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FARMINGTON — Utah's Lagoon amusement park turns 125 years old in July. Rides at the park have been thrilling families for a long time.
No matter how hard you try, it's nearly impossible to hold it in. There's just something about Lagoon that turns you into a screaming, laughing kid again.
"It's the place to be in the summer," said Dick Andrew, spokesman for Lagoon. He's the longest-employed worker at the park and knows just about everything about its history.
The park originally opened about 3 miles southwest of where it is today, on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. It was called Lake Park, and welcomed its first thrill-seekers on July 15, 1886. There was "swimming, dancing boating, picnicking and those kinds of things," Andrew said.
- The Rocket is Lagoon's tallest ride at 220 feet, but The Catapult reaches heights of 250 feet when launched.
- Wicked and Colossus hold the record for the fastest ride, at 55 mph.
- Colossus was at one time rated in the top 10 of roller coasters in the world.
- The carousel is the oldest ride on the park still in operation, and every character has been hand painted by Lagoon's own art department.
- Rattlesnake Rapids is Lagoon's most popular ride, with the most riders in one day.
- Lagoon has been a part of several different movies. One example: "Luck of the Irish," a Disney movie that came out a few years back.
- Many famous bands have performed at Lagoon.
Ten years later, the park was moved to its current location and its name was switched to Lagoon, after the pond on the south end of the midway. A little-known fact: That pond originally was owned by the Salt Lake City Ice Company, which used it to harvest ice.
Here are a few more factoids you probably didn't know:
- The oldest ride at Lagoon is the carousel. Its hand-carved, wooden horses are over 100 years old.
- A lot of local teenagers looking for summer work spend their school breaks at the park. Andrew says Lagoon employs about 2,500 teens each year.
- All that screaming makes patrons hungry. Each day, the park goes through 15,000 hot dogs, 4,500 ice cream scoops, 500 to 1,000 bags of cotton candy, and 5,000 chicken strip baskets.
If you want to walk away with the biggest prize in the booth, Andrew says all it takes is practice.
The White Roller Coaster may be the most iconic ride at Lagoon; it was built in the 1920s. But Andrew says there's no need to worry about that old, rickety wood.
"Even though it looks the same, the timber, of course, has been changed many times," he said, "and the technology is as current as if it was built last year."
Ever gotten off a ride with less than you got on with? Andrew says park employees have found shoes, hats, glasses, phones and even prosthetics.
Lagoon's history is rich, but a new ride or two pops up every year. This year, the new ride is Bombora — a family-friendly rollercoaster.
Meanwhile, Wicked is one of the most popular rides at the park. It goes about 55 miles per hour, and park officials say it's the ride you're most likely to lose your personal items on.
Lagoon has changed a lot through the years, but one thing hasn't changed: It's remained one of Utah's summer hot spots for generations of families. "It's really been part of their heritage," Andrew said
Lagoon has planned a big celebration for the week of July 11. CLICK HERE for more information.
Email: jstagg@ksl.com
