Fiery Runnings://Lost Island 2025

                 Date:7/3/2025-7/7/2025

Destination: Waterloo, Iowa

Goal: Lost Island Theme Park, Fire Runner

Distance: 500 Miles

Means of Travel: Driving

Potential Credits: 1

So as I said in the last installment of this blog entry, the plan for this trip for almost a year now had been the Ax Murder House and Lost Island for Fire Runner. I mean, how could it not be ready by the Fourth of July? Well, turns out it wasn't, for reasons beyond the park's control. But that didn't mean there wasn't another cool, new coaster that I was trying to get to this year! 

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An orange roller coaster on a single rail twists through a curve woven into a sloped Asiatic roof of a red and gold building.

After getting home from Iowa and having Keely for a bit longer, Fire Runner opened not long after she returned to New York. So it was on me to head out to Iowa once more and ride it!

I’d not been a good noodle about trip prep this time, and with me going to Scene 75 last night with family, I wasn’t exactly ready to roll out of bed and go this morning. So I did trash, dishes, packed, and got my stuff together and was on the road about 11. Not gonna cover the uneventful 8 hour death march through the corn field, nothing happened as nothing ever does.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A sunset over a Polynesian-themed entrance plaza, with a coaster in the background.

Alright, Lost Island, it is good to be back, and even better to be back now that this is a park with an RMC! I rolled in at sunset, with my ticket for the next day and plans to just buy a second at the gate if I got there in time. But when I explained this, they just let me in for free since we only had two hours in the operating day left.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jarrett smiles in front of a volcano shrine and orange roller coaster, wearing a beige Kondaa hat, red Jersey Devil Coaster shirt, and pineapple button-down.

We've finally made it here, let's do it!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Against an orange sunset, a roller coaster rain dives out of a dive loop against a station.

And the conditions for Fire Runner couldn’t have been more appropriate! Iowa had been dealing with wildfire smoke from Canada, so here I am in a hazy, smoky sunset walking to a coaster called Fire Runner as the sky casts an orange glow over the fiery Mura realm.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A coaster station with orange walls and a red roof has a long red train of single seat cars parked in it.

…and it happens again! Anybody who knows me knows I’ve got a bit of a curse with these Raptors, something always seems to happen right before I ride them. It happened in 2018 in Texas, 2021 in New Jersey, and briefly back in May of this year. Add Iowa to the list, because the second I step up to ride I get told “they’re closing the ride” by a family that’s leaving. So I waited around for like 10-20 minutes and it reopened no problem.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: In a sunset, a red coaster train twists over the roof of an Asiatic-styled station.

And I rode in the front for my first ride and it blew me away! Having come off of YoY, and knowing this was a smaller model that I’d heard was weaker, I was expecting to see the trend continue of these Raptor coasters dialing it back a notch. Nope! Fire Runner is about as intense as Railblazer, my current favorite Raptor and a former #1 of mine.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A single-seater coaster car at the front of a train has lead car art depicting a bust of a Mura warrior with a golden skull and wings headdress and red hair amid a backdrop of fire. 

Fire Runner's theming is a sort of a cross between Lost Island's Polynesian vibe, and Greco-Roman influences. The lead car art is definitely the latter, it's giving Hades 360 and that isn't a bad thing at all.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A volcano shrine with urns of bright red fire and a coaster in the background.

Your ride starts with a climb up the lift and a flat simple turn, unlike the little dippy one you see on the Wonder Woman model. From there it’s a brisk little dive back to the ground before it rises up into the dive loop…and flips you really hard into it! From there, it rockets through the off-axis airtime hill dishing out the best ejector moment on the coaster, it abruptly rips you from your seat with gusto and slams you up into that restraint. From there it climbs into that elevated slalom, which dives back down and has another killer pop of air the further you sit in the back. It then twists through a cutback built into the station roof, the curvature of the track nestled into the sloped Asian-styled roof and its spire. It then goes through the overbank which is full of positives and then hits the brakes really hard, which is a hard miss of the air in the back but towards the front is a good final kick.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A monolith of stone with flames reads "MURA" against a backdrop of Fire Runner.

I got rides around the train, tried out a few seats in the back, front, and middle, and just spent my evening enjoying Fire Runner just getting off and running around. And honestly, I had rides that were among my best experiences I've had on a raptor! But with the long train, not every seat can do that, which is why I think Railblazer is the better coaster. The worst seat on Railblazer is better than the worst seat on Fire Runer, but the best seat on Fire Runner is better than the best seat on Railblazer.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An orange roller coaster behind temporary metal fencing weighed down with cinderblocks over gravel.

