Lagoon is a privately owned
amusement park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...
in
Farmington, Utah
Farmington is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. The population was 24,531 at the 2020 census. The Lagoon Amusement Park and Station Park transit-oriented retail center (which includes a FrontRunner train station) are located in Farmi ...
, United States, located about 18 miles north of
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
. It has ten
roller coaster
A roller coaster, or rollercoaster, is a type of amusement ride that employs a form of elevated railroad track designed with tight turns, steep slopes, and sometimes inversions. Passengers ride along the track in open cars, and the rides are o ...
s, five of which are unique; ''
Colossus the Fire Dragon'', the last
Schwarzkopf Double Looping coaster still in operation in the United States (
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fir ...
at
Dorney Park
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located between Allentown and Emmaus, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The park features 64 rides, including six roller coasters, other adult ...
closed at the end of the 2008 season and was moved to Germany to become the Teststrecke traveling roller coaster in 2009); Roller Coaster, one of the oldest coasters in the world operating since 1921;
Wicked
Wicked may refer to:
Books
* Wicked, a minor character in the ''X-Men'' universe
* '' Wicked'', a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name
* ''Wicked'', the fifth novel in Sara Shepard's ''Pretty Little Liars'' s ...
, designed by Lagoon's engineering department and
Werner Stengel
Werner Stengel (born 22 August 1936, in Bochum) is a German roller coaster designer and engineer. Stengel is the founder of Stengel Engineering, also known as Ingenieurbüro Stengel GmbH (or Ingenieurbuero Stengel GmbH).
Stengel first worked on a ...
in cooperation with ride manufacturer
Zierer
Zierer Karussell- und Spezialmaschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG (Short name: Zierer ) is a German company located close to Deggendorf. Zierer manufactures Tivoli and Force line of roller coasters, as well as panoramic wheels, wave swingers, flying car ...
;
BomBora, a family coaster designed in-house; and
Cannibal
Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, bo ...
, built in-house with one of the
world's steepest drops.
Lagoon is divided into five main areas: ''
The Midway'', containing the majority of the rides and an assortment of carnival type games and food outlets; ''
Pioneer Village'' which has several exhibits displaying pioneer buildings and artifacts; ''
Lagoon-A-Beach
Lagoon-A-Beach is a water park that is situated inside the Lagoon Amusement Park located in Farmington, Utah. Lagoon-A-Beach currently has ten water slides that fall into three main categories: tube slides, body slides, and drop slides. Its nam ...
'', a
water park
A water park (or waterpark, water world) is an amusement park that features water play areas such as swimming pools, water slides, splash pads, water playgrounds, and lazy rivers, as well as areas for floating, bathing, swimming, and other baref ...
which is included in the regular admission price; ''
Kiddie Land'' with several rides for small children, and the ''
X-Venture Zone'' featuring more extreme rides that cost extra. Lagoon also offers a full-service RV park, a campground, and a shaded walking trail outside the park that stays open all year.
History
1886–1940
In 1886, the
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to ''Rio Grande'', D&RG or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Railroad classes#Class I, Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow-gauge l ...
built a resort called Lake Park on the shores of the
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world. It lies in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah and has a substantial impact upon the local climate, particula ...
. It was one of several resorts built along the lake throughout the late 1800s. In the following years, however, the lake level receded drastically until Lake Park was far from the lake, and the park closed by the end of the 1895 season.
Simon Bamberger
Simon Bamberger (February 27, 1845October 6, 1926) was the fourth Governor of Utah (1917–1921) after it achieved statehood from territorial status in 1896. Bamberger retains the distinction of being the first non-Mormon, the first Democrat, ...
, who was building his Salt Lake & Ogden Railroad line from
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
to
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in and the county seat of Weber County, Utah, United States, approximately east of the Great Salt Lake and north of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,321 in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau, making it Utah's eighth ...
, was vice president of Lake Park and a 25% owner. To increase passenger traffic on his line, he bought most of the original Lake Park buildings from the D&RGW and moved them about 3 miles (5 km) east near
Farmington, Utah
Farmington is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. The population was 24,531 at the 2020 census. The Lagoon Amusement Park and Station Park transit-oriented retail center (which includes a FrontRunner train station) are located in Farmi ...
. This gave the residents of Salt Lake City (and later, Ogden) a reason to travel over the "Bamberger". The resort was named Lagoon for the small body of water located on the original forty acres (162,000 m
2). The original lagoon was used to harvest ice in winter; Bamberger had it enlarged to by clearing some swampland.
Lagoon opened in
Farmington, Utah
Farmington is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. The population was 24,531 at the 2020 census. The Lagoon Amusement Park and Station Park transit-oriented retail center (which includes a FrontRunner train station) are located in Farmi ...
, on July 12, 1896, and included "Bowling, Elegant Dancing Pavilion, Fine Music, A Shady Bowery and Good Restaurants." In 1900, guests began swimming and rowing boats in Lagoon Lake. Over time more rides were added, such as the authentic
Herschell-Spillman
The Allan Herschell Company specialized in the creation of amusement rides, particularly carousels and roller coasters. The company manufactured portable machines that could be used by traveling carnival operators. It was started in 1915 in the ...
