The Monster is the headline steel coaster at Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa, just outside Des Moines. Opened on June 4, 2016, the $9 million ride was the first Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster ever built in the United States — a custom layout that packs 133 feet of height, five inversions and a beyond-vertical first drop into 2,500 feet of bright-green track.
For a park best known for its classic wooden coasters, The Monster marked a leap into modern steel — and it remains one of the most intense rides in the Midwest.
Key Stats
| Height | 133 ft (40.6 m) |
| Speed | 65 mph (105 km/h) |
| Length | 2,500 ft (762 m) |
| First drop angle | 101° |
| Inversions | 5 |
| Duration | about 2 minutes |
| Manufacturer / model | Gerstlauer / Infinity Coaster |
| Cost | $9 million |
| Opened | June 4, 2016 |
First Infinity Coaster in the United States
Gerstlauer’s Infinity Coaster line takes the vertical-lift DNA of its Euro-Fighter models and scales it up with larger trains and bigger layouts. When Adventureland ordered The Monster, it became the first park in the United States to install one. The ride replaced the park’s River Rapids log flume in the Last Frontier section and instantly became Adventureland’s tallest and fastest coaster.
The 101-degree first drop tips riders past straight down — see where that ranks among the steepest roller coaster drops in the world, and compare its 133-foot height with the tallest roller coasters in the world.
The Ride Experience
The Monster climbs its lift and then bends past vertical into the 101-degree plunge, accelerating to 65 mph. From there the layout rips through five inversions — a relentless sequence of loops, rolls and twists threaded over and around the midway — before hitting the brakes about two minutes after dispatch. Trains carry eight riders each, keeping the experience personal and the airtime sharp.
The ride is also a stunner after dark: its LED lighting package, with 46 ground-mounted lights and 137 fixtures along the track, earned its designer two Illuminating Engineering Society Innovation Awards.
Visiting Adventureland
Adventureland sits in Altoona, Iowa, minutes from Des Moines, and pairs The Monster with the wooden Tornado and Outlaw and the launched Dragon Slayer. For coaster fans crossing the Midwest, the park is an easy add to any road trip along Interstate 80.
FAQ
How tall and how fast is The Monster?
The Monster stands 133 feet tall and reaches 65 mph down a first drop angled at 101 degrees — steeper than straight down.
How many inversions does The Monster have?
Five. The custom Gerstlauer Infinity layout flips riders five times across 2,500 feet of track.
When did The Monster open and what did it cost?
The Monster opened on June 4, 2016. Adventureland invested about $9 million in the ride, which replaced the River Rapids log flume.
Photo: TheCatalyst31 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)