And I better not hear any criticism about how long it took to get open, the second they were able to open it they threw the switch. There's still construction wrap and temporary low zone fencing in spots, be glad it opened at all for 2025.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An ancient temple with a large green snake's head glowing red in the mouth, green coaster track weaves around in the background.

Enjoying the ride, I figured I'd go pay Matugani a little love, so I went over and did that once before returning to Fire Runner.

Got a few night rides on Fire Runner as the sun went down and the red lighting package went on, and it's great zipping around that molten little rail as the sun set into the hazy pasture. Fully warmed up, power lapping the RMC, my shoulders are absolutely killing me right now from the airtime, life is good.

Was gonna make Fire Runner tomorrow's night ride, so I headed over to Matugani to close out the day. Like Fire Runner's track glows a smoldering ember red, Matugani's green track is illuminated a bright emerald under the stars, surrounded by a ring of island lanterns circling the blacked out lagoon.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A fire shrine shoots water geysers into the night sky in purple light, contrasting glowing red flames.

Good night, Lost Island!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: At dusk, several palm trees sit illuminated in a colorful square with a Ferris wheel and drop tower in the background.

From there, I went to the sketchiest hotel for the night and snagged Taco Bell before falling asleep over the phone with Keely. It was gonna be a big day tomorrow!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A steep straw roof of a Polynesian structure is adorned with colorful trim and two flaming tikis. A sign held up by bamboo reads "LOST ISLAND THEMEPARK."

I woke up early and drove to Lost Island for the full day I had planned there. Good morning, islanders!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A black rocky lava cliff grows grass and wheat on its upper surface, with an orange roller coaster dropping a red train on a single-railed track behind it.

I wanted to start the day off on Volkanu, but it went down, so I headed over to Fire Runner for some of the first rides of the day.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: In a dark cave lined with orange ribbons of bright lava, a throne sits before a basalt statue of a priest, holding up a golden headdress as if to crown who sits on the throne.

Obligatory cool queue line shot. They built this throne surrounded by relics of the Mura tribe, you can sit down as the statue of a priest crowns you the winner of the Fire Runner Challenge. Cool selfie spot to market the ride, very smart investment on their part!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Through some foliage, a black and orange disk with riders riding on its perimeter and a fake torch at its center traverses a shallow W-shaped black track, with an orange swinging ride and green roller coaster in the background.

Went to Shaman's Curse next, which was fun and forceful. As much as I trash Zamperla on here, this is the kind of thing they should be doing.

Okay, Volkanu works, let's go save Lost Island! This ride is so good, and two years later, everything still works just as well as it did. Pyrotechnics blasting off, that cool Pepper's Ghost shaman still popped up, the lava demon animatronics were all working, this is their baby and they take care of it.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A boom arm raises an array of seats equipped with flying machine wings into a cloudy sky, one rider tilts his wings to spin his seat.

Went over to the air-themed Udara realm next to do terrible things on my favorite flat ride, one that straps its human riders to giant pinwheels for those skilled enough to pilot such an intense flight.

I'm way too obsessed with flipping these things. There's something oddly dopamine-releasing about feeling that seat complete its first full revolution and then just whirling out of control like an airplane propeller.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A tray holds two shrimp tacos and a container of macaroni and cheese topped with BBQ pork.

Because literally the only thing worth doing in the water-themed Awa realm is eat, I elected for food at Whalebone. I pigged out a bit and got some BBQ mac and cheese and these special shrimp tacos. Food here is cheap, this is why I need stapled to fit on anything!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A green roller coaster's neon yellow train passes over an arch of green supports spanning a pathway between two planters, as a man walking along the path turns around and looks at the coaster.

Continued around the loop to Matugani next, which was great as much as it was last night.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A flat ride consisting of a gondola between two vertical red arms sits at the base of a volcano, with a statue of a rock golem rising from the lava rock reaching out over the machine.

Decided to hit another new to me ride in Rokava, which wasn't open on my first visit. I wanted to sit up front to film, but they said with only me on the ride I would have to sit center back so the ride and the footage basically sucked. Such a cool concept but I was told the ride just doesn't work as intended, hopefully Lost Island can switch it out for something that'll make good use of that cool lava golem.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An orange roller coaster with a narrow single-railed track twists around over a length of lava stone, with a red train whirling through a corkscrew.

Nabbed one more ride on Fire Runner next, this time getting accelerometer data. Whew, this thing does not play around! This is more Gs than rides typically exert at least in terms of airtime, I don't want anyone complaining that it's weak or slow or anything when it's trying to fling you across a cornfield.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A purple suspended coaster with violet supports sends a violet train through an overbank against the cloudy skies.

