Adventureland is a family-owned-turned-corporate amusement park in Altoona, Iowa, just northeast of Des Moines. Founded by Jack Krantz and opened in August 1974, the park grew from a modest local attraction into one of the Midwest’s most-visited theme parks, spread across roughly 176 to 180 acres.
Today Adventureland is owned by Herschend, which acquired it in 2025 as part of a larger deal for Palace Entertainment’s U.S. properties; Palace Entertainment had purchased the park from the Krantz family in December 2021. The park offers around 50 attractions, including seven roller coasters and the 24-ride Adventure Bay water park.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Altoona, Iowa
- Opened: August 1974
- Owner: Herschend
- Size: About 176-180 acres
- Attractions: About 50, including water park
- Roller Coasters: 7
- Signature Ride: Tornado (wooden, 1978)
The Ride Lineup
Adventureland’s seven roller coasters mix wood and steel. Tornado, a wooden out-and-back coaster designed by William Cobb and built by the Frontier Construction Company, debuted on July 4, 1978 and reaches about 93 feet tall, hits roughly 58 mph, and runs about 2,850 feet of track along the shore of a small lake; in 2024 the American Coaster Enthusiasts named it a Coaster Landmark. Other wooden entries include Outlaw and the fully enclosed Underground, both built by Custom Coasters International, with Underground threading its train through a dark, covered structure rather than open air.
On the steel side, Monster is a Gerstlauer Infinity model that was the first of its kind built in the United States when it opened in 2016, while Phoenix is a Maurer spinning coaster and Dragon Slayer is an S&S 4D Free Spin. The park rounds out its lineup with Flying Viking, a smaller Zamperla family coaster.
Beyond the Coasters
Adventure Bay, the park’s water park, adds roughly two dozen water rides and slides to the property, making Adventureland a full-day destination rather than a coaster-only stop. Other attractions include the Space Shot drop tower and the Storm Chaser swing ride.
The park has weathered ownership changes over the past few years, moving from the founding Krantz family to Palace Entertainment in 2021 and then to Herschend in 2025, but it has continued operating as a seasonal Midwest amusement park drawing visitors from across Iowa and neighboring states.
Explore more: Explore more Theme Parks.
Adventureland FAQs
Where is Adventureland located?
Adventureland is in Altoona, Iowa, just northeast of Des Moines.
When did Adventureland open?
The park opened in August 1974 after being founded by Jack Krantz.
How many roller coasters does Adventureland have?
Adventureland operates seven roller coasters, including the wooden Tornado, built by Frontier Construction Company, and Outlaw, the enclosed Underground, and steel coasters Monster, Phoenix, Dragon Slayer, and Flying Viking.
Get More from Adventureland
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Adventureland, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo by Ali Ramazan Çiftçi on Pexels.