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Show Lagoon's 104 years have had share of "upsand downs" A i I i fi J c , . ; , - Y J , X y, - 1 x 1 . -r ' ' Jj&rn ! I X ' 1 . " ' Y W' .; X X B I x k ' . r - J. ' " E f1 :o ; Fun House, the Dancing Pavilion, and the front of the roller coaster. The Carousel was saved by a constant cons-tant stream of water over its roof. Before the smoke had cleared, Lagoon's president, Robert E. Freed, vowed to re-build a 'new' Lagoon. Every year since then Lagoon has experienced new growth. Rides such as the Showboat built in 1959 that cruised Lagoon Lake in search of an elusive dragon while the Lake Park Streamliner circled on the shore drew guests from all over the West. Mother Goose Land was constructed in 1956 to provide enjoyment for the younger visitors. The Patio Gardens were added in 1954 and became the concert spot of Utah. They have served as host for over 150 performers, many of whom returned several times, including in-cluding Ray Charles, the Doors, the Monkees, the Beach Boys, Fats Domino, Spike Jones, the Smothers r 'Pioneer Village brings to life the first 100 years of Utah's existence, exis-tence, said Peter Freed, president of Lagoon. "We must preserve it for future generations." Lagoon began to expand the live entertainment aspect of the park in 1982 with the addition of Music, USA, an all-singing, all-dancing musical group. Each season brings a new show with a new theme. This season the theme is Broadway Hits. Lagoon also features the Lagoon All-Star Band, Music Review, Music Theater, and a Wild West shootout in Pioneer Village. The Colossal Fire Dragon was installed in 1983 for over $2.5 million. In 1984, Colossus was selected by People Magazine as one of the top 10 coaster rides in the country. Lagoon regained its reputation for offering top facilities for water fun with the opening of Lagoon A Beach in 1989. This water park ofers every twist, turn and splash available in the market, including such thrills as A Lazy River, Rapids Ride and a wave pool. Just under a million people come to Lagoon each season. June and August are the busiest months, and Saturdays are consistently the busiest day of the week. About 60 percent of the people arrive at the park by 2:00 p.m., and 80 percent are there by 5 p.m., according to John Freed, vice president of Lagoon. Lagoon employs 70 full-time employees, and about 1 ,500 By SARAH HANSEN FARMINGTON The historic and the modem come together at Lagoon and Pioneer Village in Farmington. Within a couple of steps, it is possible to experience both the heart of the Old West and the vast technological advances of today. Randy Geisler, president of American Coaster Enthusiasts described Lagoon as 4 'the heart of the art." The original Lagoon, Lake Park, was one of the many resorts that sprang up around the Great Salt Lake in the late 1800s. It opened on July 15, 1886, featuring an open air dancing pavilion. Summer cottages were available for rent by either the week or the month. For a 50 cents admission fee, guests could enjoy swimming, dancing, boating, a merry-go-round, roller skating, target shooting and bowling. For another 50 cents, a full course dinner in the resort's restaurant restau-rant was served. By the end of the first season, 53,000 guests had visited Lake Park. In 1893, the lake began receding, leaving a sticky, blue mud. The resort moved in 1896 two-and-a-half miles to its present location. The name was changed to suit its new location on the banks of a nine-acre lagoon. The lagoon covered the area from the present day Lagoon A Beach to the Colossus. Rowboating, swimming swim-ming and dancing were the attractions attrac-tions that brought people out on the Bamberger Railway for 25 cents round trip from Salt Lake or Ogden. Shoot the Chutes was the park's first thrill ride. By 1906 the Scenic Railway and the merry-go-round were added. The same merry-go-round with its 45 hand-carved animals is still in operation today. In 1921 Lagoon caught the roar of the roller coaster that hasn't stopped since. In 1927 the million gallon pool was cemented and filled with "water fit to drink. By 1929, attractions at-tractions included a Fun House, The Lagoon Dipper, the Tilt-a-Whirl, Aeroplane Swings and Rockets. The 30s and 40s brought Big Band names to the Dancing Pavilion. Lagoon changed hands in 1946 from the Bambergers to the Freeds. The trains were replaced in 1952 by the new cement Highway 91. In October of 1953, Lagoon suffered suf-fered a fire so extensive that