Lost Island Theme Park (Waterloo, IA)

[skinzfan23]

One more thing, to put this into perspective, Vala's is only open about 1 1/2 months and they usually draw around 350,000 people. Basically, Vala's averages about 6,100 per day and this amusement park is only at 600.

[djc311]

One more thing, to put this into perspective, Vala's is only open about 1 1/2 months and they usually draw around 350,000 people. Basically, Vala's averages about 6,100 per day and this amusement park is only at 600.

They should pull the plug and move the attractions to I80 between Lincoln and Omaha.

Still can't believe we don't have something better than FunPlex. Another ride or two and freakin' Vala's will have more rides than FunPlex does! That's actually quite sad when you think about it.

[skinzfan23]

Still can't believe we don't have something better than FunPlex. Another ride or two and freakin' Vala's will have more rides than FunPlex does! That's actually quite sad when you think about it.

Bellevue is definitely moving along with their new waterpark.

[Nosebot]

Lost Island Theme Park is getting a new RMC single-rail roller coaster for the 2025 season called Fire Runner. It will have three inversions, a top speed of 52 miles per hour, and 1,950 feet of track.

From what i could find on the internet RMC single-rail coasters cost anywhere from $8-15 million, they better have some good financing. Do they really think their problems lies with not having enough attractions?

[skinzfan23]

From what i could find on the internet RMC single-rail coasters cost anywhere from $8-15 million, they better have some good financing. Do they really think their problems lies with not having enough attractions?

Adding attractions will probably help with attendance a tiny bit (there are some coaster enthusiasts out there that will travel anywhere for a new ride) but the its not going to magically bring the numbers to double or more than what they currently are and even that isn't enough to sustain the park.

[djc311]

From what i could find on the internet RMC single-rail coasters cost anywhere from $8-15 million, they better have some good financing. Do they really think their problems lies with not having enough attractions?

Adding attractions will probably help with attendance a tiny bit (there are some coaster enthusiasts out there that will travel anywhere for a new ride) but the its not going to magically bring the numbers to double or more than what they currently are and even that isn't enough to sustain the park.

Is their park even sponsored or licensed with any famous characters? Not that it necessarily fixes anything, but there's Snoopy World, Nickelodeon I think at Mall of America (or at least it was at one time)... obviously it won't have any connections to Disney/Universal characters.

[Bob from Omaha]

To those asking why it was built in Waterloo, Iowa.

It's also the reason it wasn't built in Omaha. Want one in Omaha? All you need to do is open a cabinet manufacturing company, be very successful, build a water park that does very well and have an ego that convinces you that your theme park will do well. Simple as that.

Lost Islands Wiki

[Nosebot]

Is their park even sponsored or licensed with any famous characters? Not that it necessarily fixes anything, but there's Snoopy World, Nickelodeon I think at Mall of America (or at least it was at one time)... obviously it won't have any connections to Disney/Universal characters.

Yes I think they are missing an identity, something that grabs the attention of parents with kids. Obviously It's gonna be hard to get licensing with any corporations especially being a unsuccessful park but there has to be something.

Also the location is not good and the park atmosphere and scenery is bland but we wont talk about that.

Maybe the area just needs to be built up?

[skinzfan23]

I only have a bachelor degree in marketing, so I don't know much but I could have told you with very limited information that a park near a blue-collar community like that with the demographics and lack of a major thoroughfare going through (sure there is I-380, but that isn't that busy) that they would have a hard time drawing people. Sure the waterpark has been successful, but that is a whole other type of attraction from an amusement park. If there were no other types of parks in the midwest, maybe I could understand it, but there is Mt Olympus in the Dells, Six Flags in Chicago, Adventureland in Des Moines, and Valleyfair in Minneapolis. Seems to me the market is already pretty full already without even factoring in the limited population base that is going to reasonably visit the park.

[Garrett]

One more thing, to put this into perspective, Vala's is only open about 1 1/2 months and they usually draw around 350,000 people. Basically, Vala's averages about 6,100 per day and this amusement park is only at 600.

They should pull the plug and move the attractions to I80 between Lincoln and Omaha.

Still can't believe we don't have something better than FunPlex. Another ride or two and freakin' Vala's will have more rides than FunPlex does! That's actually quite sad when you think about it.

I definitely feel like Vala’s is starting to teeter on the edge of being a full blown amusement park if they’d just add a few more rides. Their ticket prices certainly reflect that haha

[Nosebot]

I definitely feel like Vala’s is starting to teeter on the edge of being a full blown amusement park if they’d just add a few more rides. Their ticket prices certainly reflect that haha

Apparently they have a new ride for 2024. they just need to add more then one ride a year haha.

[Cermak]

Saw a billboard on I-80 in Omaha for this place today.

[skinzfan23]

Saw a billboard on I-80 in Omaha for this place today.

Yes they had one on 75 northbound too. Unless you know what it is, the billboard on 75 is hard to read and doesn’t give many details. This is their last weekend of the season, which is odd that they don’t try to take advantage of the nice weather in September and October.

Whoever they paid for marketing is laughing and taking their money as they walk away.

[Nosebot]

Does anyone know how this place did this past season? I saw they got an award for one of their rollercoasters.

[djc311]

Does anyone know how this place did this past season? I saw they got an award for one of their rollercoasters.

For not dropping any of the riders?

[skinzfan23]

According to AI: Reddit discussions from mid-2025 cited figures as low as 200-500 visitors on light days and under 1,000 on peak days, which is considered unsustainable for a large park.