That last few minutes of how special lagoon is to you inspired me to take me kids for their first time yesterday. My family went to lagoon every year from when I was 8 till I graduated high school. I haven’t been in nearly 15 years. Thanks for reminding me of how special Lagoon is to me. So much nostalgia was had going through the parks with my kids. Would have never went back if it was for your video. Thank you for that ❤
Lagoon is how I became a enthusiast for rollercoasters, I rode Colossus and it send me off to ride some of the best roller coaster in the world. Cannibal is still on top of all roller coasters to me.
One slight correction about where pioneer village came from. It was a collection of buildings and historic artifacts and memorabilia that was originally put together by the owner of Southest Furniture, Horace Sorensen. It was on his property in the mill creek/Holladay area. (His store was in Sugarhouse, but pioneer village never was). Mr. Sorensen had the Sons if the Utah Pioneers managing it as a public attraction, but it was not in an optimum location to attract visitors. A deal was struck to sell pioneer village to lagoon for $275,000. And it was carefully moved to Farmington and opened in lagoon in 1976. At that time parking and admission into lagoon was free. I and my friends went there every weekend. All you had to spend money on were the rides and food. And you could get an unlimited ride pass for about $12. And you could bring your own food and have a picnic if you wanted. There was no charge to enter Pioneer Village either. So it was possible to have all day entertainment at a very reasonable cost. Those were the glory days as far as I was concerned. 👍💚
I grew up going to Lagoon. It was a "once a year splurge" for my family for awhile until my aunt started buying us season passes. As the family grew she eventually had to stop. However, now I have a 10 year-old son and we've had season passes 3 out of the last 4 years and will be getting them again next year. It's been so much fun to watch him make memories and love the park just as much as I do.
I grew up in SLC. Lagoon was a big part of my childhood in the 70s. Recently had a rash of Lagoon related videos show up in my youtube feed and I was telling my wife about this magical place. This video was a great source to show her the history of the park, and learn a lot myself that I didn't know. We left SLC in 1980 but my memories of summers at Lagoon remain some of the best from my childhood. Thanks for a little stroll down nostalgia lane!
Lagoon was a big part of our family functions growing up. My parents weren't rich enough to take us on these extravagant vacations (7 kids!) so our annual trip to Lagoon was the highlight of our summer! Then when I was a teenager my aunt started buying the entire family season passes for our birthday presents. She did this each year until us nieces and nephews started getting married and putting more strain on her budget. It helped me create even more memories with my friends in high school. Now I'm happy to take my son and re-live that excitement as well as relish in the fact he's growing to love the park as much as I do. I do miss a few things the park did back in the 80s and 90s, but it's still a blast each time we go. As a hobbyist photographer I've also enjoyed bringing my camera along at times and capturing photos that remind me of my past as well as welcoming in the future. I share some of them on a dedicated FB page I created purely for Lagoon.
Great video and presentation. I spent many days there as a youngster and teen. We would get dropped off there and walk home in the dark at night to Centerville. It was safer then in the 70s I suppose. Great memories.
I’m a Utahn who’s since moved away, and lagoon will always hold a special place in my heart. I have many memories with my friends and family there, like looking out over the valley with people on the Ferris wheel. My favorite activity was riding the sky tram back and forth while enjoying lunch, laughing with the operators as they let us go round and round, since there’s never a line for it. Thanks for your video. It helped me show my partner some of my home.
The Jet Star 2 was acquired after it debuted at the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington and was designed by the same person who would later design the Colossus!
I did a lot of research on Lake Park in the past for an archaeology degree at Weber. That dance pavilion was a masterpiece. From what I remember, the majority of the structure was torn down to build the Bat ride, but the top portion of the cupula was preserved as the Rose terrace which still remains today. I would love to know if any of the original building was preserved, especially that circle which said “1886”. So satisfying to see that history explored here for the first time, very few people know about, great video.
Incredible video! BeforeI looked I genuinely thought you would have had hundreds of thousands of subs and that this video was going to have hundreds of thousands of views!
I knew the Freeds and worked with them in the Lagoon offices in Salt Lake City. My father worked with them too. I grew up at Lagoon and was babysat their as my father worked. It was a great place to be! I was SO spoiled! What great memories I have!
Ranch Kimball offered a free pass to all of his Kimball Cousins. This was the Kimball Family Reunion day, we all looked forward to it and were grateful to Ranch. No matter how crowded the rides were we always bumping in to other Kimballs.