the flames could be seen in Salt Lake City 20 miles away. It destroyed everything in its path including the PHOTOS BY ROGER TUTTLE Over six acres of land and thousands of gallons of water create Lagoon A Beach. It features three serpentine slides, a free fall slide, four enclosed tubular slides, a rapid river, an island cruise, two activity pools, hot tubs, food courts, a volleyball court, and sundecks. Lagoon A Beach makes a splash as a spot to beat the summer heat. B rothers, and even the Three Stooges. In the 70s, Patio Gardens became a roller rink and is today the -Game Time Arcade. . In 1968 the three-story, tower-topped tower-topped Lagoon Opera House became Utah's favorite summer theatre, presenting hits such as "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and other Broadway classics. The Opera House features a quiet brick paved courtyard surrounded by authentic 1890s shops and is marked at the entrance by the Julian M. Bamberger Fountain that was built in 1965. Among the shops are the Ice Cream and Candy Shop, complete with marble counters, and the Gaslight Restaurant, illuminated by stained glass windows featuring full-course meals and after-theatre snacks. In 1976, Lagoon acquired Pioneer Village, a 15-acre restoration resto-ration of Pioneer Utah, creating the sensation of stepping back in time. seasonal employees. About 2,000 to 3,000 applications are submitted each year, mostly by people between be-tween the ages of 16 and 21. A 15-year-old games operator from Eden said, "The best part is all the people. It's funny to see all - the different ways people say 'no' (to his attempts to get them to play the games)." Extensive, and expensive, repairs are made each year beginning as soon as the park closes for the season. "We virtually take apart each ride as much as we can, dismantling it down to the ball bearings, bear-ings, said Freed. One such repair closed the Wild Mouse that was first built in 1965 and then upgraded to the Wilder Mouse in 1973. "We wanted to remodel it, said Freed, "but it's expensive and we're not sure if we're ready to invest that much. We're kind of seeing if people miss it." Lagoon A Beach is too new yet to determine its success, but it seems to be doing well among people peo-ple of all ages. Once the good weather hits, about 20 percent of the visitors purchase either a combination combina-tion pass or a pass exclusively for Lagoon A Beach. "I'm really impressed with the water park," said a 38-year-old woman from Riverton. An 18-year-old Salt Lake resident resi-dent said, "I think Lagoon A Beach is one of the best things they've come up with. They need more artistic ar-tistic stuff like that in the rest of the park to make it look more appealing to look at. More shade and no parking fees are a few improvements visitors would like to see made. Most, however, are quite satisfied with the park and what it offers. "It's a nice, clean environment, said a grand mother from Farmington. No one ride stands out as a favorite or least favorite, but big on the list of favorites are the roller coasters. ' ' Additions to Lagoon are made when "there's something hot we think we can afford," said Freed. "Rides cost millions and millions of dollars, so we have to pick and choose. We try to put in enough rides with enough capacity so that people can come on a busy day and not feel like they're waiting in lines. For adults, an Unlimited Ride Pass costs $15.95, a Lagoon A Beach pass costs $10.50, and a combination pass costs $20.95. Those prices are scaled down for children. Parking costs $3. The season officially opens May 27 and closes Aug. 27, but is open on weekends April 22 through May 21 and Sept. 2 through Oct. 1, weather permitting. At 104, Lagoon is still going strong. It has something to offer everyone, regardless of age or tastes. As it continues to be the "heart of the art," it will probably be running for at least another 104 years. 1 I y w I nx ' . i W:M y-yi ss 4 ' : I i sv TY fi " . ' S 1 I I . Xy 1 S ' I ' , 1 i ' i? . .i . w- l a 1 .vYT - if-' I " Y " ' Y l X' j j mS. - i 'r f-'f 1 2,-1 f'r il m wr J'l I r7X :': xi rr ""- :X: "'f isY" Mlt J y! : Yis fe u1' aqnnn is synonomous with both antiquity and novelty, from yi the original steam powered carousel with hand carved figurines to the cold steel of the Colossal Fire Dragon. The roller coaster has thrilled riders for nearly 70 years. It was designed by John Miller who also designed coasters at Coney Island. It is 2500 feet long and is 70 feet high at its zenith. t ft |