I wasn't sure I wanted to do Nopuko again after it nearly killed me in '23 on that horrible rollover, but I decided to take it on again to see if Lost Island's work on it had done anything positive for this Vekoma SLC. 

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A purple roller coaster flips riders through an Immelmann loop, with a purple, wood, and white pinwheel structure in the foreground.

Good news: it did not kill me. Bad news: it still tried. Yes, they fixed that pothole in the rollover, but it still bucks around really badly and it's just not pleasant at least up front. The back, however, did dish out a fun ride and I'd do it again, maybe towards the middle-rear.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A glass of cloudy liquid rimmed with red pepper reads "FIRE RUNNER."

I went over to Thirsty Voyager next when I saw they had pepper margaritas for Fire Runner, and got a nice spicy and sour margarita in a take home red light up glass. Drank this with a couple of seasoned parkgoers that partake in alcohol, they were bragging about whatever happened at HHN a few years ago and I'm 

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A coaster sits in a gravel field surrounded by temporary fencing, with a train parked on the brake run.

I wanted to go back to Fire Runner...but saw it was down.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A ruin in an archaeological dig site rises in front of a green roller coaster, framing an orange roller coaster in  the eye of its loop.

Matugani would have to suffice, which I've ridden a million times now between my two times here. It's like mini Maverick almost, and in this day and age, I'm really starting to appreciate these Intamin rocket coasters as their breed dies off. This is proof that sometimes less is more, the tiny rocket coaster is great but it's also still around.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A maze of rope fencing in a cave of paintings illuminated with colorful lights.

Snagged another ride on Volkanu, hoping Fire Runner would open up. The dad and his son I rode with were a riot, they loved it and the son noticed it was trackless and said it was just as good as the rides at Disney.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A hand holds a cake donut dusted in red cinnamon sprinkles, with a fire shrine and orange roller coaster in the background.

$5 for a half dozen freshly fried fire donuts would have to hold me over til they got Fire Runner open. However, as the sun dipped into the corn, maintenance despite their best efforts clearly weren't going to rekindle this flame, so I went for, you guessed it, more Matugani.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A beige coaster station has green track running through it with a red catch car.

I got one lap, went back for one more, and as we waited to launch...clunk! Ride ops said to just get off, they knew that sound meant no more Matugani for the evening. So I elected to just take the L and head out.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jarrett sits in a pool, holding a can of Simply Spiked Mango Peach/

Drove to Davenport that evening and took a dip in the pool, with alcohol I totally did not sneak in.

Following morning, I checked out of La Quinta, bid a farewell to the rude morning clerk, and enjoyed a slow drive home through the cornfields.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An orange roller coaster with black supports twists around a compact layout over a red and gold pagoda-styled station, against a bright green prairie and blue cloudy sky.

So far, my favorite new ride of 2025. This thing is so intense, it blows YoY and Rakshasa out of the water, and while I've still got a few more to experience, so far nothing from this year has touched this. Lost Island, that tiny little place in Iowa next to the waterpark, has built the best new coaster of the year, and if that isn't motivation to get there as is, IDK what is. A few weeks are left to get here, make sure you get to experience Lost Island and Fire Runner for yourself ASAP.

Butchered My Iowa Plans://Part 3~ Beans with a Side of Prairie Flowers

                 Date:7/3/2025-7/7/2025

Destination: Villisca, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois

Goal: Villisca Ax Murder House, Six Flags Great America, Chicago Culture

Distance: 641 Miles

Means of Travel: Driving

Potential Credits: 1

Last day of the trip, and we’re gonna make it a great one! Five hour drive home, but first, I’m not gonna just take Keely to Chicago and not show her around the Windy City.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A cityscape reflected in a large, curved, chrome surface under a blue sky.

I've been to Chicago a few times in my life, but very few of those instances did I do the whole city thing. Sears Tower, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, and all that good stuff I did on a class trip in the sixth grade and ever since then it's been all Six Flags and airport layovers, plus one other time tagging along a work trip with my father. But one thing I'd not done, and it's a major one, was see Anish Kapoor's iconic Bean sculpture at Millennium Park.

We touched on this in the Villisca post, but Keely was expecting miles and miles of beautiful flowery meadow. She's from Upstate New York and grew up with Little House On The Prairie and always saw the Midwest through this romanticized lens, so she was pretty pissed when we got to Iowa and it was a bunch of corn. But I knew that in addition to Millennium Park's famous art piece, that it was also planted with prairie fauna native to Chicago before it was Chicago. She could still get her meadow, so Millennium Park was our choice for the day!

