Unsettling Reasons Iowa's Adventureland Amusement Park Is More Dangerous Than You Realize

For the amusement park aficionado, the day may come when you want to expand your horizons beyond the big name parks. This might happen for several reasons, such as seeking new thrills, smaller crowds, and lower prices. One amusement park that fits this mold is Iowa's Adventureland, located just northeast of Des Moines, Iowa. Though not as popular as its big-name counterparts, Adventureland has been operating for 50 years and hosts over 50 rides including water features and roller coasters. These, alongside various live shows and a wide range of food options, make it seem like Adventureland has what it takes to be the top-ranked amusement park in the Midwest. 

However, one look at Adventureland's spotted safety history proves that this park is a lot more dangerous than you would think — maybe even one of the most dangerous theme parks in the U.S. From young visitors to employees, a series of accidents at Adventureland have injured or killed some poor souls who were just seeking a fun story to bring home.

For nearly 40 years, Adventureland's Raging River attraction thrilled visitors with a ride through white water rapids complete with waterfalls and geysers. In 2016, the Raging River claimed the life of a 68-year-old park attendant after he slipped on the conveyor belt moving the attraction's rafts and fractured his skull. Even more tragically, the attendant was only on the first week of the job. Ultimately, state officials conducted an investigation and deemed the ride safe, though this perceived safety would come into question again just a few years later.

In the summer of 2021, one of the rafts on the Raging River overturned mid-ride, leaving six riders submerged underwater. Three riders were hospitalized, with one of them, an 11-year-old eventually passing away from his injuries. This incident would lead to a lawsuit against Adventureland filed by the boy's family and the permanent closing of the wrathful Raging River.

Adventureland was sold in 2021, with the new ownership group pledging to make the amusement park safer for visitors and workers alike. This promise was shattered in early 2023, when a 20-year-old man slipped on ice as he was carrying a steel beam. The beam fell onto the young man's chest, crushing him. He was rushed to the hospital but didn't survive the accident. This latest fatal accident, the second in two years, led to yet another investigation of Adventureland's practices.

Summer getaways to one of the country's countless amusement parks have offered families lifelong memories for decades. From the excitement that keeps up the kids the night before to the long drives on new roads, the experience is unparalleled. While it might be difficult to consider the darker side of amusement parks, taking these incidents into consideration can be the difference between an unforgettable vacation and an unforgettable tragedy. It may be worth doing some research into the best-ranked amusement parks in the Midwest, before jumping onto the rides at Adventureland in Iowa.