Carousel
A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (List of sovereign states, international), roundabout (British English), or hurdy-gurdy (an old term in Australian English, in South Australia, SA) is a type of amusement ...
and
Cagney miniature
A miniature is a small-scale reproduction, or a small version. It may refer to:
* Portrait miniature, a miniature portrait painting
* Miniature art, miniature painting, engraving and sculpture
* Miniature (chess), a masterful chess game or probl ...
-gauge Miniature Railroad. In 1901, the park hosted a
minor league baseball team in the
Inter-Mountain League and in 1902, a team in the
Utah State League
The Utah State League was an Independent baseball minor league baseball league that played in the 1902 season. As the name indicates, the four–team Utah State League consisted of teams based in Utah. The Utah State League played just the 1902 s ...
.
One of the most popular rides today is Lagoon's famous
wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also b ...
. Designed by
John Miller of
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...
fame, it was constructed in 1921. Miller gave Lagoon's coaster plenty of dips and turns. Its highest height is fifty-seven feet, and the length of track is . The ride lasts just under two minutes and the coaster train reaches speeds up to 45 mph (72 km/h). It is locally known as the "White Roller Coaster" due to its white wash paint. As of 2022, however, none of the Roller Coaster is still white, since the wooden supports are regularly replaced and the new supports are left unpainted.
In 1927, a swimming pool with "water fit to drink" was built north of Lagoon Lake. It was one of the first filtered swimming pools in western North America, and was a cleaner alternative than swimming in the briny
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world. It lies in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah and has a substantial impact upon the local climate, particula ...
.
Lagoon's popularity grew during the 1920s and 1930s. There was betting and horse racing there in the 1920s, but the Utah State Legislature put a stop to that only a few years after it began. The first Fun House was built in 1929, along with many other midway shows, rides, and games. During the "Big Band" era,
Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction.
Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led ...
,
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing".
From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...
,
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...
,
Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
, and
Glenn Miller
Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...
played Lagoon's stage.
1940–1970
The park was closed for three seasons during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. By 1946, the park was in bad condition and on the brink of permanent closure. The Bamberger family considered razing it. However, Ranch S. Kimball and
Robert E. Freed, seeing an excellent opportunity, convinced the Bamberger family to lease the park to their newly formed
Utah Amusement Corporation. Kimball served as president while Freed served as Secretary and Assistant Manager. The Freed family's
Lagoon Corporation later bought the resort outright from the Bamberger family in 1983.
When the Utah Amusement Corporation took over the lease of Lagoon, a Farmington town ordinance prohibited African-Americans from using the swimming pool and the ballroom. By the end of the 1940s, Robert Freed had fully opened Lagoon to the black community, and further extended this policy to the
Terrace Ballroom
The Terrace Ballroom was a ballroom, located on 464 South Main Street, in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the 1930s, when it was called "Coconut Grove", there was no larger ballroom in the United States. Its name was changed in the 1940s to "Rainbow ...
(formerly the Rainbow Gardens) in Salt Lake City.
The Freed family made several improvements, including the installation of new dressing rooms and a general overhaul of the swimming pool in 1949, a rebuilt fun house and the introduction of the "Dodgem Cars" and the "Lakeshore Express" miniature diesel train in 1951, and a new
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel (also called a Giant Wheel or an observation wheel) is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components (commonly referred to as passenger cars, cabins, tubs, gondolas, capsules ...
in 1953.
In November 1953, a fire damaged much of the park, including the fun house, dance pavilion, and the front portion of the roller coaster. It was quickly rebuilt to open for the next season and began to surpass the popularity of its main rival,
Saltair. Many rides were restored, rebuilt, or replaced, and a few new rides were added. In 1956, Mother Gooseland, Lagoon's first themed area, was opened between the Midway and the swimming pool. It featured rides only for children.
From the mid-1950s into the 1960s Lagoon made many improvements. A showboat was added to the lake, and a new fun house was built, which featured such attractions as a multi-lane giant slide; mazes, mirrors, obstacle courses, and mystery rooms; a large turntable which flung its riders off at great velocity; revolving barrels; and the ubiquitous jets of air – activated by a human operator – which startled those who were unfortunate enough to stand over them. There was also a mini-car ride added in 1960, followed by the "Space Scrambler", spook house, I.Q. Zoo, and shooting gallery in 1961. The first Wild Mouse ride came in 1965.
On the Midway, musical groups including the
Beach Boys
A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shell ...
, the
Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
, the
Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to the late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, ...
, and
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
drew the crowds to the bandstand. The Beach Boys made mention of the park in the song "Salt Lake City" on their 1965 album ''
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
''Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)'' is the ninth studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on July 5, 1965, on Capitol. The band's previous album, ''The Beach Boys Today!'' (released March 1965), represented a departure for the ...
''. The
Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
concert at Lagoon was in July 1966.
The
narrow-gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...
Animaland Train began circling Lagoon Lake in 1967. In 1975, authentic
Crown Metal Products
Crown Metal Products was a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock based in Wyano, Pennsylvania. The company was founded by Ken Williams in 1946 and initially sold pot cleaners and then electric fence wires and other products. In 1959, the compan ...
