Lagoon (amusement park) facts for kids
| Previously known as Lake Park (1886-1906) | |
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| Location | Farmington, Utah, United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°59′08″N 111°53′41″W / 40.98556°N 111.89472°W |
| Opened | 1886 |
| Owner | The Freed Family |
| Slogan | It's what FUN is! |
| Operating season | Late March – Last Sunday in October |
| Area | 95 acres (38 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 54 |
| Roller coasters | 11 |
| Website | www.lagoonpark.com |
Lagoon is a super fun amusement park in Farmington, Utah. It's about 18 miles north of Salt Lake City. Lagoon is owned by a family and has five main areas to explore. These include The Midway, which has most of the rides, and Pioneer Village, where you can see old buildings and cool items from the past. There's also Lagoon-A-Beach, a water park, and Kiddie Land, which has rides just for little kids. Finally, the X-Venture Zone offers more extreme rides that cost extra.
Lagoon also has an RV park and a campground if you want to stay overnight. A walking trail outside the park is open all year. Every autumn, Lagoon celebrates Halloween with special shows and attractions called Frightmares.
The park has eleven roller coasters, and six of them are really special! These include Colossus the Fire Dragon, one of only two like it left in the U.S. There's also Roller Coaster, which has been around since 1921, making it one of the oldest in the world. Wicked was designed by Lagoon's own engineers. BomBora is a family coaster also designed by the park. Cannibal was built by Lagoon and has one of the world's steepest drops. And don't forget Primordial, an exciting interactive ride inside a mountain!
Park History
How Lagoon Started (1886–1939)
In 1886, a company built a resort called Lake Park. It was on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. But the lake water moved far away, so the park closed in 1895.
Simon Bamberger, who was building a railroad, bought most of the old Lake Park buildings. He moved them about 3 miles east to Farmington, Utah. The resort was named Lagoon because of a small body of water there. This lagoon was made bigger to cover about 9 acres.
Lagoon opened on July 12, 1896, with live music and restaurants. By 1900, people could swim and boat in Lagoon Lake. Over time, more rides were added, like the classic Herschell-Spillman Carousel and a small Miniature Railroad.
Lagoon's wooden coaster, Roller Coaster, was built in 1921. It's 57 feet tall and has 2,500 feet of track. The ride lasts almost two minutes and goes up to 45 miles per hour.
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In 1927, a huge swimming pool was built. It was one of the first filtered pools in the western U.S. This was much cleaner than swimming in the salty Great Salt Lake!
Lagoon became very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The park's first Fun House opened in 1929. Many famous musicians, like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller, played at Lagoon's stage.
Growing and Changing (1940–1970)
Lagoon closed for three years during World War II. By 1946, the park was in bad shape. But the Freed family stepped in to lease and later buy the park.
When the Freed family took over, African-Americans were not allowed in the swimming pool or ballroom. But by the end of the 1940s, Robert Freed made sure everyone was welcome at Lagoon.
The Freed family made many improvements. They fixed the swimming pool in 1949 and added new rides. These included "Dodgem Cars" in 1951 and a new Ferris wheel in 1953.
In November 1953, a fire damaged much of the park. The Roller Coaster was rebuilt and reopened in 1954. Many rides were fixed or replaced. In 1956, Mother Gooseland opened. This was Lagoon's first themed area, with rides just for children.
Lagoon kept improving through the 1950s and 1960s. A showboat was added to the lake. A new fun house opened with slides, mazes, and obstacle courses. More rides like the "Space Scrambler" and a spook house were added. A Wild Mouse coaster opened in 1965.
Famous bands like the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones played on the Midway stage. The Beach Boys even mentioned Lagoon in their song "Salt Lake City."
In 1967, the Animaland Train started circling Lagoon Lake. In 1975, real steam trains took over, and the railway became the Wild Kingdom Train Zoo.
