{"id":269381,"date":"2026-05-13T12:37:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/269381\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T12:37:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:37:09","slug":"remembering-lost-continent-an-islands-of-adventure-original","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/269381\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Lost Continent, an Islands of Adventure original"},"content":{"rendered":"

The end has been a long time coming for Lost Continent<\/a>, one of the original themed (is)lands at Universal\u2019s Islands of Adventure theme park<\/a>. Certainly, when Wizarding World of Harry Potter carved out a bite out of it in 2010, it felt logical that Hogsmeade would continue to seep into its mythical territory.<\/p>\n

Instead, in 2014, Universal Orlando<\/a> put Potter, Part 2, next door at Universal Studios Florida<\/a>, and Lost Continent has flailed a bit since then with temporary closures, construction walls, an unlikely connector to the Jurassic Park area, a Halloween Horror Nights shop and other merchandise mysteries.<\/p>\n

For years, we have puttered through, then Universal confirms it will dismantle and retheme the land in phases and the rumor mill ratchets up. If you believe the internet, Mystic Fountain<\/a> may be gone before I can even type \u201cMystic Fountain.\u201d<\/p>\n

That spurred nostalgia and a trip to IOA so I could squint and still see some OG LC without cranking up my 1999 time machine.<\/p>\n

Water world<\/p>\n

The Mystic Fountain, located near the arched entrance to \u201cThe Eighth Voyage of Sindbad\u201d show, has truly been an attraction for all ages. No one gets sick or scared or spun around or soaking wet or brought on stage. And who doesn\u2019t like snarky waterworks?<\/p>\n

The structure interacts with passers-by both vocally and, if the mood strikes, with a spritz of water. In the park\u2019s opening year of 1999, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the story behind the fountain was that a 1,000-year-old soul was trapped inside, wanting to get out.<\/p>\n

In the early days, it was entertaining to watch the fountain interactions, particularly when its voice mentioned something specific to the moment and most definitely not prerecorded patter. Adults would look around, trying to spy the location of the body behind the disembodied voice. Kids would double down with their taunting of the fountain and get a little damp for their trouble.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe backside of Mythos, a restaurant at Islands of Adventure, includes Atlas and some heavy lifting. (Dewayne Bevil\/Orlando Sentinel)
\nMythos off the menu<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not as sentimental about Mythos restaurant<\/a>, but that\u2019s true of most sit-down restaurants in theme parks. I like to keep moving. My Mythos memories are odd: A friend hitting his head on a faux stalactite and its string of being voted best restaurant by the readers of Theme Park Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The architecture is fascinating, with gods carved into the design, including a waterfall emerging from Narcissus\u2019 mouth.<\/p>\n

Sort of hidden on the back side is a towering Atlas carving that holds up the roof. It\u2019s a shame there\u2019s not more to do on the Islands platforms that face the lagoon, or at least more shade somehow.<\/p>\n

Mythos is set to close sometime in 2027. The park\u2019s Thunder Falls Terrace<\/a> is closing this summer and reopening as a reimagined full-service restaurant.<\/p>\n

\"Visitors<\/p>\n

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel<\/p>\n

Visitors linger after a performance of “The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad” in 2018. The set is referred to as “the grotto of Lost Souls.” (Dewayne Bevil\/Orlando Sentinel)
\nThat\u2019s show biz<\/p>\n

Looking back, it\u2019s difficult to say why the \u201cSindbad\u201d<\/a> show wasn\u2019t a big hit. It had a lot going for it: stunts, comedy, faux peril, good versus evil and 1,700 covered seats. It was engaging enough that I would always forget about the big boom\/wake the dead sound effect near the end.<\/p>\n

The stage was multilevel, ship-themed and elaborate. The bulk of it was still in place when IOA used a corner of the theater as a cool-off zone last summer. The show closed in 2018.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the neighboring Poseidon\u2019s Fury<\/a> attraction had three memorable special effects moments, including the low-tech reveal of a hidden message, the water tunnel walk-through and the digital yet watery grand finale.<\/p>\n

The exterior features the impressive raised trident feature amid faux temple rubble, which now feels symbolic behind construction walls. Poseidon\u2019s Fury was on closure watch for years before finally being shut down for good in 2023.<\/p>\n

\"AA sea griffin statue stands guard at one entrance of the Lost Continent at IOA. (Dewayne Bevil\/Orlando Sentinel)
\nGriffin door<\/p>\n

I have long admired the statue at the entrance of Lost Continent, but until today never wondered what it was. It\u2019s all mythology, right?<\/p>\n

Research points to the figure being a \u201csea griffin,\u201d and that would seem to fit the winged creature with a beaked face, chest plate and big floppy tail.<\/p>\n

No matter what theme comes next to this land, it feels like the sea griffin is a long shot to be staying there. Although building a Halloween Horror Nights<\/a> house around it \u2014 Lost Grotto of the Sea Griffin? \u2014 isn\u2019t the worst idea and could tie back to the brief time that HHN was a two-park experience. Discuss.<\/p>\n

\"AA photo op themed to the “E.T.” film is part of the Universal Legacy Store, now open at Universal CityWalk. (Dewayne Bevil\/Orlando Sentinel)
\nThree little Universal thoughts (non-Lost Continent division)<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Universal Legacy Store has opened in Universal CityWalk, taking over the Epic Universe Preview Center space. Along with usual fare (T-shirts, \u201cJaws\u201d merchandise) there are a slew of collectible figures where the elaborate Epic scale model once stood. Also eye-catching are photo ops \u2014 very enlarged works of artist Tom Whalen<\/a> \u2014 for \u201cBack to the Future,\u201d \u201cE.T.,\u201d classic Universal monsters and \u201cJaws.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 I caught one of the final days during the latest version of Horror Makeup Show at Universal Studios. I went in to refresh myself as it had been a while; I came out appreciating the live performances \u201a take that, AI and screens \u2014 and thankful for willing and witty audience participation. Universal says a new version of the show is coming \u2026 eventually.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Know what gets me literally hot under the collar? Parking on the roof of the Universal Orlando garage in broad, blazing daylight, then passing two levels of empty, shaded parking slots. I was once told by a UOR executive that there was a system for filling the levels based on arrival and their expected departure time to allow for easy exiting. But this remains a parks pet peeve.<\/p>\n

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t