-built 4-4-0 steam locomotives were put into operation around the lake and the name was changed to the
Wild Kingdom Train.
1970–1997
The turn-of-the-century-style Opera House Square opened in 1968 and showcased melodramas, musicals, and silent movies. In 1976, Lagoon expanded east by purchasing Pioneer Village, an old west town complete with several historic structures that had been collected and exhibited in Salt Lake City's Sugar House area since 1953. The buildings were moved to Lagoon and the
narrow-gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...
"Pioneer Village Railroad" (featuring "Old Ironsides," a
Crown Metal Products
Crown Metal Products was a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock based in Wyano, Pennsylvania. The company was founded by Ken Williams in 1946 and initially sold pot cleaners and then electric fence wires and other products. In 1959, the compan ...
4-4-0
4-4-0 is a locomotive type with a classification that uses the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement and represents the arrangement: four leading wheels on two axles (usually in a leading bogie), four po ...
locomotive) circled the town. There was also the "Lagoon Miniature Railroad," which looped around the residential area of Pioneer Village using the original miniature -gauge steam locomotive acquired in the early 1900s. A log flume ride was brought in from the defunct
Pixieland Park in
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
.
One of today's most popular rides was added in 1976, the
Jet Star 2. Before Lagoon purchased the Jet Star 2, it was one of the attractions at
Spokane
Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Ca ...
, Washington's
Expo '74
Expo '74, officially known as the International Exposition on the Environment, Spokane 1974, was a world's fair held May 4, 1974, to November 3, 1974 in Spokane, Washington in the northwest United States. It was the first environmentally themed ...
.
Colossus the Fire Dragon came to Lagoon in 1983, to huge crowds and great reviews as it was selected by ''
People
A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...
'' magazine in 1984 as one of the top 10 coaster rides in the country. Fire Dragon was Lagoon's first coaster to feature inversions, with a top speed of . With its double inverted loops, Colossus had the most inversions of any coaster at Lagoon for 32 years. Cannibal, built in 2015, currently has four inversions, the most for a roller coaster at Lagoon.
In the late 1980s, both the famous old fun house and the "Haunted Shack", a walk-through freaky fright attraction, were closed, victims of escalating maintenance costs, safety concerns, and increased risk of litigation. The famous swimming pool closed after its fifth decade in 1987. This made way for the $5.5 million Lagoon-A-Beach water park, which was completed in 1989. Its construction spelled the end of the small-scale railroad operations in Pioneer Village, as some of the supports stood in the way of the track.
1997–present
* In 1997, in a major expansion of Pioneer Village, Lagoon added Rattlesnake Rapids, a river rapid ride located in the new Rattlesnake Plaza which included a new game – Rising Waters, manufactured by Bobs Space Racers. Also added was a new food stand, Rattlesnake Grub, and a new merchandise location, Pedlers Place, that sells candy, toys, Lagoon merchandise, colored rocks, and Rattlesnake Parafinia, but also sells ponchos for the wet ride ahead.
* In 1998, Lagoon added Wild Mouse, a
Maurer Sohne wild mouse coaster. This ride type was not new to Lagoon, which had had a wooden model that was demolished 5 years prior to the current steel model's opening.
* In 1999, Lagoon broke the mark when it built The Rocket, an S&S space shot tower with two different ride towers (out of three): Re-Entry and Blast-Off.
* In 2000, Samurai, a
Mondial Top Scan
Top Scan is an amusement ride made by Mondial.
Design and operation
The ride has six free-rotating gondolas each with five seats and the standard Mondial Triple-Lock Harnesses, including the belt. As the ride begins, the main support rises upw ...
, was built, as well as Double Thunder Raceway.
* In 2001, Lagoon built a Monidal
Top Spin
In ball sports, topspin or overspin is a property of a ball that rotates forwards as it is moving. Topspin on a ball propelled through the air imparts a downward force that causes the ball to drop, due to its interaction with the air (see Magnu ...
, Cliffhanger, on the south midway on the north side of Wild Mouse.
* In 2002, Lagoon expanded its X-Venture Zone by adding
Catapult
A catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of gunpowder or other propellants – particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. A catapult uses the sudden release of stored p ...
.
* In 2003,
The Spider - Coaster, a Maurer Sohne SC 2000, opened on the south midway across from Colossus the Fire Dragon.
* In 2004, Lagoon revamped their children's area, Kiddieland, giving it a garden theme and adding two new rides to the area, Kontiki and Dragon Fly.
* In 2005,
The Bat, an inverted coaster, was constructed near Lagoon-A-Beach manufactured by
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is a Dutch amusement ride manufacturer. Vekoma is syllabic abbreviation of Veld Koning Machinefabriek (Veld Koning Machine Factory) which was established in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld.
History
The company originally ...
. It is a family-friendly coaster with a minimum height requirement of 42".
* In 2006, Lagoon expanded Kiddieland further by adding two new rides, Dinosaur Drop and Lady Bug Bop, Zierer Family Drop Towers.
