FARMINGTON — Lagoon will open weekends for its 115th season on Saturday, April 15, at 10 a.m., weather permitting, and its newest attraction— the Double Thunder Raceway go-cart ride— is also expected to be up and running.
This new ride, believed to be the most elaborate go-cart ride in the nation, will feature two 1,150-foot-long tracks, and the 28 cars on each track will run at a top speed of 17 mph. However, only one of the two tracks will be operational this weekend.
Each go-cart will hold two people. Drivers must be at least 54 inches tall, and passengers must be at least 46 inches tall.
This new premium ride will cost an extra $5.50 per driver and an additional $3 per passenger, in addition to the regular Lagoon admission charge.
One ride, the Flying Carpet, has been removed and will be replaced later in the season by the Samari, a kind of vertical "Space Scrambler" ride, which features a variety of movements while circling like a windmill.
As usual, the pre-season — before Memorial Day — usually offers some of the year's shortest lines.
On Sundays in April and May, Lagoon will open at 11 a.m. Pre-season closing times vary. Lagoon-A-Beach isn't scheduled to open until May 27.
Lagoon will be open daily from Memorial Day until Aug. 27. Until then, it's Saturday and Sunday operations only.
The 2000 season day-passport prices are: $28.95 for 51 inches tall and up; $22.95 for age 4 up to 50 inches tall; $14.95 for ages 3 and under; and senior citizens, age 65-and, are $15.95. Entrance-only passport is $18. Prices do not include tax. Reduced prices on season passports are available in groups of four or more for $69.95 per person until June 5.
There's an additional $5 parking fee. Season parking passes cost $35.
WHAT ARE LAGOON'S MOST THRILLING RIDES?
Here's my personal ranking of Lagoon's rides, from the most thrilling to the mildest:
1. Sky Coaster
Although this ride costs $45 for three people, it is well worth at least one try. Just being slowly raised up to the tower — over 150 feet high — is a thrill. Then, falling briefly until you fly like Superman for a few minutes is unlike anything else.
2. Rocket, Re-entry version
This drop version of the Rocket ride is definitely the best of the two. Just look at the length of the lines. Like the Sky Coaster, the anticipation while being slowly raised gets your heart going. You'll get "air" on this ride as the acceleration down from 217 feet will lift you out of your seat. Thank heavens for shoulder restraints.
3. Rocket, Blast-Off version
Although this ride is almost over before you realize it, there is a good thrill here, though the mechanics of the ride mean it doesn't go up quite as high as its sister ride.
4. Wooden Roller Coaster (back or front seats)
It's worth waiting in line for the front or rear seats because the thrill is much better than the middle of the coaster. In the front, seeing the empty space in front of you is exciting. For the rear seats, the whiplash adds extra excitement. Top speed is about 45 mph.
5. Fire Dragon (metal coaster)
You can't select your seats on this loop roller coaster, but just about any location gives a high speed/upside-down thrill of up to 55 mph.
6. Wooden Roller Coaster (middle seats)
There's not as much thrill to the center seats, but because wood coasters offer a rougher ride than metal ones, even 45 mph seems fast on this coaster.
7. Twin Speed Slides, Lagoon-A-Beach
These two slides, the highest in Lagoon's water park, are so fast that they might give you some friction burns if you're not careful to keep your legs and arms crossed. In any event, hypersonic water rushing by will mean you won't see much, even if you dare open your eyes.
8. Wave Swinger ("flying swings")
Circling Lagoon's lake on a suspended swing with its own individual chains is a great flying experience. However, be sure to have regular shoes and not sandals or open-toe shoes or you won't be allowed on this ride.
9. Top Eliminator (dragster)
This is a mini-Rocky Mountain Raceway where you watch the tree countdown and then burn rubber. It costs $15 a ride but is worth it if you like racing cars.
10. Screamer
This ride provides some good G-force as it takes you upside-down in your cage at high speed. You may not be able to walk straight after getting off this dizzying attraction.
11. Wild Mouse
The sudden, sharp turns and the illusion that you could crash over the barrier-free edge provide the thrill here. There's nothing else in the park like it.
12. Roll-O-Plane ("Hammer")
Only the wooden roller coaster is probably an older thrill ride at Lagoon, but this one still delivers because it moves in two directions and makes a milkshake out of riders.
13. Jet Star 2
This is one of Lagoon's roughest rides, and it requires two riders in each seat just to cushion the effect. It's like a faster version of the Wild Mouse, but without so many sharp turns.
14. Rock-O-Plane
You control your upside-down movement here; otherwise it's a Ferris wheel-in-a-cage attraction. But if you keep the lever pulled back, even a long wait to ride will seem worth it.
15. Tidal Wave (rear rows)
Young children must sit in the middle rows of this ride, and that's because there's not a lot of thrill there. However, sit on the end rows and you'll feel like your stomach fell out as you move back and forth in this gigantic swing.
THE REST OF THE RIDES, RANKED FOR THRILLS:
16. Music Express; 17. Paratrooper; 18. Flying Aces; 19. Space Scrambler; 20. Rattlesnake Rapids; 21. Log Flume; 22. River Run, Lagoon-A-Beach; 23. Boomerang (adult bumper cars); 24. Tilt-A-Whirl; 25. Hydro Luge; 26. Tube rides, Lagoon-A-Beach; 27. Skyscraper; 28. Sky Ride; 29. Dracula's Castle; 30. Puff, kids coaster; 31. Terror Ride.
OTHER RANKINGS:
—Tamest adult rides : 1. Wild Kingdom Train; 2. Carousel; 3. Adult Speedway; 4. Lazy River, Lagoon-A-Beach
—Wildest kids-only rides : 1. Scalawag; 2. Moonraker
—The mildest rides for toddlers: 1. Kiddie Boats; 2. Carousel; 3. Wild Kingdom Train; 4. Bulgy the Whale; 5. Junior Speedway; 6. Skyfighter.
—Lagoon's most under-used features: 1. Pioneer Village; 2. Frightmares (October only); 3. Monday night visits; 4. Pre-season (April and May); 5. Saturday mornings, 10-11.
—Fastest-moving ride lines: 1. Rattlesnake Rapids; 2. Fire Dragon coaster; 3. Wild Mouse; 4. Sky Ride; 5. Rocket.
—Slowest-moving ride lines: 1. Roll-o-Plane; 2. Rock-o-Plane; 3. Paratrooper.