Lagoon will open for its 117th season on Saturday, April 13, and not only can the amusement park still "Rocket" and "Cliffhang" visitors, as it has done on its newer rides for the past few years, but it will soon "Catapult" guests as well.
The Catapult is Lagoon's newest attraction, scheduled to be ready opening day. This European ride will hurl two passengers at a time up to 250 feet in the air, powered by 40 tons of force from extension springs. "It just slings you straight up," said Dick Andrew, Lagoon spokesman. "This will be a real rush."
The new ride is sustained by a 196-foot tower, which is nearly as high as the rocket-ride towers. Andrew says it may be Lagoon's most thrilling ride ever, as there is a strong weightless feeling in the ride, some twists and oscillations.
The Catapult will be located at the south end of the midway in a location that formerly housed a garden planter, west of the Rocket and east of the Paratrooper.
This new ride will not be part of Lagoon's regular admission price. Like the Top Eliminator Dragsters, the Sky Ride and the Double Thunder Raceway, an extra, yet-to-be-determined cost will be required to ride the Catapult, but the amount will be comparable to the park's other premium rides.
Andrew stressed that while Lagoon's Catapult may appear similar to the Cedar Point VertiGo ride that collapsed last month in Sandusky, Ohio, it is built by a different company. "It is not the same as the ride that collapsed at Cedar Point," he said. "This is a European attraction." (There were no injuries, as no one was on or near the 265-foot steel tower that collapsed at Cedar Point on Jan. 14.)
Andrew said S&S Power of Logan, which built the Cedar Point ride, did construct Lagoon's Rocket ride, but that's a proven attraction with an excellent safety record. Four independent steel cables connect to the bell-shaped apparatus that houses two passengers in the Catapult ride.
Riders must be at least 36 inches tall, Andrew said, and, depending on its popularity, appointment times may have to be made, as it is a low-capacity attraction.
Another unusual feature of the Catapult is a video camera inside the ride to show spectators on the ground exactly how passengers react to the force, which will not be much less than what astronauts experience while blasting into outer space. The video will also be available for purchase by passengers. Strobe lights will highlight the new ride after dark. (The ride comes with sound, too, but Andrew suspects that feature will be turned off.)
Andrew said Lagoon is also finalizing plans for two new food outlets, but he is not yet able to name them.
Frightmares, a Halloween accent to Lagoon, will also return this year, and — perhaps the park's best news this year — Lagoon's season passport prices are the same as last year, $69.95 each (plus tax), in multiples of at least four, or $79.95 individually. Parking also remains at $35 for the season, and daily passports will be the same prices as last year (although some age or height breakdowns may be slightly modified).
Andrew said Lagoon's overall attendance was down slightly last year, largely because corporate picnic business was off last year, probably due to the slumping economy.
For more information on Lagoon's new season, call 1-801-451-8000, or go online at www.lagoonpark.com.
E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com