Adventureland Park 2027 - Ride Operator (18+)

0911 Festival Fun Parks, LLC; Altoona (IA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Cross-training across departments

Free admission to Adventureland Theme?

Invitations to exclusive company‑spon.

Job summary

Adventureland Park in Iowa seeks a Ride Operator to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for guests across its park rides. The role emphasizes guest interaction, strict safety adherence, and reliable daily operations during extended hours of the season.

No formal education is required, but candidates must be 18+, fluent in English, and willing to learn through iROC certification. Training supports all safety regulations and guest-focused service as a cornerstone of hospitality at the park.

Qualifications

• No minimum education requirement; iROC course provided during training.
• Must be at least 18 years old and available evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Fluent English; Spanish or other bilingual skills are a plus.
• Willing to learn and follow safety protocols and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests and provide a fun, professional experience.
• Operate ride safely and monitor passengers to ensure safe loading.
• Conduct morning inspections and daily ride tests.
• Enforce height, weight, or age requirements and safety restraints.
• Communicate with guests using a microphone and assist during emergencies.

Skills

Guest interaction

Safety oriented

Customer service

Communication

Follow instructions

Teamwork

Education

No formal education required

iROC Certification

Ellis Lifeguard Instructor Training

Job description

Our story began 75 years ago when the Herschend family discovered wonder deep in an Ozark Mountain cave—and chose to share it with the world. Today, Herschend is the largest family-held themed attractions company, with over 40 leading attractions and immersive experiences that reach audiences worldwide. While each brand offers something unique, all are united by a shared purpose: Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating®. Our passionate hosts make this purpose possible through everyday acts of love and service—what we call Heartspitality®—the intersection of heart and hospitality. As an equal-opportunity employer, we strive to provide environments where every host, guest, and partner feel welcome, valued, and loved. We firmly believe that words and actions matter, which is why all individuals are to be treated equally and with respect.

The ride of your life begins here! The outgoing and safety-oriented Rides Operator will operate and assist with rides located throughout the park. This position involves a lot of guest interaction and a customer service-oriented mindset to provide a wonderful experience to everyone who comes to enjoy a day at the park. Ride Operators are responsible for supervising, monitoring, and attending to park rides, including boarding, securing passengers, operating the ride, and ensuring passengers exit safely.

Adventureland Park 2027 - Ride Operator (18+)

Roles & Responsibilities

• Greet and interact with guest in a fun and professional manner
• Must enjoy interacting with guests of all ages
• Follow all Adventureland and manufacturer established safety regulations
• Operates assigned ride or attraction in accordance with company policy and procedure, state and federal regulations and safety protocols.
• Conduct morning inspections of assigned ride before daily operation begins
• Tests rides daily before opening to guests
• Answer questions related to ride operations and the park
• Maintain an environment that ensures the safety of all employees and guests
• Responsible for performing and enforcing accurate height, weight, or age requirements for all rides and attractions
• Maintains flow of guests and while also limiting the number of guests on the loading platform
• Gives directions and delivers instructions using a microphone or other communication devices
• Properly check all safety restraints to ensure they are in the correct and locking position before ride cycle begins
• Maintains constant vigilance while ride is operating and ensures that all riders all following appropriate safety measures
• Must be alert and have quick reaction time to stop a ride properly in case of an emergency
• Performs opening and closing procedures for assigned rides
• Reports ride related issues and mechanical failures to management and maintenance promptly
• Protects guest belongings; turns in lost and found items as soon as time allows
• Ability to operate all levels of rides throughout Adventureland

Education & Experience

There is no minimum education requirement. No previous experience is required. All Rides Hosts must go through the International Ride Operator Certification (iROC) course as a part of the training. Successful course completion is required for this position. There is no cost to the Host for the course. Willing to complete Ellis and Associates Lifeguard Instructor Training.

Languages

Ability to read, write, and speak fluent English; Spanish or other bilingual language skills are a plus.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age to comply with Iowa Child Labor Laws
• Ability to work flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to comply with all uniform policies
• Must possess safety-oriented mindset and understand the importance of complying with all Federal, State, and local regulations regarding ride operation
• Must demonstrate a willingness to learn and ability to follow instructions
• Must be guest-focused and work well with other Hosts and supervisors

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, twist, kneel, bend, or squat for long periods of time
• Ability to reach above shoulders throughout the workday
• Ability to remain on feet for majority of the workday
• Ability to climb or descend stairs for some coasters, rides, and attractions
• Ability to carry, push, pull, lift, and hold objects weighing 30 pounds or more
• Ability to see details of objects that are more than a few feet away

Working Conditions

• Frequent interaction a variety of motorized and chain-driven rides and attractions
• Frequent exposure to the variable outside temperatures, including high heat, cold, direct sun, humidity, dust, rain, snow, ice, and other weather conditions
• Frequent exposure to constant repetitive motion, high noise levels, flashing lights, vibrations, and heavily populated environments

Team member benefits

Adventureland Perks & Benefits

• Flexible schedule
• Ability to cross-train and learn unique skills across various departments
• Free admission to Adventureland Theme Park/Waterpark and select parks on your days off
• Invitations to exclusive company-sponsored employee events throughout the season
• We’ve got great jobs for people just starting out in the workforce, looking for a second job or staying active after retirement. If you want a fun, flexible job with an innovative company, look no further than Adventureland.

Working at Adventureland is about making people happy! It’s about being independent and having fun, making new friends and earning extra money while doing so. As an Adventureland employee, you can be the smiling face that makes a great first impression for incoming guests, a cook that serves up tasty treats and culinary delights, a lifeguard who soaks up the sun while keeping guests safe, or a ride operator that keeps guests coming back for more thrills! There are many exciting seasonal job opportunities available to take your summer job to new heights!

We're not just in the attractions business; we're in the people business- and that starts with our own. Our 20,000+ hosts across North America are the heartbeat of our diverse and growing company. In keeping with our company values, we nurture a balance between work and family, strive to promote 70% from within and support each host’s efforts to develop a fulfilling and rewarding career