New Rides and Areas (1971–1997)
The Opera House Square opened in 1968 with shows and silent movies. In 1976, Lagoon grew by buying Pioneer Village. This was an old west town with historic buildings. These buildings were moved to Lagoon. A train called the "Pioneer Village Railroad" circled the town. A log flume ride also came from another park.
In 1976, the Jet Star 2 roller coaster was added. It had been at a fair in Spokane, Washington, before coming to Lagoon.
Colossus the Fire Dragon arrived at Lagoon in 1983. People magazine called it one of the top 10 coasters in the country! Colossus was Lagoon's first coaster with upside-down loops. It goes up to 55 miles per hour. It had the most loops at Lagoon for 32 years until Cannibal opened.
In the late 1980s, the old fun house and "Haunted Shack" closed. The swimming pool closed in 1987. This made way for the $5.5 million Lagoon-A-Beach water park, which opened in 1989.
Modern Era (1997–2009)
In 1997, Lagoon added Rattlesnake Rapids, a river rapids ride. In 1998, a new Maurer AG Wild Mouse coaster opened. This replaced an older wooden Wild Mouse ride. In 1999, Lagoon opened The Rocket, a tall space shot tower. It has two ways to ride: a fast launch up or a slow rise followed by a quick drop.
In 2000, Samurai, a spinning ride, was built. Double Thunder Raceway, a go-kart track, also opened. In 2001, Cliffhanger, another spinning ride, was added. In 2002, Catapult, a reverse bungee ride, joined the X-Venture Zone. Spider, a steel spinning coaster, opened in 2003.
In 2004, Kiddieland got a new look with a garden theme. Two new rides, Kontiki and Dragon Fly, were added. In 2005, The Bat, an inverted coaster, was built. It's a family-friendly coaster. In 2006, Kiddieland grew again with Dinosaur Drop and Lady Bug Bop, both drop towers.
On June 1, 2007, a new $10 million roller coaster called Wicked opened. Wicked launches riders 100 feet up at 55 miles per hour in just 2.5 seconds! It has cool elements like an Immelmann turn and a heartline roll.
On April 5, 2008, Lagoon opened OdySea. This is an interactive ride where you control your vehicle's height. You dodge water jets from sea creatures while a story plays. On April 4, 2009, Lagoon opened "Jumping Dragon," a spinning ride with a Chinese dragon theme.
Recent Years (2010–Present)
In 2010, Lagoon updated its Ferris wheel, Sky Scraper. It got a new coat of paint. Because of the economic crisis, Lagoon didn't add a new ride that year. Instead, they added new shows.
In 2011, Lagoon installed another family roller coaster called BomBora. Lagoon helped create this coaster. It's 45 feet tall and has a 1960s surfing theme. In 2012, Lagoon added Air Race. In 2013, two new family rides opened: Tipsey Tea Cups and Red Rock Rally.
In 2014, Lagoon worked on a big new coaster. The old Rip-Curl slide at Lagoon-A-Beach was replaced with a new one. On September 4, 2014, Lagoon announced Cannibal. It opened on July 2, 2015. Cannibal has a 208-foot elevator lift hill and a super steep 116-degree drop! It also has three inversions and goes up to 70 miles per hour.
After Cannibal opened, the park started planning Primordial. In 2016, Lagoon continued work on Cannibal. In 2017, two new rides, Flying Tigers and Ruka Safari, were added to Kiddieland. In 2018, the classic Roller Coaster got new track. A new ride called Engine 86 opened in Kiddieland in 2020.
On December 18, 2021, a fire destroyed the Carousel Candy shop and a small bumper cars ride called Scamper. In 2023, Lagoon opened Primordial. This is an interactive 4D roller coaster inside an artificial mountain. It took eight years to build!
