How Lost Island turned parking into its
highest ROI-department in its first year.
In 2025, Lost Island Waterpark charged for parking for the very first time in its 25-year history. With Beacon, the park eliminated gate lines, avoided guest backlash, and generated over a quarter-million dollars in new revenue—all with virtually no upfront cost and only one staff member running parking.
In our first season, parking went from a cost center to one of the park’s highest-ROI departments. Guests loved the simplicity, we supported a great cause, and we drove hundreds of thousands in new revenue with a single staff member.
Matt Nieman, General Manager,
Lost Island Waterpark
The Challenge
For Lost Island, introducing paid parking after decades of free entry wasn’t just a financial decision — it was a reputational risk.
Guest backlash fears
Management worried charging would feel like nickel-and-diming, sparking complaints, social media blowback, and lower attendance.
Operational nightmare
Traditional systems were a non-starter. Booths, gates, and cashiers would have caused dangerous backups onto nearby roads and required multiple new hires.
Financial risk
Even if feasible, the infrastructure would have cost over $1M to implement—far outweighing any potential upside.
Seamless entry
Cars flowed directly into the lot—no stopping, no lines.
Integrated perks
Season passholders and cabana guests got free parking automatically through Beacon’s integration with Roller.
Charitable impact
Lost Island Waterpark selected Make-a-Wish Iowa as their charity, donating almost $30,000 by the end of the season.
Lean operations
One roving staff member monitored parking using Beacon’s Enforcer app, while also helping with bag checks, trash pickup, and guest support.
Zero startup cost
No upfront fees to Beacon; the park only needed to print parking signs.
The Solution
Beacon partnered with Lost Island to launch QR-based parking without redesigning their parking lot. The approach was simple, fast, and required virtually no investment.
The Results
For Lost Island, introducing paid parking after decades of free entry wasn’t just a financial decision — it was a reputational risk.
Revenue growth
Generated ~$260K in its first season, with projections of $350K+ for 2026.
Startup Cost
Instead of spending $1M+ on gates and layout changes, the system went live for just $2K in signs - what Matt called “insanely low” for such a major new revenue stream.
Faster Flow
Cars never had to wait at gates. Carpooling rose, cutting vehicle count by ~25%.
Paid parking without risk.
Lost Island’s first season with Beacon proved that paid parking can be introduced without sacrificing guest satisfaction. With virtually no startup cost and none of the headaches of gates, booths, or added staff, the park transformed parking into one of its most profitable operations. Guests embraced the system, staff saved time, and the charitable tie-in with Make-A-Wish Iowa built goodwill instead of backlash.
Ready to transform parking into your park’s next high-ROI department?
Ready to transform parking into your park’s next high-ROI department?
Lost Island’s first season with Beacon proved that paid parking can be introduced without sacrificing guest satisfaction. With virtually no startup cost and none of the headaches of gates, booths, or added staff, the park transformed parking into one of its most profitable operations. Guests embraced the system, staff saved time, and the charitable tie-in with Make-A-Wish Iowa built goodwill instead of backlash.
Call to Action
Ready to transform parking into your park’s next high-ROI department?
[Request a Demo]
The Challenge
Make each section on this page slide over the last one
For Lost Island, introducing paid parking after decades of free entry wasn’t just a financial decision—it was a reputational risk.
-
Guest backlash fears: Management worried charging would feel like nickel-and-diming, sparking complaints, social media blowback, and lower attendance.
-
Operational nightmare: Traditional systems were a non-starter. Booths, gates, and cashiers would have caused dangerous backups onto nearby roads and required multiple new hires.
-
Financial risk: Even if feasible, the infrastructure would have cost over $1M to implement—far outweighing any potential upside.
The risks felt overwhelming, but the need for new revenue streams was growing.
The Solution
Beacon partnered with Lost Island to launch QR-based parking without redesigning their parking lot. The approach was simple, fast, and required virtually no investment:
-
Seamless entry: Cars flowed directly into the lot—no stopping, no lines.
-
Integrated perks: Season passholders and cabana guests got free parking automatically through Beacon’s integration with Roller.
-
Charitable impact: Lost Island Waterpark selected Make-a-Wish Iowa as their charity, donating almost $30,000 by the end of the season.
-
Lean operations: One roving staff member monitored parking using Beacon’s Enforcer app, while also helping with bag checks, trash pickup, and guest support.
-
Zero startup cost: No upfront fees to Beacon; the park only needed to print parking signs.
This structure allowed Lost Island to introduce paid parking without capital investment or operational disruption.
The Results
Revenue growth: Generated ~$260K in its first season, with projections of $350K+ for 2026.
Startup Cost: Instead of spending $1M+ on gates and layout changes, the system went live for just $2K in signs - what Matt called “insanely low” for such a major new revenue stream.
Faster Flow: Cars never had to wait at gates. Carpooling rose, cutting vehicle count by ~25%.