Day 3

We woke up and checked out of the hotel before getting stuck in hella Chicago traffic. Eventually we found some garbage parking garage with no accessible parking, leaving us to drive around in the dark. Fortunately, however, we found some empty spots right next to an elevator and went on up into Millennium Park.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A ring of red flowers and plants surround a white circle of concrete, with trees and skyscrapers rising high in the background.

My knowledge of this place is pretty surface level, but I understand it opened in 2000 and features different art installations in a setting plated with prairie flowers and grasses. And one of those art installations is a Chicago icon.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jarrett and Keely, two adults in their 30s, smile into the camera with skyscrapers in the background. Keely wears sunglasses and a hat turned around.

Hello, Millennium Park!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A large sheet shows a map of Millennium Park.

We've got a map of the place, let's get going!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: At the base of some skyscrapers, a black brick monolith has water cascading down its side to a black granite base. A screen shows the face of a brown-skinned woman looking out of the block.

This art piece was basically two tall monoliths made of black granite that had waterfalls down their sides, and screens showing live faces looking out. They would like move and blink and stuff.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: At the base of some skyscrapers, a black brick monolith has water cascading down its side to a black granite base. A screen shows the face of a middle aged white man with glasses looking out of the block.

The two were supposed to be having a sort of staring contest with one another. Profound, but also somewhat humorous on a deep level.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A few skyscrapers rise out of some trees, one reads "Prudential."

This space does such a great job combining man-made pretty cityscape aesthetic with natural grown beauty.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: On the street of a wooded park, a rust-colored sculpture consists of wrinkled ribbons bent into the ground holding up geometric blocks.

This sculpture was supposed to be Stonehenge, apparently.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A concrete plaza has several people walking around a large round geometric sculpture with reflective coating, several skyscrapers rise overhead.

The iconic thing to do here, which like Nyhavn, Bruges, and Paris is swarmed with tourists from all over the world, is The Bean. A large chrome sculpture that reflects every ray of light that touches it, it distorts, warps, and beams back every building and flower alike visible in its reflective skin.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Two adults smile into the reflective skin of The Bean, a dark-haired woman holding an iced coffee sits in a wheelchair while a man stands beside her with a phone and points a camera into the reflection.

And also a couple of morbid motherfuckers with a camera! It also shines those back!

(And thankfully, not the creepy ghost from the ax murder house that followed us home.)

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A chromatic reflective blob reflects the skyscrapers in front of it, as more poke up from behind. A seagull flies in the sky off to the side.

This thing is a Chicago icon. If you're part of the United Airlines cult, you've seen this landmark on the gate screen for any flight going to ORD. B-roll footage of the city, this along with Sears Tower and Navy Pier are kind of the symbols of the city that are most widely recognized.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A reflective rounded sculpture sits in the middle of a plaza, as people admire and post with it.

Don't want to mention the man who made this because he is, sadly, a piece of garbage, but just to spill the tea like I spilled Keely's coffee by mistake...

A certain English sculptor, who shall not be named, is some super rich art douchebag that's expanded his studio into the views of low income housing flats and the like. He is best known for this work, he hates that people call it The Bean and not its actual name, which is why the given name will not be used and it is The Bean in this trip report.

He also gained internet notoriety for attempting to trademark Vantablack, a process that causes an object to suck 100% of the light out of it and turns it into a pitch jet black void. Another artist, Stuart Semple, created a black acrylic paint that does basically the same, is safer to use, and smells of coffee. It's great, I got my mom some for Christmas one year. And Semple explicitly banned The Bean's artist from using it this Black 2.0 paint, forcing you to certify that you are not The Bean's artist or buying it on his behalf to make the purchase. The two of them continued this in an entertaining back and forth on social media, but because the man who made this sculpture is a penis, I will allow this to be a free commercial for Stuart Semple and Culture Hustle. Check their products out!

It's a shame that the person who created this really cool and iconic artwork that sits somewhere so beautiful is a dick. This thing, and the place in general, are amazing in person.

UPDATE: Upon typing this and fishing for links, I have leaned that the man formerly known as Stuart Semple has legally changed his name to the name of The Bean's sculptor...

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A panorama of The Bean sculpture and the Chicago skyline surrounded by tourists.

The Bean was nice and accessible, to both of our surprises. There's a few steps up to the actual plaza, but it is flanked by two small wheelchair ramps on either side. I had no problem getting her close enough to see it.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An abstract reflection photo in black and white, taken from the underside of The Bean and warping people and ground into a parabolic shape.

It's a selfie spot, but weirdly enough, you see just as many cameras pointed at The Bean to take group photos as you do selfies with The Bean in the background.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jarrett and Keely kiss in front of The Bean.

