Universal Orlando permanently closing opening-day Islands of Adventure land for major new themed area

The resort also announced that a fan-favorite restaurant will close ahead of "compelling new guest offerings" at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

Key Points

• Universal Orlando Resort has announced the permanent closure of the Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure.
• A major "new themed area" will take its place.
• Mythos, a popular restaurant, will also close in 2027 as part of a development that marks "unprecedented momentum" for the resort.

Amid a period of rapid growth and "unprecedented momentum" on the property, Universal Orlando Resort has confirmed the permanent closure of an opening-day land at its popular Islands of Adventure theme park.

The park announced Thursday what many have long speculated: Islands of Adventure's Lost Continent section, which opened alongside the park in 1999 as a land themed to ancient mythology and legends, will permanently close to make way for a major "new themed area."

As part of the closure, the fan-favorite Mythos restaurant will also shut down in 2027, while the rest of the land will close in phases.

Universal previously spun off portions of Lost Continent years ago, as the Dueling Dragons roller coasters were absorbed into the adjacent Harry Potter–themed area in 2010, where they reopened as the Dragon Challenge before permanently shuttering to make way for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in 2017. The stage show The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad closed in 2018, while Poseidon's Fury, a major walk-through attraction with special effects, fire, and water stunts, permanently closed in 2023.

"Universal Orlando Resort is continuing its unprecedented momentum as it prepares for a slate of compelling new guest offerings across the destination, ranging from new themed areas to delicious eateries," the resort said in a statement reporting several destination-wide enhancements — additional details of which "will be shared in the months ahead."

Fans have long speculated about what will replace Lost Continent, with rumors suggesting that an area themed to the Pokémon franchise is the top contender, while others have pointed to a potential Legend of Zelda area. Universal Orlando has not formally announced a Lost Continent successor.

Elsewhere in its Thursday announcement, Universal revealed that the classic Horror Make-Up Show stage production at the Universal Studios Florida park will temporarily close beginning May 12 to make way for a "reimagined experience" adapted from the original.

The new iteration "will showcase a mix of classic and modern horror properties along with shockingly fun surprises — all while staying true to the comedic and irreverent spirit that guests know and love."

Also at Islands of Adventure, the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant, located inside the Jurassic Park area, will shutter to make way for an "all-new dining concept that will become the new signature full-service restaurant" there. The current restaurant is situated next to the classic Jurassic Park River Adventure flume ride, which is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment and is set to reopen later this year.

Thursday's announcements come amid a period of rapid growth for Universal's themed experiences, as the Epic Universe theme park opened in Orlando last year, a 170-foot-tall Fast & Furious–themed roller coaster was announced for the Universal Studios Florida park, and the company saw continued success with the 2025 edition of its annual Halloween Horror Nights event, which featured haunted houses based on Terrifier, Five Nights at Freddy's, Friday the 13th, Fallout, and more.

The company additionally opened a landmark permanent horror-based attraction in Las Vegas, Universal Horror Unleashed, which features four earlier Halloween Horror Nights houses — including attractions based on classic Universal monsters, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Exorcist film series — in a permanent location just outside the Las Vegas Strip.

EW recently covered Horror Unleashed with help from RuPaul's Drag Race alums Kori King, Lady Camden, and Derrick Barry, who in the video above braved the houses for a comical walk-through.