Hyper GTX like Thunder Run at Kentucky Kingdom would fit the line-up (and budget) of Lost Island

[@StorybookAmusement]

The world needs more Chance Hyper GTX coasters

[@heloothere4086]

as an iowan, I can most definitely confirm your first words. besides this, pretty much all there is is corn and soybeans.

[@chigthequig]

Pigs we got a lot of pigs.

[@nicholasmarshall8430]

Butter cows

[@shawnambrus5490]

Looks awesome but needs tons of trees

[@StorybookAmusement]

This place was a soybean field just a few years ago, so it's understandable, but hopefully the trees they have now grow fast.

[@margaret_adelle]

I live so close to Waterloo. Guess I know what I'm doing this summer. xD

[@StorybookAmusement]

Woo! Have a great time!

[@jimthar17]

I hope this park becomes more successful. They need to build NEW rides though instead of buying older ones. Something like a GCI family thrill coaster or even an RMC single rail would be great here. Along with some new flat and thrill rides like maybe a new version Enterprise ride. But I’m sure those things will come in time.

[@StorybookAmusement]

True! But aside from the two major coasters and I believe the drop tower, every ride there is new. They even considered a new wooden coaster before opening! Maybe someday.

[@Ace-du7vw]

i think it's a smart investment to get them going, and they made good choices. coasters are the crowd pleasers but they're very expensive. the general public aren't going to know they're not new unless the park goes advertising it. i hope they do find success so they can expand and get some one of a kind coasters.

[@TempoLOOKING]

​@Ace-du7vw it will fail. The park is to far from Big cities in Iowa. Illinois can travel to 6 flags or house on the rock. We had a water park in Davenport. Lost island is too far for both

[@djboss302]

Ngl I didn't realize the matugani station was supposed to be a mine transformed into a temple because it's just painted wood inside there lmao

[@StorybookAmusement]

Yeah I'll admit it's underwhelming. 😅 I'd love at least some build up music or something right before the launch.

[@djboss302]

@@StorybookAmusement Yeah for sure. I do have a lot of criticisms of Lost Island but I am also rooting for them so hard, it's a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of the American regional theme park scene

[@StorybookAmusement]

@@djboss302 Same! It's not perfect, but they made something really special

[@FigmentJedi]

I'll admit that description I added to the Matugani Wikipedia page was mostly based on a "Ask walkaround characters about lore" answer, but yeah, the station interior could definitely use some plussing.

[@devonboulden2496]

A new privately owned amusement park that found a niche due to its distance from other parks? This is like trying to freedive the Marianas Trench. Wow. I love amusement parks. I hope they make it. They have a Top Spin? Cool. I thought they stopped making those. Also a circular loop on a coaster? They're normally tear dropped. Wow. They've got some serious cojones. Oh, I see. They've separated the loop to make it more of a corkscrew. That makes it less of a headbanging ride. Cool. As you said, they need more shade. Those trees need time to grow. The land is sparse and flat. I find that a little unnerving, but it's new. That'll change over time.

[@StorybookAmusement]

All great attractions!

[@hollywood1340]

Aaand now I want to visit a theme park in Iowa.

[@TempoLOOKING]

We also have house on the rock.

[@alexandramcginnis8872]

House on the rock is in Wisconsin. Not Iowa. We have Adventureland

[@memesrct_official]

Your video is so impressive. At this time around, Lost Island Theme Park is looking for the way to boost their attendance up by working with RMC with one or two roller coaster projects such as a Raptor model and/or an all new Wild Moose model. Here’s my wild card speculation if the rumors are true, Lost Island Theme Park will be making its largest investment yet by building a small-scale B&M Dive Coaster in the next five to ten years of park operations.

[@StorybookAmusement]

That'd be something special if you're right!

[@sdssyk]

Well I have lived in Iowa for decades and have never heard of this place. HA.

[@StorybookAmusement]

A true hidden gem 😅

[@WorldofThrills]

Fantastic deep dive of the park! In a landscape where it's seemingly easier to market the biggest and scariest rollercoasters, it's so refreshing to see a park focus on the areas first and then use attractions to compliment the story they're trying to tell. I wish them all the luck in the world! p.s. someone needs to tell them they can buy fully grown trees hahahah

[@FigmentJedi]

From what I understand, transplanting larger trees is more expensive out here.

[@WorldofThrills]

@@FigmentJedi oh I bet it’s way more expensive!

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thanks! It's definitely a nice break from the standard regional parks here in the U.S. Hopefully this upcoming season is busier than ever! It seems the park is pretty aware of the shade comments. I believe they mentioned having some more shade installed, but I really hope those trees hurry up.

[@Moosenmaster37]

Northeast Iowa not northwest haha. Very funny to hear as someone that grew up there

[@StorybookAmusement]

Dang. I just checked my script, and it says Northeast. When you narrate 4,500 words, your mind is bound to go into autopilot mode on some of them I guess.

[@frankanderson2284]

Love the location, but it misses the mark in so many places. The bumper cars and water ride are very underwhelming. The purple coaster seems to have boxing gloves on as it knocks the crap out of you. The launch coaster is good but short. The water battle ride is hard with such poor attendance. I look forward to possible future expansions….

[@StorybookAmusement]

As with any park, there's good and bad. I think the good outweighs the bad here. Volkanu alone is worth the price of admission.

[@CJGsquared]

I'm a season pass holder, and I plan to be for a very long time. Fortunately, the waterpark is very successful, and can subsidize the losses until the theme park is profitable. The lack of advertising has been an issue. From what I've heard, they run radio ads around Waterloo, but I think they'd have better luck with billboards along I-380 from Waterloo to Iowa City. The fact that there are people within a 2 hour drive who do not know about this park is a crime

[@FigmentJedi]

Last season did have a smattering of billboards in Rochester, Omaha and Dubuque, but they could definitely use some more within the state.

[@chigthequig]

Im in southern Iowa and have never heard of it. Looks like a nice little park.

[@alexandramcginnis8872]

@FigmentJedi What?! They don’t even have any in Des Moines?! Their own state!

[@FigmentJedi]

@@alexandramcginnis8872 I did see one in Des Moines too.

[@chigthequig]

@@alexandramcginnis8872 Des Moines still has Adventureland it's just janky and old.

[@reaganliberty]

Go hawks!

[@Shredxcam22]

Then, there's an SLC. Prayers sent

[@StorybookAmusement]

It's jolty, but that extra helix is worth it 😅

[@Shredxcam22]

@@StorybookAmusement could be worse. Imagine a relocated arrow mega looper. Or a nother dang boomerang

[@CoasterCentral305]

I just wish they could have re tracked it, like at Morey’s Piers

[@Shredxcam22]

@@CoasterCentral305 retrack it with b&m track and get new b&m trains

[@jakobnorman315]

For your next video project please let it be another kennywood park video this time let it be about the olde kennywood railroad and how it evolved into Thomas town

[@sonic23233]

I didn't like it when they did that to a historical landmark

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thanks for the suggestion! I have most of 2024 planned out at this point, but I'll add this to the list. Thank you.

[@jakobnorman315]

@@sonic23233 let’s agree to disagree

[@jakobnorman315]

@@StorybookAmusement maybe next year after all next year is the franchises 80th anniversary

[@tonyaug1981]

I work very close to these parks. They're crap and tiny. If you're coming to Iowa just go to Adventureland. You can get both parks for one price instead of paying overpriced charges for each. Separately

[@evanheick1740]

people actually know Iowa exists I live in Iowa

[@StorybookAmusement]

I had no clue! 😉

[@dillanconrad]

Are we sure, like absolutely sure, it isn't money laundering?