Obligatory "couple on vaycay" photo.

There was this pavilion going on where they were practicing for some free concert, and the music was amazing!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An orchestra on a concert stage is surrounded by large satin-finished metal panels curving out towards filled stands, similar to a wave.

The facility itself was also beautiful. There's a large lawn and these nice stands with accessible seating for anyone viewing a show here, and it sounds like it's good free public art from how they made it sound.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: On some clusters of small pink flowers, a black and orange butterfly spreads its wings.

We kept going where I saw this butterfly on these pretty flowers. And they were a total trooper and posed for a shot!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A planter filled with red and white flowers before a tall white skyscraper and cityscape.

Honestly, this place is just as much about the nature as it is the art. And stuff like this honestly isn't uncommon, but what makes it amazing is that it's local nature and it's right in the heart of one of America's largest cities.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Some Greek columns holding up an arc of concrete over a wall of names rises over a blue pond with a single water jet. A white skyscraper with a slanted diagonal roof rises over some trees.

This was Wrigley Square Millennium Monument, which had the names of benefactors who made Millennium Park possible amid this single water jet.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A grassy field before a Hellenic monument and skyscrapers has CGI palm trees decorated with lights and Latin-decorated benches.

There was also some weird AR feature to the park, which killed my phone battery almost as bad as those creepy ghost kids but showed off some palm trees on this artwork's little field thing.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A bus turns down a crowded city street at the base of several tall concrete skyscrapers.

We were burning daylight, so we hit the gift shop, got T-shirts and the like, and continued the five-hour journey back to Dayton home. Chicago traffic was brutal, but we managed to make it back to the Interstate and get a move on.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Keely sits in a pink wheelchair, smiling and holding a phone and a clear cup of iced coffee.

Keely ended up really liking a part of the trip she was going into blind. She loved how much there was to do and how much there was to see. And she loved that she both got her flowers and got to pet all the cute doggos that people take there.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A red and white checkered tablecloth holds some messy sandwiches, onion rings, and cheese cups. A cup reads "PORTILLO'S HOT DOGS" on a dog logo.

But first! We had to do food! How could I take Keely to Chicago and not take her to Portillo's? We stopped for some Italian beef sandwiches on the way out, and she loved it even though it's messy as hell.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A framed vinyl record cover shows a triangular chromatic tube against clouds and waves. "TUBULAR BELLS; Mike Oldfield" is written in red at the top.

This made both of us smile. She's a horror author and they clearly have a love for one of the greatest horror soundtracks ever made. I remembered Dad playing this during Halloween while chasing Trick-or-Treaters with a chainsaw as the Jeep was set up as a car wreck in the yard, fog and everything.

The Exorcist is believed to be a cursed film. This would line up beautifully with what would happen at home.

The drive home was honestly boring, as usual. Yes we passed Fair Oaks Farm, and the attached Fairfield Inn themed as a barn complete with a silo, so that's always a laugh. My boss texted me that we were off overtime and to not come in early tomorrow, so we could be up a little later, so that made for a nice, calm, relaxing drive home.

...until it wasn't! Leaving a rest area in Indiana, some guy was driving like an idiot in the parking lot and about pulled out into us, and would have hit our rental car had I not blasted my horn. In retaliation, Florida Man over here caught up to us on the highway, throws something at our rental car, and speeds off. Keely and I took down his plate and called 9-1-1, who had us confirm our car was not damaged but filled out a report because you can't just throw things at other cars on the highway. This is not Mario Kart! Though I'd rather eat a blue shell than drive through Indiana!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A shelf of miniature world landmarks. A Bean labeled "CHICAGO" sits between models of the Gateway Arch, Mont St-Michel, Nyhavn labeled "COPENHAGEN DENMARK," the Liberty Bell, a lego Golden Gate Bridge, a few Eiffel Towers, a CN Tower, a Sears Tower, a Washington Monument, and a silver Atomium.

But eventually we got home, I put my new Bean upon the wall of landmarks between Mont St-Michel and Nyhavn. And it's right in front of the Sears Tower, keeping two from the same city together.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jarrett and Keely pose in front of The Bean, with Jarrett's hands on her shoulders.

Keely, thank you, thank you, thank you for going on this crazy, creepy, and corny adventure with me. We laughed, we cried, we had the piss scared out of us, your ghosts scared me as much as my coasters scared you, and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. I'm glad you got your bucket list trip, I'm glad you got your prairie flowers, thank you for going to Six Flags with me before they go completely bankrupt, and I love you so much.

Here's to many more? What do ya say?