Riverview Park

Wx4Cy

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2007
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West Des Moines
For some reason I started thinking about Riverview Park last night and found this web site.

Riverview Park in Des Moines Revisited

I remember going here all of the time as a kid. My brother was in a band and used to play a LOT at the ball room. The old photos and videos are cool and bring back a lot of memories, just wondered if others here had every been to Riverview before it was shut down?

At least the Adventureland owners kept several of the old rides after they shut Riverview down. I'm going to have to make a trip down there and see what's left.
 
It is best to head there in the spring before everythings gets overgrown. We took our bikes there this past spring and it was kind of cool to see outlines of the old amusement park still there.
 
Once in a while I went there in the late 50's and early 60's when I was in high school. (Yea I'm old)
 
Was the wild mouse ride at riverview the same coaster that was in the north east corner of adventureland for years?
 
I remember a lot of the rides, but they were at adventureland when I remember them. Kinda cool to see them in a different setting. Of course most of them are not at adventureland anymore. I only see 1 thing that is still there, and it is a kiddie ride.
 
Was the wild mouse ride at riverview the same coaster that was in the north east corner of adventureland for years?

No, they tore the wild mouse down and scrapped it. The one you are thinking about was called the Zambese Zinger if I recall correctly.
 
That was a ride at worlds of fun.

You are correct. The two roller coasters at Adventureland that have been removed are der flitzer and super screamer. I remember my dads company having their work picnics at Riverview every year when I was a kid. We moved to Omaha in 78 and had them at Peony Park which was Omaha's equivalent of Riverview. Peony made it until the later 80's but last time I went to Omaha there was a Hyvee and a city park in the old location. Good Memories.
 
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Wow, what memories! I used to shovel snow all winter long just to have enough money to blow at Riverview in the summer! The Wild Mouse was a riot, I knew sooner or later that I'd end up in the river, (never happened, tho).
 
For some reason I started thinking about Riverview Park last night and found this web site.

Riverview Park in Des Moines Revisited

I remember going here all of the time as a kid. My brother was in a band and used to play a LOT at the ball room. The old photos and videos are cool and bring back a lot of memories, just wondered if others here had every been to Riverview before it was shut down?

At least the Adventureland owners kept several of the old rides after they shut Riverview down. I'm going to have to make a trip down there and see what's left.
Talking about historic amusement parks in Iowa brings to memory Arnolds Park at Lake Okoboji. Last that I knew, it was still running but it's been quite some time ago that I was there. Historic Arnolds Park in Lake Okoboji, Iowa - Where good, clean fun never grew up!