Iowa’s Unlikely Immersive Theme Park: Lost Island

Adventure Waits in an Unlikely Location

Some theme parks can be found in the most surprising places around the world.

We’ve heard of parks buried among the lush Dutch woods. We’ve heard of parks built along a retired quarry wall. But a special theme park can be found in an especially unlikely spot: the sprawling fields of Northeast Iowa.

Lost Island Themepark sprouted in the U.S. Corn Belt and is a beautiful destination that’s equally easygoing and thrilling. Despite being in what most would consider the middle of nowhere, the young park is blossoming with completely original theming and storytelling. Lost Island is an unlikely gem in the Midwest, and its remarkable story is a roller coaster in itself.

How did a theme park end up there? Is it on par with world-class theme parks?

This is the challenging story and unique joy of Lost Island Themepark.

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Lost Island Emerges

Before the turn of the millennium, residents of Waterloo, Iowa, were a half-day’s drive away from a good family outing. The Bertch family, owners of a local cabinet manufacturer, wanted to change that. They had a seedling of an idea and were motivated to give back to the community by building a homegrown attraction.

The well-respected cabinet company was known for treating hundreds of its employees to all-expenses-paid vacations. The Bertches’ upcoming attraction would create that same type of getaway for the Cedar Valley area; it would be the same quality as a vacation destination, but not a world away.

The Bertches would find their inspiration in the mid-‘90s during a trip to Wisconsin Dells. They decided to build a brand-new water park. Since the Bertches loved tropical vacations, they’d give their upcoming water park an island theme. The city of Waterloo, Iowa—having more than 60,000 residents—would get its own slice of paradise.

Lost Island Waterpark was officially in development, and construction began in 1999.

BDR Design Group joined the project, adding a level of creativity and theming to the water park; that creative touch set Lost Island apart from others. The Bertches wanted to exceed everyone’s expectations by following a four-to-one guideline; that meant, for every dollar they spent on an attraction, they invested four times that cost into theming.

The project exceeded its expected $6 million estimated cost as crews worked long hours in preparation for opening day. Despite weather setbacks and other challenges, the process was worthwhile as Lost Island’s co-developer Gary Bertch said they “wanted to do it right.”

By summer 2001, Lost Island Waterpark opened its gates to the public.

New Waves in Waterloo

The beautiful 40-acre water park had a bit of a slippery opening season, with low attendance and criticism of its high admission prices. However, visitors would soon discover Lost Island was more than some local swimming pool. The attraction lineup—including a wave pool, lazy river, 60-foot plunge, and more—made for a lovely time. Guests really took a liking to the refreshing and well-themed environment, like a mini vacation right in their backyard.

Over the years, the word got out about Lost Island Waterpark. Attendance improved, and it was often rated among the top water parks in the U.S.

After a slow start, Lost Island Waterpark was finally making a splash, and the Bertch family was looking ahead to making new waves.