Amusement Park News

In its 50th season, Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa, kicked off 2024 in style. This year, the park is offering the return of a revitalized classic ride, new dining destinations and food selections, and vibrant new entertainment to welcome guests.

According to the park's general manager, Mike Lusky, “We wanted to create an experience that not only celebrates our rich history but also introduces exciting new adventures for our guests… From the reimagined Underground ride to the all-new Festival of Decades, the pork-focused Oink's restaurant and the Iowa Craft Beer Takeover, there's something for everyone to enjoy…”

The central focus of this celebratory season is the reopening of the completely revamped Underground coaster. The ride has always been unique; it's the only indoor wooden coaster in the world.



Now, the once cool but dated animatronic figures will be enhanced and new figures added, including a nine-foot talking skull; there will be ten new or updated animatronics in all. Also enhancing the ride are new scenes expanding the storyline, and new coaster cars, along with new lighting, effects, and a 360-degree surround sound audio experience.

The Underground originally opened in 1996 and was built on top of the former Aquatheater, which offered high dive stunt and dolphin shows in a 14-foot-deep pool. The former pool's depths made the spot ideal to create an underground ride.

The roller coaster became a part of Iowa amusement park lore, and park guests are eager to welcome it back. Its reinvention touches upon the culture and history of the region, too.



While the twists and turns that made the ride a spooky thrill remain, the theming has been substantially upgraded through the efforts of Ian Miller and his company, Gaff Box. Gaff Box also created the Slaughterhouse haunted attraction in the area, and significant elements of Adventureland's own Halloween season Phantom Fall Fest over the last two years. In 2023, the fest included four different haunted houses and four scare zones. Miller, the CEO of Gaff Box, was itching to create a revamp on the ride for many years – even prior to the park's purchase by Palace Entertainment in 2021.

Miller grew up in the Des Moines area loving the ride. His family didn't take the kids to Disney or Universal, he explained, noting the ride was “as good as it got for us.” In short, he had a personal investment in making the experience even better.

When the Underground was closed for updates in 2023, Miller stepped in to help recreate the ride. He says, “Our team has poured their hearts and souls into this project, aiming to create an experience that transports riders to a whole new dimension of thrills and adventure.” He notes that the company's continued collaboration with Adventureland has been “nothing short of exhilarating. For the past two years, we've had the privilege of helping bring Phantom Fall Fest to life, and now, with Underground, we're taking that level of immersion to unprecedented heights.”

According to Lusky, the ride's improvements will be noticeable to guests from the moment they walk up to it. “The theming will be unlike anything else guests have experienced at Adventureland to date… an elevated experience that will take [them]on an unforgettable adventure that will leave riders returning again and again.”

Riders enter through a mine-themed queue line, while a recorded narration tells the story of the outlaw Bad Bob. They'll get a look at posters and videos that introduce them to both Bad Bob and his nemesis, Sheriff Sam. The ride's station room will also include authentic vestiges of the Altoona area's coal mining legacy, and a revamped animatronic to tell the tale of the Underground itself. Once boarded on the ride's new coaster cars, guests will descend into the abandoned mine, embarking on a search for gold stolen by Bad Bob and his gang. That gold is said to be stashed in the gang's hideout - the old-abandoned mine.

Lusky describes the ride revamp as having a “level of detail and immersive storytelling… [that's] truly remarkable…Gaff Box's dedication to authenticity and their ability to bring our vision to life has exceeded all expectations.”

Throughout the ride, guests will find many added elements, both large and small, from more rocks on the mine walls to the updated animatronics and new scenes.

Miller relates that his company wanted to “honor Altoona's rich heritage while delivering a thrilling experience. Every aspect of the attraction, from the meticulously crafted scenery to the storyline featuring iconic characters like Bad Bob and Sheriff Sam, is a testament to our commitment to authenticity and immersion.”

Along with the reopening of the iconic Underground, Adventureland is bringing a variety of new food and beverage treats to guests this year. A new Dippin' Dots flavor is themed to represent the Underground itself – Chocolate Brownie Bounty, studded with pieces of brownie batter.

Guests will also be living high on the hog at a brand-new pork-centric restaurant, Oink's. Located in a large red barn, the restaurant will offer pork chops, pork tenderloins, and even pork chops on a stick, with all the meaty products originating from lowa's Berkwood Farms. Continuing with the porcine theme, the Potato Patch French fry stand will offer BBQ pork and poutine selections. Other new menu items at the park this season will include cake balls and Cheetos popcorn – mixing in full-sized pieces of Cheetos with buttery popcorn.



Park visitors will also find a new spot to quaff their favorite beverages – the Falling Star Lounge. The bar will pay decorative tribute to the park's historic Falling Star ride, by displaying its colorful lights and other recognizable elements as well as the fully refurbished Falling Star sign. Drinks will include some new choices such as hand-crafted margaritas and sangria.

If a cold brew is a more coveted beverage, guests will enjoy selected summer weekends that bring the Iowa Craft Beer Takeover. The event allows guests ages 21 and up to taste beers from breweries throughout the state on a new, spacious patio.

There will be plenty of time in the park to enjoy the thrills and the tasty new treats and drinks; Adventureland will also be extending its closing times this year and offering a vibrant display of lights and lasers in the evenings.

In honor of the park's 50th year, there will also be several special celebratory events. Coming in June is Bernie's Birthday Bash, featuring the park's mascot, Bernie Bernard, a mainstay of the park since its inception in 1974. During July, guests can enjoy the new Festival of Decades, with tributes to a different decade each week. There will also be fireworks, concerts, and historic displays each relating to a different decade.
Lusky asserts that “we wanted to create an experience that not only celebrates our rich history but also introduces exciting new adventures for our guests…there's something for everyone to enjoy as we embark on our 50th Celebration Season.”



The fun began with the park's opening on May 18. Adventureland will be open seven days a week May 25th through August 18th. 2024 Season passes start at $99.99 and include summer admission to both the theme and waterpark, Adventure Bay, as well as admission to the park's popular Oktoberfest and this year's Phantom Fall Fest.