LAGOON: Photo-Heavy TR of Utah's Lone Amusement Park

[2DieFR]

I was warned.



As soon as my friends and nearby relatives heard I was planning a trip to Lagoon, they quickly dismissed the place as unworthy for a park-loving SoCal resident. "Oh it's nothing compared to (insert CA park name here)," they said, "You have much better amusement (/ theme) parks in California."



But comparing Lagoon to Knott's, Magic Mountain or Disneyland wasn't on my agenda; to do so would be missing the point. (Granted, throughout this photo report I will point out a few similarities and differences, but that is done only for a point of reference, since the majority of you readers are probably like me and are more familiar with CA parks anyway.) Lagoon never set out to be on par with Disneyland's E-tickets and landscaping, and it doesn't have to, because after all, Lagoon is Utah's ONLY amusement park.



My goal was to analyze the park as its own entity, looking for facets of the park experience where Lagoon excels and where it falls short.



That being said, I set out to prove my doomsayers wrong.

So let's check out what we found, alright? Here we go!




First thing you should know: parking is $8. Ouch. Since we arrived 45 minutes before park opening, however, we scored a parking spot right at the entrance gates.



A few weeks prior I subscribed to Lagoon's Fun Time Club online newsletter. It's completely free, and I scored a coupon that knocked the price of admission down to $26.75 per person for the month of April. That's way better than $40!



Since we had time to kill until the gates opened, I walked around the parking lot to get some shots of the coasters.



Oh. Shnap.



So this is Wicked. And that is one sexy hill.



S.E.X.Y.



The curvy half.



You're gonna see a lot of pictures of this coaster in this TR.



This is probably the one redeeming thing about the state of Utah. This friggin coaster.



One last look. For now.



Nearby, Spider was testing.





Around eight smoking stations were added to various locations in the park this year.



This is "Roller Coaster," or as the white Mormons creatively call it, the "White Roller Coaster."



A testing train sent down the tracks. I love the front: "There's only one...Lagoon"



Some of the beams looked very old and the white paint is peeling. The coaster train peeks in again.



See, they need signs like this in Utah.



Every year a section of Roller Coaster's track is rebuilt, and apparently the newer treated wood is a good enough excuse to abandon the white paint. Or Lagoon is accommodating the expanding hispanic population in Utah.



See, brown in the foreground, white in the background.



Purchase your tickets already!....already...already...already...


In Part II we will enter the park and see if Lagoon really is what fun is.

[2DieFR]

Part II



No entertainment? What?!



Horsies grace the entryway into Lagoon.





They look mean.




An interactive jumping fountain does a synchronized dance with the music in the center of Lagoon. It was incredibly entertaining to watch, and it must be a great way to cool off during the hot summer months!





Sploosh!







This is pretty cool too. The cylinder spins, and also rotates around its platform.





Up on a nearby building...sorta reminds me of the Wonders of Life pavilion at Epcot.



And this reminds me of those silly things you buy at the drugstore that you're supposed to put on your office desk to "relax" you. Pfff.



Robert E. Freed... a man of integrity. By the way, Lagoon has over 100 years of history. If you're interested, Wiki It!



Tomorrowland? Nope, another interesting water feature in Lagoon's entryway. This one spins on its own accord, although I saw a few youngsters attempting to push it around anyway.


Speaking of youngsters, in Part III we will check out the attraction new for 2008, OdySea.

[BC_DisneyGeek]

Wow, that coaster looks...interesting. Looks like a fun park.

[2DieFR]

Part III



So this is the OdySea. Looks like fun!



This attraction is very similar to Dumbo or the Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction at their corresponding Disney Parks. Sea creatures around the OdySea squirt riders as they go around.







The entrance.



Mine! Mine! Mine! (...j/k)



See? Very Dumbo-ish.



Even the railings are very nicely themed.







And the ride vehicles would be right at home at Tokyo Disney Sea.









The giant squid up top.



Riders have individual lap bars and a joystick to make their vehicle go up and down.



The up and down arrows in front of you flash so you know where to fly to avoid getting wet. In practice, it was hard to tell if this is true or not, because my glasses were dripping when we got off!



Stupid spitting animals.



But it was fun to watch other riders get squirted.



It's a winner with the younger set!


Much more to Sea in Part IV...

[MollyTrolly]

Great thus far, cant wiat to see more!

[2DieFR]

Part IV




Hey, it's the Opera House! ...wait a minute...



A very ornate Arby's.



And a similarly handsome Subway next door.



Alrighty, so this yellow and red mess is the Jet Star.



Flaming lagoon. Pimpin'.



The ol' Matterhorn has got nothing on these babies!



And just like the Disney bobsleds, you need to ride with someone who won't mind you sitting in their crotch.



It's a keeper.



But here is something even better...






Skyway!



Yay! We seriously rode this a dozen times back and forth.



Crop circle! No, it's Lagoon's other fountian. It was on later in the day.



A classic scrambler.



Lagoon-a Beach, the attached water park to Lagoon, hasn't yet opened. Keep in mind, folks, that it snowed as recently as three days ago.



Aha, there's the lagoon!

It is sorta unfortunate the park does nothing with it. They should create a pyro/laser show on it in the evening.



Turn of the century was the only closed ride in the park. Looks like we didn't miss anything.



This is an amusement ride variety that I was not familiar with, and boy was it fun! The individual cages can be rocked all the way upside down.



*sigh* oh how I miss skyways.



Lagoon has a little railroad that goes by the real lagoon and past some real caged animals.



Smoke your brains out on this nice bench.



Colossus the Fire Dragon was temporarily down, so we made our way to WICKED, which is in Part V!

[sir clinksalot]

Awesome TR so far!!!!

Looks like a fun park. We thought about stopping at Lagoon a few years back when passing through Utah, but we didn't. Looks like we may have to make a trip out there sometime.

[KingEric]

When I lived in Utah in 2006 I had an annual pass to Lagoon. It is a hoot and a half, also I can't wait for the rest of the pics!

[seenoevil]

I'm really enjoying this TR! More, more, more! That Jet Star looks like a lot of fun!

[aimster]

More! More!

[BFJen]

So, did OdySea replace the stupid little kiddie planes and boats? I haven't been to Lagoon in about 6 years - Spider was just brand new.

Also, the lagoon used to have peddle boats - are those no more???

[aashee]

What an excellent trip report! Never heard of the place but your great commentary and detailed shots have made it a winner!

Looking forward to the finale!

[kcnole]

That cracks me up. I can just see the meeting that came up with that sign.

"Man its really a lot of work to keep painting that thing considering it keeps on peeling"

"I know, lets just tell them its all about putting safety first and market it that way problem solved."

[MasterGracey]

Great TR so far! Looks like a fun park!

[BFJen]

Did the jet star actually stay running the day you were there? Everytime I've been on it, we've had some e-stop right at the top of the lift.

My son is dying for us to go there. We have to pass the park everytime we go to visit my parents. I keep telling him that we just went to Disneyland and it's so much better, but they don't care.