Lost Island Theme Park Breaks Ground

posted on Monday, August 26, 2019 in Economic Development

Read the full article from Thomas Nelson, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier Writer

Last Friday, August 23, the owners of Lost Island Water Park broke ground on the future Lost Island Theme Park. The ground breaking came a few weeks after the Waterloo City Council approved rezoning the 159 acres of farm land into a $100 million theme park. Gary and Becky Bertch, owners of Lost Island Water Park and Bertch Cabinets, announced their plans for the theme park in July, with hopes of it opening in 2022.

“This is a huge project for us personally, and I think it’s a pretty significant one for the community as well,” said Gary Bertch prior to the groundbreaking. “We started dreaming, planning and working on this idea more than 10 years ago.”

A large crowd of purple Grow Cedar Valley jackets were present at the celebration. Snacks from the nearby Lost Island Water Park were served to attendees, including shaved iced. 

Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart also was excited to be a step closer to construction of the theme park.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for the entire state of Iowa and the Cedar Valley,” said Hart. “This theme park is going to one the best attractions that we have for our local Cedar Valley. It’s going be job creation. It’s going to be tourism creation. It’s just one more opportunity that we have to attract people to our community.”