For better or for worse, one thing at lagoon that is ALWAYS forgotten (both by park goers and locals) is the “zoo” haha. There is a tiny train track that is tucked away in the back and it loops through a “zoo,” although calling it that is pretty generous. There are some pretty cool animals, but their enclosures look absolutely abysmal. I know nothing about zoo keeping, but from the outside it definitely doesn’t seem humane. Especially because the only way to actually see them is on this little train, so nobody ever sees them or remembers that they’re there. Again, for better or for worse; if it was more well known or accessible it would either get shut down or built up, but also it’s something that we locals like to not think about
I feel like lagoon is sadistic for keeping this part of the park open. It's disturbing on many levels and there's no reason for it. People come for the rides, not the depressed caged animals.
Great documentary! I noticed you used some of the footage from the old documentaries I had posted. Very resourceful. This year will mark my 5th season of working at Lagoon. I even did a behind the scenes video of Draculas Castle prior to opening. I plan on doing one for Terroride later this season. If you have any questions about the History of Lagoon as well as my past experiences as both a guest and employee feel free to leave me a message.
Thanks for the comment. I just took a look at your videos! They are great. Wish I would have seen them before hand. Mine are actually from a different source. But I’ll keep you in mind if we do an update video!!
@@historyunexplored5312 FYI if you got the videos from Lagoon History Project. LHP actually got them from me. The recordings I did on VHS back in the 80s. 😊 In the 80s/90s I would record any news reports of Lagoon. I still have the VHS tapes to this day I transferred them all to digital to post on youtube
Grew up and lived less than a mile away honestly as a child and teenager I have been there probably 300 times and that does not include working there as a teenager almost like a right of passage I worked there my parents worked there my grandparents worked there definitely has a place in my heart
That’s really cool; my family used to go every Sunday and we lived in West valley, about 30 minutes away. I take my kids there as often as I can; it will always hold a place in my heart. Didn’t know it had such a rich history either
The Beach boys did a song Called "Salt Lake City "about lagoon. I grew up with the train and the coaster The white one and the carousel. The fun house and the pavilions, and the tilt a whirl and some of the other classic rides. The little cars that you would race around a track and a favorite ride where you sat in a huge bowl shape, and it was wooden, and you would feel the g force and be pulled to where your back would feel being pulled to the sides of the bowl shape. I remember being able to take the UTA bus there. I took my spouse there and we also rode the ski chairs. I have also been to the one in Ohio the well-known park there. I can't place the name at the moment. but yes, the white coaster was the first one I rode. I can never get enough of the tilt a whirl. one thing they don't ever mention is accommodations for persons with disabilities. it was in 1982 was the last time I was there
When i was a kid we lived in Kaysville, not far from Lagoon. It was a magical place for a 10 year old. So many picnics with KFC or homemade sandwiches with my family. Sadly, we moved out of state before i was tall enough to ride the big coasters. Seems silly, but its always been unfinished "bucket list" business for me to go back and ride those rides i was locked out of when i was not at least "this tall" [-------]. I'm 55 now and thise are still some of my best memories.
Lagoon had-or still has-a very well kept zoo most people never hear about. They also own and operate their own railroad that had rights of way all the way into Nevada. Those have recently been purchased by the Northern Nevada Railroad Museum in Ely.
Yeah, I grew up going to lagoon! I still go there now every few years, as I live north of Farmington, the town it resides I feel lucky to have memories going there, with all its funky rides and wild history, especially knowing that it bounced back even better after a fire tore it down Heck I mean, there was a fire that caught in one of the stores in the off hours that nearly threatened the old Carousel again, but they saved it before it ever became a problem I’m proud of the park I got to grow up going to, knowing it’s most certainly one of a kind, and what I believe has care out behind it’s rides :] But that’s coming from me and my 2 some odd decades of being alive and growing up here, I’ll always have a soft spot for lagoon 🥰
Had my first kiss in the prison cell in pioneer village and worked there for three years starting at 14 years old. They let you bring in your own beer and they even sell it now too. Fright mares is legitimately the best value haunted house in the state btw. Lagoon is a special place.
I also call it old white and it also caught on fire and over the years they have painted and stained the roller coaster Also I made this comment before watching the whole video so sorry if you already cleared up most of that stuff
Lagoon's Roller Coaster as no wood that is original from 1921. The oldest pieces of wood would only be 25 years max which after the rebuild in 2020 of the two camel back hills there are only two small sections of that age of wood. Wooden Roller Coasters are always being rebuilt, its the nature of the beast. The trains are also not the ones from 1921 either. The coaster in its 101 year life has had several sets of trains, they are a part that wears out. There is no debate on if "this is still the original coaster" because it is the same layout and on the same plot of land where John A. Miller built the coaster in 1921. The Carousel wasn't damaged in the 1953 fire several fire hoses were sprayed on it keeping it from being hurt. My wife and I met at Lagoon and enjoy bringing our kids to Lagoon.
