The opening day and daily operation of Lagoon has long been a staple date on Utahn's calendars. For some, the occasion marks the start of summer.
Lagoon is now open daily for the 2017 season. The Farmington based amusement park has provided a place for memories to be made by Utahns and tourist for over 131 years — even immortalizing itself in the Beach Boy's song "Salt Lake City."
According to the park's website, Lagoon had its first opening day July, 18 1886 on the shores of The Great Salt Lake as "Lake Park." The resort offered dancing, swimming, a mule drawn merry-go-round and other attractions.
After the 1888 season the Lake Park Resort was closed after the Great Salt Lake flooded the property. Buildings were torn down and moved east to a new location in Farmington. The new site would be on the side of a small pond, helping to give the park its new name: Lagoon.
In addition to offering a new identity, the new location gave the park other new opportunities. Lagoon began to expand, offering its first thrill rides. In 1906 the mule drawn carousel was replaced with an improved motorized carousel that is still a feature of the park today.
However, rides were still not the primary attraction for the park. An ad in the May 29, 1907 edition of the Deseret News boasted "the shoot-the-chutes" ride, but attractions like boating, dancing, restaurants and "the best roller skating in Utah" were still Lagoon’s primary crowd pleasers.
Like its previous home on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, water still caused major problems for the park. In 1920 it took extra work to get the park in working condition for opening day. Flood waters left about two feet of mud that covered Lagoon’s popular sand beach and bathing pool. When opening day did come, visitors found a pristine park that didn’t show any signs of damage, according to a report from the Deseret News.
After the 1920 flood the park had a moment of prosperity. Lagoon continued to "wow" crowds on opening days, with new and exciting rides over the years — until the start of World War II.
With resources in short supply, and the owner busy running a railroad, Lagoon shut its gates for the 1943 season. The buildings fell into disrepair and the once tame gardens took over the park. In 1946 the park reopened. Rides and buildings were repaired and the gardens were pruned into shape.
The 1947 season marked Lagoon’s 50th birthday. According to a report by the Deseret News, the park was extensively remodeled with multiple new rides.
The park returned to the prosperity it found in the years after the flood of 1920 and continued to grow every year, offering new attractions to crowds on opening days.
Then, November 14, 1953, a fire ripped through the park. The fire caused over half a million dollars in damage and destroyed parts of several rides. The fire was so intense that news reports at the time said "the flames, which reached more than 300 feet high, attracted literally thousands of spectators as far south as Salt Lake City and as far north as Ogden where a dull red glow could be seen reflected off the clouds."
Opening day 1954, the park was rebuilt. The iconic coaster, which had been mangled in the fire, was mended and seven new building replaced ones lost in the fire. In addition to the new buildings, nine new rides were added to the parks ride collection.
Like the floods of 1920 and World War II, Lagoon once again bounced back and became stronger than ever. Lagoon continued to expand and offer new rides, as well as adding more entertainment.
In 1975 a production of "Bye. Bye. Birdie" stole the show on opening day. The production featured the University of Utah Players, as the park acts often did its best to feature local talent.
An icon of Lagoon, "Colossus the Fire Dragon," arrived in 1983 — but so did damaging wet weather. Like the floods of 1920, the historic flooding of 1983 brought silt and other debris into the park from the nearby Farmington Creek, but worse than before. Snow and extreme freezing temperatures caused asphalt to crack under stress. Some rides had roofs collapse from the weight of snow that fell that winter.
In 1984 new rides were brought in to replace ones that could not be repaired. A new canal was also added to Farming Creek to divert water away from the park. Lagoon worked year round to restore pavilions and performance areas to get the facilities ready for opening day in 1984.
Since 1984, Lagoon has continued to grow and add more iconic rides to bring people in on opening days.
- 1999: The park added the Skycoaster and Rocket.
- 2002: It added the slingshot-like Catapult.
- 2005: The Bat was added to the park's list of attractions.
- 2007: Lagoon added Wicked to the park's collection of coasters.
- 2015: The park added another large coaster, Cannibal.
Since the Lake Park Resort first opened on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, opening day has been a can’t miss event for families. In 1965, then-owner Julian Bamberger reflected on Lagoon’s past and it’s commitment to family fun. "The good old days, I suppose, were all right," said Bamberger, "but the Lagoon I particularly point to with pride is the Lagoon of beautiful gardens, of cleanliness, and a family under a tree with a big picnic basket."