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Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park, IA

Photo: MisterE727, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteFree

Arnolds Park Amusement Park

37 Lake Street · Arnolds Park, IA

Why you should go…

Arnolds Park traces its start to 1889, when a toboggan-style waterslide went up on the south shore of West Lake Okoboji, and you can walk the grounds without paying to enter. Rides are split into kids, family and thrill groups, with a raceway alongside. The wooden Legend coaster, designed by John A. Miller, is an ACE Coaster Landmark. You can also board the Queen II excursion boat, visit the maritime museum, or catch live music at the Roof Garden.

  • #amusement park
  • #wooden roller coaster
  • #lake okoboji
  • #family rides
  • #midway games

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Arnolds Park Amusement Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Grotto of the Redemption

    Free

    Walk through nine hand-built grottos encrusted with minerals, gems and fossils that depict the life of Christ.

    45 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Jolly Green Giant Statue

    Free

    Pose between the legs of a giant fiberglass Jolly Green Giant standing in a small park just off Interstate 90 in Blue Earth.

    56 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Theatre & Events
    History Buff

    Surf Ballroom

    Under $25

    Tour the Clear Lake ballroom where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson played their final show in 1959.

    89 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Minnesota Renaissance Festival

    $25–$50

    Seasonal outdoor Renaissance festival near Shakopee with costumed entertainers, shopping and feasting.

    122 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family favorite

    Valleyfair

    $25–$50

    Minnesota's big amusement park since 1976, 40+ rides, eight coasters, and the included Superior Shores Waterpark on the Minnesota River.

    130 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Minnesota Zoo

    $25–$50

    4,800+ animals plus the Treetop Trail, the world's longest elevated pedestrian loop, on 485 wooded acres.

    136 mi awayMore like this