Fun Rides at Lagoon
Lagoon has many different types of rides for all ages. Here are some of the main attractions:
| Thrill level (out of 5) |
|---|
| 1 (Children's ride) 2 (mild) 3 (moderate) 4 (high) 5 (aggressive) 6 (extreme) |
Roller Coasters
Lagoon has eleven different roller coasters. The oldest, Roller Coaster, was built in 1921. It's even a special "Roller Coaster Landmark"!
| Name | Type | Year opened | What it's like | Location | Thrill rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roller Coaster | Wooden | 1921 | One of the oldest roller coasters in the U.S. It has a big lift-hill and several smaller hills. | South Midway | 5 |
| Jet Star 2 | Steel | 1974 | A spiral lift-hill leads to fast turns. It's 45 feet tall. | North Midway | 5 |
| Colossus the Fire Dragon | Steel | 1983 | An 87-foot lift hill with two back-to-back loops and big turns. | South Midway | 6 |
| Puff the Little Fire Dragon | Steel | 1985 | A gentle coaster for small children with a small drop and hill. | Kiddieland | 2 |
| Wild Mouse | Steel | 1998 | The second Wild Mouse coaster at Lagoon. It has tight turns and sudden stops. | South Midway | 5 |
| Spider | Steel | 2003 | This ride has a big drop and tight turns. Your car spins constantly as it goes! | South Midway | 5 |
| The Bat | Steel | 2005 | This is Lagoon's only inverted coaster, where your feet dangle. It's great for families. | Kiddieland | 3 |
| Wicked | Steel | 2007 | This coaster launches you up a vertical tower. It has a vertical drop and a zero-G barrel roll. | South Midway | 6 |
| BomBora | Steel | 2011 | A short family coaster with smooth turns and small drops. | Kiddieland | 3 |
| Cannibal | Steel | 2015 | One of the steepest roller coasters in the U.S. It has a 208-foot elevator lift and a 116-degree drop! It also has several loops and twists. | North Midway | 6 |
| Primordial | Steel | 2023 | An interactive 4D roller coaster inside a mountain. You shoot at targets as you ride! | North Midway | 6 |
Thrill Rides
These rides offer big thrills and excitement!
| Name | Year opened | What it's like | Location | Thrill rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Race | 2012 | An airplane ride where vehicles loop sideways while spinning around. | North Midway | 4 |
| Cliffhanger | 2001 | A spinning ride that goes up in a circle and drops down through water fountains. | South Midway | 5 |
| Centennial Screamer | 1987 | This ride spins fast and lifts up to a nearly vertical position! | South Midway | 5 |
| Rock-O-Plane | 1954 | Like a Ferris wheel, but your car can spin around too! | South Midway | 4 |
| Rocket | 1999 | A tall drop tower with two ride options: a fast launch up or a slow rise with a powered drop. | North Midway | 6 |
| Samurai | 2000 | This ride has six arms that spin as the whole ride rotates in a big oval. | North Midway | 6 |
Dark Rides
These rides take you through spooky or mysterious indoor scenes.
| Name | Year opened | Location | Thrill rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dracula's Castle | 1974 | Central Midway | 3 |
| Terroride | 1967 | Central Midway | 3 |
Water Rides
Cool off on these wet and wild adventures!
| Name | Year opened | What it's like | Location | Thrill rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rattlesnake Rapids | 1997 | A river rapids ride with a tunnel and waterfalls. You're sure to get wet! | Pioneer Village | 4 |
Family Rides
These rides are fun for the whole family!
| Name | Year opened | What it's like | Location | Thrill rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boomerang | 1977 | A classic bumper cars ride. | North Midway | 2 |
| Flying Aces | 1941 | An airplane ride where you can move the front sail. | North Midway | 2 |
| Merry-Go-Round | 1906 | An old and beautiful carousel from 1893, one of the oldest in the world. | South Midway | 1 |
| Musik Express | 1982 | A spinning ride with music. | South Midway | 3 |
| Paratrooper | 1966 | An elevated spinning ride that feels like a parachute. | North Midway | 3 |
| Sky Scraper | 1991 | A 150-foot tall Ferris wheel with spinning cars. | North Midway | 2 |
| Sky Ride | 1974 | An elevated gondola ride that takes you across the entire park. | North and South Midway | 1 |
| Space Scrambler | 1961 | A classic spinning ride that "scrambles" you around. | North Midway | 3 |
| Tidal Wave | 1980 | A swinging pirate ship ride. | South Midway | 3 |
| Tilt-A-Whirl | 1954 | A ride that spins with cars that also spin separately. | North Midway | 3 |
| Turn of the Century | 1987 | A rotating swing ride that lifts you high in the air. | South Midway | 3 |
| Wild Kingdom Train Zoo | 1975 | A train ride that goes through a tunnel and around Lagoon Lake. You can see animal exhibits along the way! | South Midway | 1 |
Children's Rides
All these rides are in Kiddieland, perfect for younger visitors.