* In 2007, Lagoon built a $10 million roller coaster named
Wicked
Wicked may refer to:
Books
* Wicked, a minor character in the ''X-Men'' universe
* '' Wicked'', a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name
* ''Wicked'', the fifth novel in Sara Shepard's ''Pretty Little Liars'' s ...
, a
Zierer
Zierer Karussell- und Spezialmaschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG (Short name: Zierer ) is a German company located close to Deggendorf. Zierer manufactures Tivoli and Force line of roller coasters, as well as panoramic wheels, wave swingers, flying car ...
tower launch coaster. It is powered by linear synchronous motors that launch riders up a tower, at in 2.5 seconds after the riders experience several state-of-the-art thrill elements. An
Imelmann turn, a
heart-line roll, two half-pipe turns, and the signature "lake turn" into a final tunnel before returning to the station. Wicked is located in the south midway section of the park, behind the "Fire Dragon". Wicked opened on June 1, 2007. In addition to Wicked, Lagoon made several improvements to the park. The area in front of Spider and Fire Dragon was expanded and repaved for Wicked, connecting the surrounding areas for the three coasters.
* In 2008, OdySea was built, a Zierer "Flying Fish" with aquatic themes. OdySea is an interactive ride with a joystick to control the vehicle's height. Arrows blink to direct the rider to dodge jets of water from the sea creatures that attempt to soak you as accompanying music tells a story. The ride features a giant squid centerpiece, with submarines and fish as cars each holding two passengers. OdySea opened on April 5, 2008, and started a continuing tradition of adding music to every new ride. Also in 2008, Lagoon expanded its employee kitchen with twice the seating and all new counters, serving areas, etc. Lagoon also introduced designated smoking areas known as "Sit and Smoke Stations", in response to a new Davis County law that went into effect on January 1, 2008, that prohibited smoking in privately and publicly owned outdoor places. The addition of these "Sit and Smoke Stations" caused the removal of one of Lagoon's X-Venture Zone attractions, Peak Exposure, a small rock climbing wall formerly located on the south midway by Roller Coaster.
* In 2009, Lagoon opened the "Jumping Dragon", a Zierer "Dragon Roundabout". Jumping Dragon has 20 gondolas (two are the tail and head) with two riders per gondola, each with their own lap bar making for a much more comfortable ride. Jumping Dragon features oriental themes including a pagoda that the ride travels through and a baby dragon that the dragon of the ride has with the front gondola (added a few months later). Jumping Dragon is also one of six rides at Lagoon to have a soundtrack (along with OdySea, Musik Express, Turn of the Century, BomBora, and Ruka Safari). Jumping Dragon opened to the public on April 4, 2009.
* In 2010, Lagoon revamped their large Ferris wheel, Sky Scraper. It was taken down in October 2009 and was back with a new coat of paint in April 2010. As a result of the economic crisis, Lagoon did not install a new ride that season, ending their tradition of adding a new ride every year since 1994. Instead, the park improved their entertainment division with all new shows. One show was presented by Cirque Innosta, called L'Orage. Lagoon also installed a new game, "3 point challenge".
* In 2011, Lagoon installed another family roller coaster, named BomBora. From a group of manufacturers and designed by Lagoon Amusement Park itself, this 1960s surfing-themed coaster has on-ride audio and many twists and turns at a height of . BomBora was installed in the area formerly occupied by the Lagoon-A-Beach locker building and a pavilion, which were demolished in October 2009. Most of the lockers from that building were moved to an area formerly occupied by janitorial and utility miscellany. That in turn was moved to other locations around the water park. This year also marks when the Terroride mural was replaced with a talking vulture and a dark forest theme in the queue.
* In 2012, Lagoon installed Air Race in the concrete flat near Jet Star II. This replaced Psycho Dave's Junkyard that normally appears there during Frightmares, which did not return. Another Frightmares haunt, Deception, was replaced with Backlot.
* In 2013, Lagoon began work on a new coaster at the site of the former Top Eliminator. Two new family rides opened for the 2013 season, Tipsey Tea Cups and Red Rock Rally. Tipsey Tea Cups (Zamperla Midi Tea Cup) features a solid canopy over the ride with a unique chandelier inside. Red Rock Rally (Zamperla Speedway) features an extensive red stone backdrop for the ride. Every vehicle is named after trails only found in
Moab, Utah
Moab () is the largest city and county seat of Grand County in eastern Utah in the western United States, known for its dramatic scenery. The population was 5,366 at the 2020 census. Moab attracts many tourists annually, mostly visitors to th ...
, thus being themed as all-terrain vehicles. Both feature loading to the ground instead of an elevated platform. The opening of these rides also included new pathways with colored benches. Wild Mouse was re-painted to have a green track instead of the light purple paint it featured when first installed in 1998. Rock-O-Plane also got new paint to feature red and yellow spirals, and upgraded LED lighting was installed. For Frightmares this year, Lockdown was branded as Zombie's Lockdown.
