Iowa’s Unlikely Immersive Theme Park: Lost Island

The Water Realm: Awa

Yuta flows into the next realm, Awa. The shores of this water realm are plentiful with tropical adventures. The navigators of the Awa realm once sailed around the world. Now settled on a lush island, the Awa people embrace a free-flowing way of life, inspired by the open sea.

This nautical realm is soaked with splashy colors, thatch roofs, and oceanic designs. Awa’s waterfront location gives it a coastal illusion of being on an island surrounded by the ocean.

Awa’s Attractions

Awa has a nice collection of flat rides, including the swaying tides of Sea Swell and the swirling Eeki Eeki Escape. The land’s tallest attraction is an icon around Lost Island: Alzanu’s Eye; this Ferris wheel gives guests a new perspective of the gorgeous theme park. Awa’s other notable ride is Awaati Water Battle; this is an interactive splash battle ride made by Interlink, featuring reed boats, hand-powered water blasters, and light theming.

Awa has not one, but two interactive play areas: Sand Castle, which is down by the shore, and Akua Maze, which is an eye-catching little splash pad.

This realm is home to Lost Island’s other major restaurant, Whalebone Grill, with tropical architecture and a stunning whale sculpture.

The Air Realm: Udara

The air realm, Udara, is a society of curious inventors who once lived among the clouds. The mysterious events of Lost Island caused the sky-high society to fall. The once-floating Udara was then bound to the ground. From then on, the wise people of Udara were determined to soar once again and restore their airborne society. They built flying machines and towers with the aim of returning home, but nothing has worked yet. The people of Udara are a brilliant, imaginative bunch with high hopes. Their lovely society on Lost Island is a highlight in the park.

The Udara realm is sprinkled with aeronautical gizmos and gadgets from their attempts to fly again—even having gears and feathers stamped in the pathways.

Udara may be grounded these days, but the land has an airy feel to it with fluffy white designs and pastel purple swirled in. Its aesthetic is very distinct with puffs of theming that give the feeling as if you’re walking on clouds. Udara has small embellishes that make the unseen power of air visible. Small pinwheels and the land’s central Aviarium show off Udara’s windy kinetic energy.

Visiting Udara is an inspiring time, with its imaginative, head-in-the-clouds environment and themes of perusing knowledge. The land has a breezy rhythm, but its major attractions are a real rush.

Skyborne Drop Tower

Towering over Udara is Skyborne. This is the tallest ride in the park, standing at 180 feet. Skyborne is a shot and drop manufactured by SNS. Aside from its tall stature and high thrill level, Skyborne is a standout ride at Lost Island for its theming.

In the queue, guests learn about the story of Udara and its fallen society. The queue wraps through the libraries and workshops where inventors are building transportation contraptions to go back in the sky. Not many drop towers have preshows, but this one does. Guests find out they’re testing out a prototype invention that will take them to the heavens. The experiment doesn’t go as planned, and riders plummet back to earth. Back to the drawing board.

Amara Aviators

Amara Aviators is a low-level flying machine—otherwise known as a sky fly by Gerstlauer. At first glance, this one might seem like a standard spinning ride, but the high-in-the-sky journey is a bit more than that. Riders sit in between two controllable wings to either sway or completely invert with the right movements. It’s an easygoing ride that can turn into a whirlwind with enough effort.

This invention is a true wind-in-your-face experience. Riders can use their wings to experiment with gusts of wind in an exciting way. It perfectly fits the tinkering, soaring spirit of Udara.

Nopuko Air Coaster

Nopuko Air Coaster, named after a famous Udaran inventor, is a Vekoma suspended looping coaster. Serving as the land’s backdrop, Nopuko is a relocated coaster—formerly operating in South Africa. Now at Lost Island, the refurbished coaster has new trains. Nopuko is a turbulent flight that surges through its sweeping inversions and hectic layout. The coaster flutters about with a few near-misses and unexpected jolts. It’s an intense ride, but Lost Island has its gentle attractions too.

The Spirit Realm: Tamariki

The spirit realm is the only realm at Lost Island not based on a natural element; instead, this is where the island’s peaceful guardians live: the Tamariki.

Tamariki are mischievous, generous little creatures with the best intentions. They believe in doing good together and living well forever. In the park’s backstory, the Tamariki are responsible for unifying the different realms. They are pretty significant for Lost Island as the park’s mascot is a Tamariki named Aoka. Throughout the park, small Tamariki figures can be spotted in every realm.

The Tamariki realm is the kiddie area of the park with several rides for children, including a wacky worm roller coaster and a play structure.

The bright colors and spirited design of the Tamariki realm make it such a cheerful place to be. The Tamariki realm balances out Lost Island nicely, both with its rides and its upbeat mood.