Thank you for the response! I appreciate the info. The info about the coaster being debated as the same coaster came directly from the freed family. They community of Utah debated this. Although most if not all coaster enthusiasts would agree with your perspective. The carrousel was damaged according to the creeds as well.
Glenn Miller disappeared over the English channel in 1944, Lagoon couldn't have planned to have him play there after the war, unless you were referring to the orchestra that retained his name.
Well put together. Clearly you love the park. Personally I think it’s become way overpriced for what it is. My wife and most of her family have worked there, and stories they have told me about Lagoon behind the scenes make it much easier for me to stay away. Why has it endured? A lack of competition. There are no other parks like this in Utah.
Mormonism! That is how it stood the test of time. Throughout the 1980's, Lagoon held some Automobile Demolition Derbies. Those were some of the best wreck races ever.
That last few minutes of how special lagoon is to you inspired me to take me kids for their first time yesterday. My family went to lagoon every year from when I was 8 till I graduated high school. I haven’t been in nearly 15 years. Thanks for reminding me of how special Lagoon is to me. So much nostalgia was had going through the parks with my kids. Would have never went back if it was for your video. Thank you for that ❤
Thank you so much! Glad you guys had fun!!
Awesome historic footage!!
Cheers!
Lagoon is how I became a enthusiast for rollercoasters, I rode Colossus and it send me off to ride some of the best roller coaster in the world. Cannibal is still on top of all roller coasters to me.
Me too! Cannibal is unmatched! I could ride it over and over again and still want to go again 😊
One slight correction about where pioneer village came from. It was a collection of buildings and historic artifacts and memorabilia that was originally put together by the owner of Southest Furniture, Horace Sorensen. It was on his property in the mill creek/Holladay area. (His store was in Sugarhouse, but pioneer village never was). Mr. Sorensen had the Sons if the Utah Pioneers managing it as a public attraction, but it was not in an optimum location to attract visitors. A deal was struck to sell pioneer village to lagoon for $275,000. And it was carefully moved to Farmington and opened in lagoon in 1976. At that time parking and admission into lagoon was free. I and my friends went there every weekend. All you had to spend money on were the rides and food. And you could get an unlimited ride pass for about $12. And you could bring your own food and have a picnic if you wanted. There was no charge to enter Pioneer Village either. So it was possible to have all day entertainment at a very reasonable cost. Those were the glory days as far as I was concerned. 👍💚
Thanks for the info!!
I grew up going to Lagoon. It was a "once a year splurge" for my family for awhile until my aunt started buying us season passes. As the family grew she eventually had to stop. However, now I have a 10 year-old son and we've had season passes 3 out of the last 4 years and will be getting them again next year. It's been so much fun to watch him make memories and love the park just as much as I do.
I grew up in SLC. Lagoon was a big part of my childhood in the 70s. Recently had a rash of Lagoon related videos show up in my youtube feed and I was telling my wife about this magical place. This video was a great source to show her the history of the park, and learn a lot myself that I didn't know. We left SLC in 1980 but my memories of summers at Lagoon remain some of the best from my childhood. Thanks for a little stroll down nostalgia lane!
2000's
Lagoon was a big part of our family functions growing up. My parents weren't rich enough to take us on these extravagant vacations (7 kids!) so our annual trip to Lagoon was the highlight of our summer! Then when I was a teenager my aunt started buying the entire family season passes for our birthday presents. She did this each year until us nieces and nephews started getting married and putting more strain on her budget. It helped me create even more memories with my friends in high school.
Now I'm happy to take my son and re-live that excitement as well as relish in the fact he's growing to love the park as much as I do. I do miss a few things the park did back in the 80s and 90s, but it's still a blast each time we go.
As a hobbyist photographer I've also enjoyed bringing my camera along at times and capturing photos that remind me of my past as well as welcoming in the future. I share some of them on a dedicated FB page I created purely for Lagoon.
Thank you so much for your comment!
Great video and presentation. I spent many days there as a youngster and teen. We would get dropped off there and walk home in the dark at night to Centerville. It was safer then in the 70s I suppose. Great memories.
I’m a Utahn who’s since moved away, and lagoon will always hold a special place in my heart. I have many memories with my friends and family there, like looking out over the valley with people on the Ferris wheel. My favorite activity was riding the sky tram back and forth while enjoying lunch, laughing with the operators as they let us go round and round, since there’s never a line for it. Thanks for your video. It helped me show my partner some of my home.
The Jet Star 2 was acquired after it debuted at the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington and was designed by the same person who would later design the Colossus!
