A new log ride, roller coaster anticipated for the opening of Adventureland Park in early May

Adventureland Park, the Altoona-based amusement park, is set to open its season with two new rides, The Flying Viking and Draken Falls, along with new food stands and speedy passes similar to Disney FastPass. Adventureland Park completed a number of facade improvements to brighten the appearance of its grounds.

Here is a greater look at what families and friends of all ages can expect when the park reopens on May 6.

Viking-themed log ride and roller coaster join fleet

Two new Viking-themed rides, Draken Falls and The Flying Viking, are slated to join the amusement park later in the season. During a preview Thursday, park officials said the two new rides would not be open on May 6, but said they hoped to open the rides later that month.

This year marks the much-anticipated return of the log ride, called Draken Falls, which will end with a 40 foot drop, like the old log ride, but will also include an aerial panoramic turnaround and an airtime hill, a park official said.

Draken Falls is the second super flume ride to open in the country, after one debuted in Luna Park in New York City, and the first to open in the Midwest. Passengers in six-person boats go up 40 feet in the air during the six-minute ride that follows a 1,214-foot-long track and reaches a speed of roughly 33 mph. There's a 42-inch height requirement for accompanied minors and a 48-inch requirement for unaccompanied minors.

Adventureland's original log ride closed after the 2015 season.

Adventureland's thrill seeking seventh roller coaster, The Flying Viking, will climb to 50 feet.

More: Get to know six roller coaster rides at Adventureland, from the Tornado to the Outlaw

A new candy shop will sweeten the park's Main Street

The park’s all new candy shop, The Sweet Boutique, will include a wide selection of candies, confections, and sweet treats. An airy garage door on the building will create a welcoming, open environment for guests, park officials said.

“We’ll have all your favorite different candies — M&Ms, sweet confections,” said Palace Entertainment public relations manager Alex Payne.

The park’s Main Street area, which has welcomed guests for generations with its small town-style storefronts, will feature a more vibrant, colorful aura. Tables and chairs will also be added to the iconic street, Payne said.

Interior walls have been opened up so customers can roam through the shops without walking outside.

A french fry stand is set to freshen up its food stands

Parent company Palace Entertainment will add the savory, salty snack stop Potato Patch, a popular french fry stand at Adventureland's sister park, Kennywood, in Pittsburgh, to the park.

"It's probably one of the most requested food stands since we took over ownership of the park," Payne said.

Potato Patch serves french fries with a large number of toppings, such as cheese sauce and bacon bits, to liven up the fresh-cut fries. The fries are prepared in front of park patrons.

Adventureland has completed facade improvements

During its off-season, park officials said they have completed numerous facade improvements, including a fresh paint job on its bumper car building Frantic Freeway. The park chose to honor America's legacy as a leader in space by painting its high flying Space Shot ride with patriotic red, white, and blue colors. A new sign featuring the park's famous "A" will be added to the top of the tower located at the entrance.

Last season, the amusement park opened nine new rides, including Speedway Racers and Circus Balloons for smaller kids.

Pittsburgh-based Palace Entertainment bought the amusement park from the Krantz family in Des Moines in 2021 for at least $24.5 million. The purchase came months after an incident on the park's Raging River ride resulted in the death of an 11-year-old child and seriously injured members of his family.

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Adventureland Park previews park improvements, two new rides