Click HERE for the trip report from 30 hours on the Screamin' Eagle.
Click HERE for the trip report from Worlds of Fun.
Click HERE to see the full gallery of photos from this day (115 photos), including high-res versions.
7/22/06
According to Myrtle, we are driving through the middle of a field. That can only mean one thing...
We are in Iowa. Yes, despite our long night on the Eagle, and our many bumps and bruises, we decided to make the 6 hour drive north to Des Moines, and a park neither of us had been to: Adventureland. The parking lot was completely jammed.
The entry plaza is nice, although a blatant Disneyland ripoff. We found that there were quite a few Disney imitations in this park (not necessarily a bad thing).
Spelling please?
Here is one of the park's new rides for 2006: a top spin ripoff. The park had basically every classic flat ride you can think of, but we didn't ride any. There were two reasons for this: the crowds, and our physical condition after 30 hours on the Eagle.
My biggest regret will probably be missing the park's old school PTC tea cups.
Adventureland is a very nice looking park.
They even had a street band.
The first ride of the day was The Underground.
If this thing wasn't wooden and made by CCI, I highly doubt many people would consider it a coaster. It does have two lift hills, and is powered by gravity, but then again a lot of old school dark rides are the same way. Short, and cheesy, but still pretty fun.
There are some very picturesque views of The Dragon and Tornado from across the water.
whootah another light triggered shooting gallery.
Time for The Outlaw, one of the first CCI woodies.
This coaster was smooth as glass, but uneventful. I could do a 30 hour marathon on this with no problems.
The first drop is pretty good.
The operators on this ride were really good. Despite it having one train (like all the coasters in the park), they were moving people through fast by getting the train in and out of the station in a hurry. The operations in this park as a whole were fantastic.
Saw Mill Splash was the first of the spinning raft rides. Unfortunately, the line was huge.
Oh god this kettle corn smelled so good. I ended up opting to get a coke float, though (which was fantastic).
Along with the tea cups, I also regret not getting to ride Sidewinder. It looked like a great flat.
Fabulous.
Am I really waiting in this line for a Hopkins looper?
The lines did give us time to admire our fellow park patrons. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the group in line for Outlaw smoking cigarettes and sporting a "F*** me I'm white trash" hat. There was this guy, though, who we only could assume had just won the John Deere tractor race. On the way to the park we passed local cops at three roads directing traffic, and then we passed four tractors. We figured it must be a race. One of the drivers was wearing a Caterpillar hat and a bright hawaiian shirt. Very similar to this gentleman, in fact.
This was a frequent sight at Adventureland. Dave and I both agreed that we are glad that we don't live in Iowa, and we also agreed that Tommy and James would have an absolute field day at this park.
This little run to the lift hill is the roughest part of The Dragon.
The rest really isn't bad at all.
We were bracing ourselves for the most painful ride ever, but it was actually a pretty good ride.
Had the ride sucked, they put some fun house mirrors at the exit to cheer you up.
Here is Tornado, a Bill Cobb woodie.
Surprisingly, it was pretty smooth and a decent ride.
Some of the park's patrons looked like they walked in straight from a hard day of work on the farm.
Giant pigs are always a good thing.
So are rotors and water fans.
So are ducks.
Here is the park's other new for 2006 attraction: a frog hopper.
I didn't look, but something tells me you can't play any games for a penny.
Nothin' wrong with having bingo in your park.
Hell yes I've always wanted a Hopkins looper shirt.
Tackiest shirt ever. Perfect for Iowans! That's what you call them, right? Iowans?
I don't think many people read this sign.
This was the running of the bulls for the train. Basically, you push forward as much as you can, then when they open the gate, everyone sprints to try and get a seat.
Enjoy your ride on the Redneck Railway at Redneck Disneyland.
Oh whootah a tunnel.
Hmmm I wonder where they got the idea for this?
Outlaw and kettle corn. The perfect combination.
Late in the day, the Outlaw crew was still having a good time. Usually my opinion of a park with guests as obnoxious as the ones at Adventureland would be bad, but the park was really so nice that it made up for all of that. Even with what I assume is a limited budget, they have made the park look extremely nice, and all day long I saw employees sweeping the pathways. There's lots of flowers, trees, and fountains. The coasters are very re-rideable, but none are that great. I wouldn't mind going back on a less crowded day when I could do all the flat rides and the water rides.
Terrible's Casino. The name really makes you want to visit, doesn't it? We drove out of Iowa as fast as we could, opting to spend the night in Kansas City.
Goodbye Kansas City.
Pretty. It was a fun trip, with a couple of great new parks. Adventureland and Worlds of Fun were similar I thought in the fact that they were both very nice parks with no real standout coasters. I had a great time at both, but probably won't go again until they install a ride worth making the trip for. They are definitely worth the visit, though, if you are in the area and have never been before.
Adventureland
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