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Arnolds Park Amusement Park History

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The next stop when exploring the history of the Iowa Great Lakes would be the Arnolds Park Amusement Park dating back to 1890. Take a ride on the 7th oldest operating wooden roller coaster in the United States, go on a walk through the 1930 Tipsy House, grab a Nutty Bar at the Nutty Bar Stand that has been operating since 1949, and take a ride on the Queen II that came to the Lakes in 1986. The park has always been a staple in the Iowa Great Lakes. Many don’t know that the park had its ups and downs. Back in 1999 Chuck Long sold the park to someone who had plans to destroy the park and build a resort complex on the property. The community came together to raise 7.25 million in six weeks during their “Save the Park” campaign.

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