* In 2014, Lagoon continues the extensive work on a new coaster, building vertically throughout the entire operating season. With much of its focus on the new coaster, no new rides were added this year. Cirque Innosta came back with another show, called Bosque. Many improvements were done throughout the park this season. Due to maintenance problems, Lagoon-A-Beach's old Rip-Curl slide was replaced with a new slide of the same name. A shooting game in Pioneer Village was also removed; the building now houses a retail shop featuring Lagoon-branded goods. A new animal exhibit which houses wild boars was added to Wild Kingdom Train. Another improvement was the addition of
Dole Whip
Dole Whip (also known as Dole Soft Serve) is a soft serve dairy-free frozen dessert created by Dole Food Company in 1984. The original pineapple flavor is the best known, but eight additional fruit flavors are sold: cherry, mango, lemon, watermelo ...
to the food line-up at Lagoon. At a press conference on September 4, Lagoon officially announced
Cannibal
Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, bo ...
, their new roller coaster for the 2015 season.
* In 2015, the new rollercoaster called
Cannibal
Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, bo ...
opens, featuring a elevator lift hill, a
116° beyond vertical drop, three inversions, and a top speed of 70 mph.
During what was to be a spring opening when announced in September 2014, Cannibal was still being constructed during the 2015 season which led to many complaints by guests about the delayed opening. Cannibal did however open on July 2 to rave reviews and a two-hour long line. The opening also introduced the new Cannibal Plaza, a fenced-off area separating Cannibal from surrounding rides and exits through Cannibal's Gift Shop that was not completed until 2016. Due to Cannibal, Skyscraper now features a different sign and queue with the exit being in the front instead of behind the ride as in the years prior. Lagoon also expanded its food line-up with the introduction of
BeaverTails
BeaverTails is a Canadian restaurant chain, specializing in pastries known as BeaverTails, that is operated by BeaverTails Canada Inc. Its namesake products are fried dough pastries, individually hand stretched to resemble beaver's tails, wit ...
next to Terroride and Honolulu Hot Dogs, which was placed in a shack that is part of the new midway entering into Cannibal's queue.
* In 2016, Lagoon continued work on Cannibal with no new rides again this season, as well as the opening of Cannibal's Gift Shop, which offers an exit to the fenced-off Cannibal Plaza. The gift shop repurposed the old Pit Stop gift shop that was installed for the now removed Top Eliminator Dragsters. A new purchase stand for Double Thunder Raceway is now featured on the side of Cannibal's Gift Shop by the entrance of the ride. Extensive work was also done on Spider with new black and red paint and new wheel housing bogies for the cars. With the extensive work, the seats now spin freely at the top of the first drop, instead of the previous forward or backward first drop into a sharp curve which released the spinning seats. New wheel housing bogies were also installed on Wicked. Lagoon also re-introduced the Colossus sign on top of the first loop of Colossus: The Fire Dragon with red coloring for the letters. The sign was removed a few years prior.
* In 2017, a new mural commissioned by
Sril Art (Shae Petersen of Salt Lake City) appeared on the wall above the entrance to Game Time. Two new rides are added to Kiddie Land, Flying Tigers, and Ruka Safari.
* In 2018, the ride "Centennial Screamer" was moved from the South Side of the park to the North Side very close to Cannibal. Its old location is now occupied by restroom facilities. The Roller Coaster was also re-tracked and opened later that season.
*In 2019, A restaurant area called "Biergarten" was introduced which has two restaurants and a bar.
*In 2020, the game "Soccer Darts" was replaced with "Hang Time". It is located between Teriyaki Stix and Biergarten. A new kid's ride opened in Kiddieland called Engine 86 which is located near the Bat.
*On December 18, 2021, a fire broke out early in the day at the Carousel Candy shop which sustained damage. The fire rekindled that evening and subsequently destroyed the candy shop and the adjacent Scamper, a miniature bumper cars ride. A rebuilding procedure has begun and Lagoon is still set to open on the normal date for the 2022 season.
Attractions
Roller coasters
Lagoon features ten different roller coasters. The oldest, ''Roller Coaster'' (often called ''White Roller Coaster'' by locals), was built in 1921 and is an
American Coaster Enthusiasts
American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a non-profit organization focusing on the enjoyment, knowledge, and preservation of roller coasters as well as recognition of some as architectural and engineering landmarks. Dues-paying members receive the ...
Roller Coaster Landmark.
Thrill rides
Dark rides
Water rides
Family rides
Children rides
X-Venture Zone
In 1995, the
Skycoaster towers were set up on the North Midway and marked the beginning of what would become the X-Venture Zone. (The sky coaster was previously owned by Midway West and traveled in carnivals.) Later the Top Eliminator, Double Thunder Raceway, and The Catapult would all become part of the X-Venture Zone. These rides are not included in Lagoon's all-day Passport and require an extra fee to ride.
* Skycoaster: Lagoon's
Skycoaster opened during the 1995 season. Lagoon was one of the first amusement parks in the United States to add the Skycoaster to its collection of rides. This was also the first of the five rides that would be included in the X-Venture Zone. The launch tower is tall and the main arch is tall. The flyers, up to 3 at a time, are raised up to a height of . When they are instructed to do so, one of the flyers pulls the rip cord and then the flyers drop rapidly, reaching speeds up to and experiencing sensations similar to
hang gliding
Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised foot-launched heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered ...
and
skydiving
Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes.