I miss going into the giant shoe when I was little 😭🤧 it’s still so fun to see, but hanging out inside was one of my favorite parts ❤️
I didn’t realize you could go inside. Very interesting
I did a lot of research on Lake Park in the past for an archaeology degree at Weber. That dance pavilion was a masterpiece. From what I remember, the majority of the structure was torn down to build the Bat ride, but the top portion of the cupula was preserved as the Rose terrace which still remains today. I would love to know if any of the original building was preserved, especially that circle which said “1886”.
So satisfying to see that history explored here for the first time, very few people know about, great video.
Wow that’s really interesting! Thanks for your insight.
Incredible video! BeforeI looked I genuinely thought you would have had hundreds of thousands of subs and that this video was going to have hundreds of thousands of views!
I knew the Freeds and worked with them in the Lagoon offices in Salt Lake City. My father worked with them too. I grew up at Lagoon and was babysat their as my father worked. It was a great place to be! I was SO spoiled! What great memories I have!
Went for the first time last August. Fell in love with the park instantly.
Ranch Kimball offered a free pass to all of his Kimball Cousins. This was the Kimball Family Reunion day, we all looked forward to it and were grateful to Ranch. No matter how crowded the rides were we always bumping in to other Kimballs.
So interesting!
For better or for worse, one thing at lagoon that is ALWAYS forgotten (both by park goers and locals) is the “zoo” haha. There is a tiny train track that is tucked away in the back and it loops through a “zoo,” although calling it that is pretty generous. There are some pretty cool animals, but their enclosures look absolutely abysmal. I know nothing about zoo keeping, but from the outside it definitely doesn’t seem humane. Especially because the only way to actually see them is on this little train, so nobody ever sees them or remembers that they’re there. Again, for better or for worse; if it was more well known or accessible it would either get shut down or built up, but also it’s something that we locals like to not think about
I feel like lagoon is sadistic for keeping this part of the park open. It's disturbing on many levels and there's no reason for it. People come for the rides, not the depressed caged animals.
Great documentary! I noticed you used some of the footage from the old documentaries I had posted. Very resourceful. This year will mark my 5th season of working at Lagoon. I even did a behind the scenes video of Draculas Castle prior to opening. I plan on doing one for Terroride later this season. If you have any questions about the History of Lagoon as well as my past experiences as both a guest and employee feel free to leave me a message.
Thanks for the comment. I just took a look at your videos! They are great. Wish I would have seen them before hand. Mine are actually from a different source. But I’ll keep you in mind if we do an update video!!
@@historyunexplored5312 FYI if you got the videos from Lagoon History Project. LHP actually got them from me. The recordings I did on VHS back in the 80s. 😊 In the 80s/90s I would record any news reports of Lagoon. I still have the VHS tapes to this day I transferred them all to digital to post on youtube
Oh then yes!!!
I used to go to Lagoon when I was a little kid but not much anymore really loved the bumper cars
I love it! Thanks for sharing! I am there now.
Great video! I have many fond memories of Lagoon.
Great content and research! As one fellow Utahan it’s so cool to come to your channel and learn more about the state I was brought up in!
I had a co-worker tell me that there was nothing to do in Utah. There is so much here, you just have to go out and see it! Thanks for watching.
Grew up and lived less than a mile away honestly as a child and teenager I have been there probably 300 times and that does not include working there as a teenager almost like a right of passage I worked there my parents worked there my grandparents worked there definitely has a place in my heart
Thanks for sharing!
That’s really cool; my family used to go every Sunday and we lived in West valley, about 30 minutes away. I take my kids there as often as I can; it will always hold a place in my heart. Didn’t know it had such a rich history either
The Beach boys did a song Called "Salt Lake City "about lagoon. I grew up with the train and the coaster The white one and the carousel. The fun house and the pavilions, and the tilt a whirl and some of the other classic rides. The little cars that you would race around a track and a favorite ride where you sat in a huge bowl shape, and it was wooden, and you would feel the g force and be pulled to where your back would feel being pulled to the sides of the bowl shape. I remember being able to take the UTA bus there. I took my spouse there and we also rode the ski chairs. I have also been to the one in Ohio the well-known park there. I can't place the name at the moment. but yes, the white coaster was the first one I rode. I can never get enough of the tilt a whirl. one thing they don't ever mention is accommodations for persons with disabilities. it was in 1982 was the last time I was there
When i was a kid we lived in Kaysville, not far from Lagoon. It was a magical place for a 10 year old. So many picnics with KFC or homemade sandwiches with my family. Sadly, we moved out of state before i was tall enough to ride the big coasters. Seems silly, but its always been unfinished "bucket list" business for me to go back and ride those rides i was locked out of when i was not at least "this tall" [-------]. I'm 55 now and thise are still some of my best memories.