| Name | Year opened | What it's like | Thrill rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boats | N/A | Small boats that travel in a circle on water. | 1 |
| Bulgy | 1956 | Riders sit in small whale carts that jump up and down. | 1 |
| Dinosaur Drop | 2006 | A 40-foot drop tower for kids. | 3 |
| The Dragonfly | 2004 | A spinning ride with a dragonfly theme. | 1 |
| Engine 86 | 2020 | A fire engine themed carousel ride. | 2 |
| Flying Tigers | 2017 | An airplane ride on an oval track with turns. The airplanes tilt slightly. | 2 |
| Helicopters | 1963 | You sit in a helicopter cart and can use a joystick to go up and down. | 2 |
| Jumping Dragon | 2009 | A family spinning ride with a Chinese dragon theme. It spins both ways! | 2 |
| Kontiki | 2004 | A swinging and spinning ride. | 2 |
| Ladybug Bop | 2006 | Another 40-foot drop tower for kids. | 2 |
| Moonraker | 1983 | Spaceship carts that move in a circle. | 2 |
| OdySea | 2008 | Robotic sea creatures are your cars! They squirt water, and you use a joystick to avoid it. | 3 |
| Red Baron | 1984 | Similar to Helicopters, with airplane carts. | 1 |
| Red Rock Rally | 2013 | A spinning ride with Jeep carts. | 1 |
| Ruka Safari | 2017 | Safari jeeps that bounce while spinning in a small circle. | 2 |
| Scalawags | 1986 | A small spinning ride with animal-shaped cars. | 2 |
| Sky Fighter | 1954 | A small airplane ride with two-person cars. | 2 |
| Speedway Jr. | 1978 | Miniature cars going around a track. | 1 |
| Tipsy Tea Cups | 2013 | A classic teacup spinning ride. | 3 |
X-Venture Zone (Extra Cost)
These rides cost a little extra, but they offer big thrills!
| Name | Year opened | What it's like |
|---|---|---|
| Skycoaster | 1995 | You are pulled up 143 feet high, then you pull a cord and drop fast! You can reach speeds up to 80 miles per hour, like skydiving. |
| Double Thunder Raceway | 2000 | Go-karts on two separate tracks, Lightning and Thunder. Each track has turns, overpasses, and spirals. |
| Catapult | 2002 | This ride hurls two people up to 250 feet in the air! |
Lagoon on Screen
Lagoon has been featured in several movies and TV shows!
- Mirror, Mirror: You and Your Self Image (1969 film) had its opening scenes filmed at Lagoon.
- Lagoon was in the first roller coaster documentary, America Screams (1978).
- An episode of the Werewolf TV series (1987) was filmed around Dracula's Castle.
- Some scenes in the TV movie Terror in the Family (1996) were filmed on the Roller Coaster.
- In My Sister's Shadow (1997 TV movie) had a scene on the North Midway.
- The Luck of the Irish (2001 Disney Channel movie) filmed some scenes on the North Midway.
- Wieners (2008 movie) had a montage with scenes filmed at Lagoon.
- An episode of The Aquabats featured quick shots of Lagoon.
- Christmas Land (2015) was filmed in the Pioneer Village section.
- Season 3, episode 12 of Andi Mack featured quick shots of Lagoon rides like Paratrooper and Cannibal.