For ...
.
* Top Eliminator: In 1996 Lagoon added Top Eliminator to the park. Riders get to simulate a drag race down a four lane race track complete with "Christmas tree" countdown lights. The ride cost $1.2 million and the opening was delayed by about 3 months due to software glitches. The attraction opened for the 1996 season at the end of August. Riders can reach speeds up to in 2.8 seconds. Lagoon was the second amusement park to receive this ride.
Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom, formerly known as Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, is an amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The park includes a collection of amusement rides and the Hurricane Bay water park. Kentucky Kingdom is located at the ...
was the first. The attraction was removed in 2011; Cannibal was erected on the site.
* Double Thunder Raceway: Double Thunder Raceway, an elaborate go-cart ride, opened at the beginning of the 2000 season. The go-carts consist of two separate tracks; Lightning at and Thunder at . Each track has 28 go-carts and features several sweeping turns, overpasses, 360-degree spirals, straight-aways, and camelbacks. At the time this attraction opened the go-cart drivers had to be at least 54" tall, Lagoon's highest restriction, and passengers had to be at least 46" tall. Guests must be at least 50" tall to drive, or 40" tall to ride only. The ride lasts for 5 minutes, and the go-carts are equipped with a remote-control safety system, ground-control speed devices, and traffic signal lights to indicate the status of the track.
* Catapult: The Catapult, the latest X-Venture Zone ride, was installed in 2002. It hurls two passengers at a time up to in the air. It is powered by extension springs which exert a maximum pull of 80,000 pounds of force. The towers are tall. A spokesperson for Lagoon said that this may be Lagoon's most thrilling ride ever, as there is a strong weightless feeling in the ride, some twists, and oscillations. This ride also has a TV screen so patrons enjoying the park or the riders' friends may see the riders' reactions while the ride is operating. The tapes made may be purchased at the gift desk. Riders are strapped in a capsule seat by full harness restraints with redundant locking mechanisms for safety and comfort. The capsule is also equipped with a video camera and microphone with remote broadcast capability to transmit video of the riders to the monitors on the ground.
Events
Entertainment
Lagoon has offered varied entertainments to park visitors over the years, from live bands to musicals, and Wild West shows to Pop shows.
2017 - 2 shows
* Jungle Rhythm - A story told through song and dance about two explorers who follow a treasure map through the depths of the jungle. A stream of top hit songs and treasure map clues take these explorers on an exciting jungle adventure, where they meet many wild animals. With the help of these animals, they search for the hidden treasure.
* Verano - Lagoon is proud to present, in partnership with Joseph Wartnerchaney, Verano. Verano is a roller-coaster mix of styles that blends comedy, tap dancing, thrilling illusions, powerhouse vocals, breathtaking choreography & beautiful aerial dance. All linked by a hilarious narrative that ignites a succession of wacky adventures, set to the toe-tapping tunes of Postmodern Jukebox. This is not a musical, a variety show, or even vaudeville. It's Verano!
2016 - 2 shows
* Anyway You Want It - Lagoon is proud to present, in partnership with the creator and director of Cirque Innosta, Joseph Wartnerchaney, Any Way You Want It. In a time when denim was distressed, Aqua Net was king and rock was as big as the hair, a local skating rink is threatened by a corporate takeover. One intrepid team of ladies takes a stand and fights for their right to party by competing in a quirky 80's-themed talent show. This gutsy group of gals lets everyone know that there's only two things to be afraid of ... a pair of roller skates and girl power! Don't stop believing because the journey is any way you want it!
* Let's Dance - Lagoon is proud to present Let's Dance, directed by Kenneth Plain. Let's Dance will consist of incredible top 40 hits and a fun filled 90's throw back. Artists represented include Rachel Platten, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, DNCE and Nick Jonas. Let's Dance is filled with amazing hip hop and jazz dance that will light up the stage at the Carousel Theatre. So come on, Let's Dance!
2015 - 3 shows
* Live in Living Color - Carousel Theater. Featuring: Colton, Riley, Jason, Michael, Lindsay, Becca, Giovanna, and Mikki. Swings: Jared, Shelby, and Shawnee.
* Strawberry Fields/Night Show - Carousel Theater. Featuring: Nathan Waite, Kaylie Gustafson, Devyn Warburton, Angie Petty, Raven Flowers, and Matt Stott. Swings: Michael Hernandez, Shawnee Johnson, Colton Ward, Riley French, and Becca Lichfield. Featuring a live rock band: Chris Petty, Nick Petty, Jacob "Jabob" Ostler, Garret Rueckert, Jaxon Garrick, and Matt Wilson. Show created by: Joseph Wartnerchaney/Manhattan Creative Group.
* The Rainmaker - Traveling Show. Featuring: Scott Taylor. Swing: Quinn Kapetanov. Show created by: The Manhattan Creative Group.
2014 - 3 shows
* The Rock Show - Includes a live band performing the songs.
* Simple Joys
* Cirque Innosta Presents Bosque
2013 - 2 shows
* The Rock Show - Includes a live band performing the songs.
* Shubert Ally
2012 - 2 shows
* Marry the Night
* Shubert Ally
2011 - 3 shows
* The Great American Jukebox/pop show (played evenings during the summer)- featuring past and present pop, rock, and country hits - Carousel Theatre. Featuring: Lauren Piggott, Camry Madsen, Jeferrson Tuke, Mickelle Tuke, Loren Hawks, Michelle Robbins, Blake Murrey, and Jordan Robbins.
* Hollywood Sings (played daytimes during the summer) - Carousel Theatre
* Cirque Innosta - Brought back for Lagoon's Birthday Celebration
2010 - 4 shows
* The Great American Jukebox - Carousel Theater
* Broadway corner - Carousel Theater
* Cirque Innosta Presents L'Orage
* Extreme Parrots Show
2009 - 3 shows
* American 60's Jukebox - Game Time Theatre
* Broadway Corner - Carousel Theatre
* Rock U2 The Top - Carousel Theatre
2008 - 3 shows
* Country swing jubilee - Carousel Theater - Featuring: Amy Wilson, Dustin Bolt, Nathan Copier, Chris Squires, Vaden Thurgood, Ali Kaelin
* Rock u2 the top - Carousel Theater - Featuring: Mickelle Bean, Ashytn Nelson, Emily Giaque, Cory Alan Heaps, JT Seumalu, Vaden Thurgood. Swings: Ali Kaelin, Chris Squires
* Broadway Rhythm - Music USA Theater - Featuring: Bronwyn Tarboton, Lexi Giaque, Samantha Bird, Jazzie Welch, Nathan Copier, John Wolfe, David Holmes, Gray Aydelott. Swings: Amy Wilson, Nick Berg
2007 - 3 shows
* "Electric '80s" - Carousel theater, featuring: Dallin Allred, Michelle Robbins, Amanda Monson, Elise Groves, Parker Solum, William Richardson, Emily Giaque, Steve Shoemaker
* "Rock U2 the Top" - Carousel Theater, featuring: Gray Aydelott, Mickelle Bean, Daysha Hanneman, Blake Murray, Ashtyn Nelson, JT Seumalu, Emily Giaque, Steve Shoemaker
* "On Broadway" - Music Theater, featuring: Nathan Copier, Cody Jensen, Andrew Lewis, Becca Schwartz, Jennifer Perucca, Kathryn Stratford, Kim Stephenson, Preston Yates, Valerie Larsen, Lexi Giaque, William Richardson
2006 - 3 shows
* Club-A-Go-Go featuring: Gray Aydelott, Natassia Clark, James Hales, Daysha Hannemann, Jacob Knight, Andrew Lewis, Ashtyn Nelson and Mandy Stanford, Kim Stephenson, Vaden Thurgood
* Rock U2 the Top featuring: Emily Giaque, Lexi Giaque, Daniel Hamblin, Michelle Hunt, Steve Shoemaker, Vaden Thrugood, Daysha Hannermann, Cody Jensen)
* Jukebox Jive featuring: Nick Berg, Collin Christensen, Nathan Copier, Heidi Evans, Elise Groves, Cody Jensen, Kristen Kemp, Ralynne Riggs, Linton Dean, Kim Stephenson
1990 Regular Season
"A Salute to Broadway" at the "Music USA Theater". Songs performed included "A Pretty Girl" from "The Ziegfeld Follies"; "They Call the Wind Mariah" from "Paint Your Wagon"; "Let Me Entertain You," from "Gypsy"; "Tonight" from "West Side Story" and "I Cain't Say No" from "Oklahoma". Performers: Collette Schlappi, Angi Cannon, Camille Bailey, LauraLyn Oldham, Angela Burnett, Bret Wheadon, Jeff Whiting, Tim Shoemaker, Roger Stephenson, Brett Bradford.
Frightmares
Every autumn the park offers Halloween-themed shows and attractions from mid-September to the end of October, collectively known as Frightmares.
List of current attractions
* Frightening Frisco
* Nightmare Midway
* Fun House of Fear
* Malevolent Mansion
* Nightwalk
* Scary & Crow's Super Fun Straw Maze
* Spook-A-Boo Trick-or-Treat Trail
* Pioneer Village Scare Zone
* The Mariner (show)
*
Hackenslash Chainsaw Demonstration team (show)
* Windy the Witch
The 2006 Frightmares season featured The Hackenslash Chainsaw Demonstration Team, Wailin' Witches, Zombie Mambo, and The "Hypnotysm".
Also in 2006 and 2007 Lagoon hosted the following walk-thru attractions: Haunted Hollywood, Fun House of Fear, Hal O. Ween High, Spook-A-Boo Walk-Thru, and Psycho Dave's Salvage Yard.
The 2007 Frightmares Season featured The Hackenslash Chainsaw Demonstration Team, Vampire Awakening, Monster Classics, and The Master Hypnotist.
The 2008 season lagoon removed the Haunted Hollywood attraction, but Deception was added in the 2009 season in its place.
