On a cool, breezy summer night, you walk across the Riverview Park Bridge and look over the railing. You hear the carnival music on repeat, children laughing, Laffing Sal’s obnoxious “laff”, but you realize it was all just a dream.

In 1915, Riverview opened up with roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, mirror maze, mini golf courses and the Iconic Riviera Ballroom.
North Des Moines’ sky was crimson, dark and smoking. In 1933, Riverview was on fire. The beloved Fun House was destroyed by the flames. After being rebuilt and reopened, Riverview was flooded over a decade later in 1944. The Flying Scooter planes were submerged.
On the other hand, Adventureland opened in 1972. The pressure from the competition forced Riverview to sell. According to riverviewparkdsm.com, Labor Day of ’78 was the last day Riverview was ever opened. Adventureland bought Riverview with the only purpose of using the park as a “company picnic” facility and a low budget amusement park. However, once the papers were signed, Riverview’s gates were closed for good.
Riverview is an important piece of history to the Hiland Park community. On 6th Ave, there is a mural of Riverview on the Hiland Park Hardware building. There are still remains of The Chute and support columns from the coasters still on the park’s site.
Adventureland made a terrible mistake buying Riverview. Riverview brought so many people happiness and joy over the years.
Meg Natale, 49, “Growing up about a block and a half from the park I can remember on the 4th of July, we would sit on the roof over the front porch and watch the fireworks show!”
A former child from Riverview still remembers what is was like to live the dream. He still remembers the innocence of the park.
“I remember a lot about Riverview from the roller coasters, to the arcade, to all of the company picnics” Ed Linebach, 54, remembers going to the park all the time. “I think what I remember most though, is the fact that it was such a family friendly venue whereas the whole family could spend the day there and not have to spend a fortune.”
Linebach and Natale are just a few of the many that remember the famous park. Over the summer, on