Lagoon's Cannibal coaster finally opens


6 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

FARMINGTON — Riders departing from the new Cannibal roller coaster's hanger scream in anticipation as they round a corner into the dark abyss, while returning passengers applaud and scream in appreciation after surviving the beast.

Following a delayed opening because of prolonged testing and adjustments, Lagoon's newest attraction, Cannibal, opened for all parkgoers around 3 p.m. Thursday.

"We have come to Lagoon four times before, and it hasn’t been open. They have just been test running it,” said Brennan Leavitt, of Clearfield, who has a season pass to the amusement park.

The delay caused several rumors and frustrations among parkgoers due to a lack of information about a new opening date for the coaster, which Lagoon refused to reveal out of fear that the date would face revision.

In fact, the opening of the ride was not officially announced on Lagoon's Facebook page or company website, but it's opening spread quickly by word of mouth and Facebook comments by park attendees.

“I was mad when it wasn’t open at the beginning of the season," said Tami McKenzie, of Layton, after riding the roller coaster, "but my daughter said it was open, and we stopped by on the way home from work to try and beat the rush."

Riders reported waiting between 90 minutes and two hours to ride the new attraction.

“It was definitely worth the wait,” said Ben Birch, of Draper.

Once strapped into the ride, passengers round the corner into a dark structure as intense music begins to play. They then travel under a rectangular wooden arch with the heads of two menacing horned beasts.

“I really liked the beginning. The beginning was very intimidating. It was really cool with the sounds and the music," Leavitt said. "The statue kind of got you a little nervous.”


I really liked the beginning. The beginning was very intimidating. It was really cool with the sounds and the music. The statue kind of got you a little nervous.

–Brennan Leavitt


The track ends at a wall, causing passengers to wonder where they will travel next, until the coaster quickly ascends the elevator shaft to another segment of track. There, passengers wait for what riders said felt like an eternity before descending the 116-degree beyond vertical free fall.

“The elevator lift was a creative idea, and then the suspenseful drop — you are just sitting there, then you drop. That’s probably my favorite part,” Birch said.

After the drop, which briefly suspends passengers between their seats and safety restraints, riders enjoy multiple tunnels, water features and a barrel roll that begins clockwise and ends counter-clockwise.

"It was really fun. You notice more things once you go again," Hadley Parker, of Saratoga Springs, said after riding the coaster a second time.

Others, however, didn't see much of anything while braving the intense coaster.

"I’m shaking, and I kept my eyes closed the whole time," said Sandra Stokes, of Las Vegas. "The elevator, that was a little intense. I don't know if I will go again."


Cassidy Hansen is currently studying both Political Science and Communications at Brigham Young University, while working as an intern at the Deseret News. Contact her at chansen@deseretnews.com

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
Cassidy Hansen

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast