A Day at Arnold's Park
Fun for the old and the young
The older I get, the longer it takes me to decide how far I’m willing to go to have “fun.” It seems with age; my bravery has gone out the window. When I was in my 20s, I bungee jumped in The Bahamas, and I wanted to go sky diving. This past weekend in northwest Iowa, I second-guessed going down the historic Funhouse slide in Arnold’s Park Museum and had to tell my boyfriend, Nick, to slow down on the jet ski on Lost Island Lake near Ruthven. In the end, I was able to let down my guard and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun.
Nick wanted to see The Artemis Pyle Band (former drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd) at the amphitheater in Arnold’s Park on Saturday night, so we packed up for a weekend at the lake and a day at Arnold’s Park. I didn’t grow up going to Arnold’s Park like Nick, but I visited a couple of times as a child and took my two sons there in 2020 to ride some rides, swim in the lake, and shop at The Emporium.
As we drove, Nick pointed out a few special sights along the way. There is a mannequin sitting on a house porch on the south end of Boxholm. The homeowner dresses up the mannequin according to the season. Right now she is donning a bikini and a bald head. On the north end of Mallard, don’t miss the town sign complete with a giant duck.
Our weekend at the lake turned out to be ideal. We had perfect weather and enjoyed exploring the history of Arnold’s Park. The following are some of our highlights:
Our first stop was the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame. Nick is a huge music buff and loves to learn about music history. The Hall of Fame contains various collections showcasing inductees, vintage show posters, memorabilia, and two theaters. The same building also housed the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum full of boats, water gear, newspaper articles, photographs, etc.
In the back of the museum is an area for kids (and adults) to play. The Funhouse Slide was restored and has been in working order since 2018 and the old Sugar Bowl and Barrel of Fun are on display. The idea of children being tossed around in the sugar bowl and barrel back in the day is a far cry from the safety precautions of today. We played vintage pinball machines and skee-ball and took our chances on the big slide. The 93-year-old slide differs from most giant slides as the first drop is nearly perpendicular. I survived. At the end of the slide, both kids and adults run into the padded wall, no worse for the wear.
Next, we took a walk around Arnold’s Park Amusement Park. The park is different from a lot of amusement parks. They allow non-riders to enter the park without paying admission. Also, individual ride tickets can be purchased and loaded onto a card. Nick is a roller coaster enthusiast and took a spin on the wooden roller coaster, The Legend. It was built in 1930 and is the 13th oldest coaster in the world. We enjoyed a leisurely ride on the train together and explored the Tipsy House. We both likened the steep levels of the house to walking home after a night in downtown Iowa City as college students.
After buying a bag of various flavors of taffy from Black Walnut Candy and a stop at The Nutty Bar Stand (I had a traditional Nutty Bar and Nick had a Rainbow Float - Mello Yello with a scoop of rainbow sherbet), we headed over to Preservation Plaza for the Live at the Lake concert series. The venue is next to Lake Okoboji and is set on a hill for optimal views of the stage down below. I was very impressed with the stage and its special effects including color-changing lights and graphics. The stage also offered terrific sound. There were concessions including alcoholic drinks and snacks nearby, as well as air-conditioned restrooms. The restroom facilities around the entire park were all top-notch, which makes any outing much more enjoyable. At the conclusion of the concert, there were fantastic fireworks over the lake.
The overall atmosphere of Arnold’s Park is very relaxed. There are a lot of people, but it doesn’t feel overly crowded, and the lines were not too long. It’s an excellent location for a day out with family or as a couple.