The 2010 season featured new haunted house, Lockdown. Also went to Knowlton Elementary School to sign autographs.
The 2011 season featured Nightwalk.
The 2012 season Lagoon removed Psycho Dave's Salvage Yard and Deception, replacing them with Backlot, and a children's walk-through named Scary & Crow's Super Fun Straw Maze! Scary & Crow's is located in the main street of Pioneer Village.
The 2013 season only featured a re-branding of a haunt. Lockdown themed to a prison where prisoners are escaping the previous years, Lagoon decided to rename the haunt to Zombie's Lockdown, and gave it a theme of the government trying to control the zombie population, but the zombies want out.
Games
Lagoon has 26 Currently operating carnival games in which prizes ranging in size from small to giant can be won.
Lagoon's past games include a Fascination Parlor, Skee Ball, Dime Toss, and Skatterball/Monkey Ball. "Putter Around The Park," an 18-hole miniature golf course, with obstacles based on rides and attractions in the park, was removed to make way for Jumping Dragon in 2009.
Controversy
In 2012, Lagoon became the focus of animal welfare groups' protests which called for a boycott of the park, citing USDA inspection reports that suggested poor care of animals in the
Wild Kingdom
''Wild Kingdom'', also known as ''Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom'', is an American documentary television program that features wildlife and nature. It was originally produced from 1963 until 1988, and it was revived in 2002. The show's second ...
. The Utah Animal Rights Coalition and PETA pointed to a range of USDA citations over a 15-year span that included insufficient living space for and unexplained deaths of animals. While admitting to some problems, a Lagoon spokesman denied any abuse taking place and said veterinarians and staff regularly monitored the animals.
Movies and TV shows filmed at Lagoon
* ''Mirror, Mirror: You and Your Self Image'' is a 1969 film by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and BYU. The opening scenes are filmed at Lagoon.
* Lagoon was one of many parks featured in the first roller coaster documentary, ''America Screams'' in 1978.
* An episode of the ''
Werewolf
In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposely or ...
'' TV series was filmed at Lagoon in fall 1987, featuring scenes in and around the Dracula's Castle attraction.
* Some scenes in the 1996 TV movie, ''
Terror in the Family'', were filmed at the Roller Coaster and Centennial Screamer.
* ''In My Sister's Shadow'', a 1997 TV movie, featured a scene on the North Midway. Another scene was filmed at Saltair.
* ''
The Luck of the Irish'' (2001) - A few scenes from this
Disney Channel Original Movie
Many television films have been produced for Disney Channel, an American family-oriented basic cable channel and former premium television channel since its launch on April 18, 1983. Until October 1997, films were released under the banner nam ...
were filmed at the North Midway area of Lagoon. The dance festival was held in front of the entrance to the Sky Scraper.
* ''
Wieners'' (2008) A montage featuring scenes at an amusement park were mostly filmed at Lagoon in 2007. The name of the park was changed in the film.
* An episode of ''
The Aquabats
The Aquabats are an American rock band formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1994. Throughout many fluctuations in the group's line-up, singer the MC Bat Commander and bassist Crash McLarson have remained the band's two constant fixtur ...
'' featured brief and edited glimpses of Lagoon.
* In 2015, ''Christmas Land'' was filmed in the Pioneer Village section of the park.
* Season 3, episode 12 of ''
Andi Mack
''Andi Mack'' is an American family comedy-drama television series created by Terri Minsky that premiered on Disney Channel on April 7, 2017. It ran for three seasons and 57 episodes, concluding on July 26, 2019. The series stars Peyton Elizabe ...
'' featured brief and edited glimpses of Lagoon; including Honolulu Hot Dogs, Slam Dunk, The Rocket, Paratrooper, Cannibal, and Sky Scraper.
Notable incidents
In 1989, six year old Ryan Beckstead was struck and killed on "Puff The Little Fire Dragon" after he fell off the ride and stood up in between the track. He had believed the ride was over after he fell, and proceeded to try to find his parents before getting hit on the head by the oncoming train.
On August 14, 2021, a 32-year-old man fell 50 feet after dangling from the park's Sky Ride, a chairlift-like ride which transports people from one end of the amusement park to the other. The man succumbed to his injuries in the hospital the next day.
Notable people who worked at Lagoon
*
Atari
Atari () is a brand name that has been owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by French publisher Atari SA through a subsidiary named Atari Interactive. The original Atari, Inc. (1972–1992), Atari, Inc., ...
founder
Nolan Bushnell
Nolan Kay Bushnell (born February 5, 1943) is an American businessman and electrical engineer. He established Atari, Inc. and the Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre chain. He has been inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame and the Consume ...
managed midway carnival games at Lagoon while earning his
electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
degree at the
University of Utah
The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...
.
Notes
External links
Official Lagoon Park Website*
Lagoon History ProjectLagoon Fans (fan site)
{{Authority control
Buildings and structures in Farmington, Utah
Amusement parks in Utah
Tourist attractions in Davis County, Utah
Farmington, Utah
Companies based in Utah
1886 establishments in Utah Territory