Lost Island Theme Park opens in Waterloo with 22 amusement park rides

I’m strapped into a rocket-ship like seat and my feet are dangling dozens of feet above the ground.

The roller coaster, attached to a track above my head, briefly pauses before launching me downward and this is when I start screaming. I can feel my face being flattened by the sheer force of the coaster and this is before it swings me upside down, not once, but five times.

It’s the Nopuko Air Coaster, a suspended looping coaster, at the new Lost Island Theme Park in Waterloo and it’s the craziest amusement park ride I’ve ever been on.

Lost Island opened in Waterloo on June 18 after a short delay due to construction bringing a themed amusement park with 22 rides. Each sits in a themed zone with an adventure to follow on an app. Find out more about the latest amusement park to open in Iowa.  

More:Roller coaster YouTube channel gets sneak peek at Waterloo's Lost Island Theme Park

A true theme park in Waterloo, Iowa

Eric Bertch, one of the owners and general manager of the park, said at a media event on Tuesday that the park's embrace of a themed world with its own characters is what sets them apart from other amusement parks.

"All of the architecture and design work you see is a story that’s happening in the background," Eric said. "The fullest richest experience is the app, the Lost Island Adventure Guide with videos, a quiz on park lore and fun collectible things including badges and avatars to help the story come alive even more."

The park and the rides are broken into five different realms: Tamariki, Udara, Awa, Yuta and Mura. Each realm embraces a spirit, air, water, earth and fire theme respectively with unique characters, colors and types of rides.

Gary Bertch, one of the park owners, said building the original concept of the park, from the unique characters and storyline to planning the rides, started around 13 years ago. Gary said his son Eric and daughter-in-law Molly were the primary creative forces behind the app.

More:Adventureland opens under new ownership. What amusement park fans should know about 2022 season

“It was a long time in the planning,” Gary said. “We were thinking of what could bring more tourism into the area and a theme park is a broader audience.”

On Tuesday, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart also visited the park for the first time, navigating the app and riding the Skyborne Drop Tower.

Hart said the city is taking a "long-range look" at development in the region and expects the addition of the theme park to have a positive impact on Waterloo. 

"This will be one of the greatest impacts for tourism this city and region has ever seen," Hart said. "We have one of the top water parks in the United States... The quality this family has put into that, we have full and complete faith in them." He referred to Lost Island Waterpark, a neighboring attraction that opened in 2001. 

On the drop tower, Hart promised, “the view from up there is worth it.”

How many rides does Lost Island have?

The park opened in mid-June after two years of construction with 22 amusement park rides, carnival-inspired games, three gift shop areas, two main restaurants and four food stalls spread throughout the park. There's also a sand pit, a playground and other interactive attractions.

The park expects to finish Nika’s Gift Carousel and its second main roller coaster, Matugani, later this year. Yuta Falls, a flume-based water ride, will be finished next year for a total of 25 themed rides.

Walking into the Lost Island Theme Park, thrill seekers are truly entering the world of Lost Island. The park adopts Lost Island Waterpark's Polynesian/southeast Asian theme and takes it to the next level.

More:Get to know six roller coaster rides at Adventureland, from the Tornado to the Outlaw

Via an interactive cell phone app called Lost Island Adventure Guide, visitors can navigate a guided map around the amusement park as they learn the characters and story of Lost Island Theme Park. As visitors ride, they can learn trivia about the world of Lost Island, collect badges and solve a virtual treasure hunt.

More:Photos: Adventureland holds grand opening for new amusement park owners in Altoona

Where is Lost Island? 

The new theme park is located at 2600 E. Shaulis Road, Waterloo. The water park is located at 2225 E. Shaulis Road, Waterloo.

How much does it cost to go to Lost Island?

Tickets range between $45 and $49 for adults and children. A Park Hopper ticket that allows access to the theme park and the water park is $55 for adults and children.

What are Lost Island's hours?

The theme park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The waterpark is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Contact: 319-455-6700; thelostisland.com/

Hannah Rodriguez covers retail for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at herodriguez@registermedia.com or on Twitter @byherodriguez.