Keep it up this was a fun video!
Cheers!
You made me cry
Lagoon had-or still has-a very well kept zoo most people never hear about. They also own and operate their own railroad that had rights of way all the way into Nevada. Those have recently been purchased by the Northern Nevada Railroad Museum in Ely.
Great information
I wouldn’t call it a well kept zoo. It’s inadequate and should be shut down
This week on may 29th 2023 last time I went to an amusement park and conveniently it was lagoon!
Love it
Awesome lagoon park
The log ride is from the former Pixieland along the Oregon coast
Thanks for the comment! I’ll look into that.
Lagoon is only 1 min way from me, so close that I can see it from my house. Lagoon has had a huge part of my childhood
Yeah, I grew up going to lagoon! I still go there now every few years, as I live north of Farmington, the town it resides
I feel lucky to have memories going there, with all its funky rides and wild history, especially knowing that it bounced back even better after a fire tore it down
Heck I mean, there was a fire that caught in one of the stores in the off hours that nearly threatened the old Carousel again, but they saved it before it ever became a problem
I’m proud of the park I got to grow up going to, knowing it’s most certainly one of a kind, and what I believe has care out behind it’s rides :]
But that’s coming from me and my 2 some odd decades of being alive and growing up here, I’ll always have a soft spot for lagoon 🥰
Yr underrated af bro 💯
Thank you!
Had my first kiss in the prison cell in pioneer village and worked there for three years starting at 14 years old. They let you bring in your own beer and they even sell it now too. Fright mares is legitimately the best value haunted house in the state btw. Lagoon is a special place.
Thanks for sharing
Funny. Teens are still kissing in that prison cell to this day. We walked in on them doing it last year 😂
My grandparents went on their first date to Lagoon!
That’s great!!
My story at lagoon was not the fun because I had a seizure there last weekend but I will always love lagoon
Hope you are well now?!
I also call it old white and it also caught on fire and over the years they have painted and stained the roller coaster
Also I made this comment before watching the whole video so sorry if you already cleared up most of that stuff
All good thanks for the comments
Lagoon's Roller Coaster as no wood that is original from 1921. The oldest pieces of wood would only be 25 years max which after the rebuild in 2020 of the two camel back hills there are only two small sections of that age of wood. Wooden Roller Coasters are always being rebuilt, its the nature of the beast. The trains are also not the ones from 1921 either. The coaster in its 101 year life has had several sets of trains, they are a part that wears out. There is no debate on if "this is still the original coaster" because it is the same layout and on the same plot of land where John A. Miller built the coaster in 1921.
The Carousel wasn't damaged in the 1953 fire several fire hoses were sprayed on it keeping it from being hurt.
My wife and I met at Lagoon and enjoy bringing our kids to Lagoon.
Thank you for the response! I appreciate the info. The info about the coaster being debated as the same coaster came directly from the freed family. They community of Utah debated this. Although most if not all coaster enthusiasts would agree with your perspective. The carrousel was damaged according to the creeds as well.
Not sure if anybody is mentioned this but Colossus has a twin in Germany I believe
Glenn Miller disappeared over the English channel in 1944, Lagoon couldn't have planned to have him play there after the war, unless you were referring to the orchestra that retained his name.
Well put together. Clearly you love the park. Personally I think it’s become way overpriced for what it is. My wife and most of her family have worked there, and stories they have told me about Lagoon behind the scenes make it much easier for me to stay away.
Why has it endured? A lack of competition. There are no other parks like this in Utah.
Mormonism! That is how it stood the test of time. Throughout the 1980's, Lagoon held some Automobile Demolition Derbies. Those were some of the best wreck races ever.
"when was the last time you went to an amusement park" last Saturday bc i work here.
Me watching this after my shift at lagoon
12:25 is the simpsons shorts theme
👏👏👏
The answer to the train ride is fire it burn down or a good part did
Interesting
The park that wouldn't die.
I wonder what lagoon is going to look like in the year 2122
Primordial won’t be open then😢
@@IGNITE1O Yeah it will
“Biggest amusement park”
Try: only amusement park
Haha there are others that consider themselves amusement parks but I agree to a point haha.
Much respect for the Freed's, people today would slap "their" name on it.🤔
Compare lagoon from 1921 to 2022
Utahs most popular amusement park??? It's the only one!!!
“Biggest amusement park”
Try: only amusement park
There are about ten different places in Utah that consider themselves as amusement parks. But yes lagoon is the only one worth noting haha