Arnold's Park Questions

I live near St. Louis and was thinking of making the six hour drive to Arnold's Park this summer. I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little bit about the park. I was also wondering if the trip would be worth my time and money. Your input would be appreciated.

Although I have not been to the park every single trip report I've read has been overwhelmingly positive. Perhaps searching CB trip reports as well as Google will help?

mOOSH

It should take you longer than 6 hours to get up there from St. Louis. It takes at least 6 hours just to get to Des Moines, and then Arnold's Park is about 3.5 hours from Des Moines. There's no direct route to gtting to the Okoboji area.

That said, if you like woodies, The Coaster / Legend is worth a visit. Even during the day time, it's a violent air-ime machine. I haven't had a night ride in many years, but I'm sure it could only improve as virtually all air-time coasters do.

There is also a small kiddie coaster which I haven't ridden since I was 4 years old. Then there's the log flume relocated from Lincoln Park or Mountain Park I believe--I forget. It's nothing spectacular, but adds to the park which doesn't have too much to offer. There are also a few carnival rides. Be sure and check out the typsey house which goes ove the Coaster's station. Unless you're a big fan of the very small parks like Williams Grove, don't expect much. But the Coaster is worth a visit for woodie fans. I drove up from Ames last August for the last day of the season and rode the coaster about 25 times in 3 hours.

There are waterslides and other Dells/Ozarks type attractions (Mini-golf) in the area as well. Arnold's even has a go-kart track, but I'm not sure if it's included with admission.

If you're going to drive all the way up there, you'd be pretty close to Valley Fair in MN, so consider stopping there as well, not to mention the Mall of America and its new spinning coaster. Also, consider stopping in the Des Moines area for Adventureland--much bigger than Arnold's if you're not aware. It's a lot of driving for one park in one day, so i suggest making a trip out of it.

Thanks for the info. I look forward to the trip.

The Flume is from Morey's Piers.

As there is no interstate from St. Louis to Des Moines you will either have to take I-70 over to Columbia and then take US-36 (which turns into US-136 around Oskaloosa, Iowa.) It takes 4.5 hours to get to Kirksville, MO from St. Louis and then about another 2 to get to Des Moines from Kirksville. Lake Okoboji is about 2-3 hours past Des Moines depending on which route you take. Honestly there is no easy way to get to Okoboji from St. Louis.

-DHo

park is well worth the trip as it is a "traditional" park.