From its birth to the dog days of summer, Lagoon lives long and prospers

FARMINGTON — Lagoon Amusement Park has a rich history that reflects life and society. It continues to excite new generations and remains a family gathering place.

Over the past 124 years, it would be easier to list what type of activities Lagoon hasn't hosted, because the variety is staggering — boxing, horse racing, baseball, track meets, dancing, concerts, roller skating, bowling, wrestling, fireworks, high-diving, rodeos, fishing, boating and much more.

We're all kids at heart, and Lagoon is one of those rare places that reminds you of that.

Also, mention just two words, "Fun House," and if you grew up in northern Utah and you're over 25 years of age, chances are you may fondly recall that wild place.

From having to choose the right door to get inside; to the giant 50-foot high slides where riding a gunny sack down seemed like a great thrill; to large spinning discs where the last one on board was the winner; to another where gravity pinned you to the wall; this was nostalgic fun of a simpler era.

It also had a dog house crawl-through, a jail, electric air valves, a cage maze, a moving floor, rolling logs, distorted mirrors and more.

(Sadly, the Fun House closed for good in 1990.)

Railroad magnate Simon Bamberger, later Utah's first-ever Democratic governor in 1917, built Lagoon's forerunner, Lake Park, which opened on July 15, 1886. Competition from Saltair resort's arrival in 1893, as well as a shrinking Great Salt Lake level, promoted a move inland to today's location — near a small lake that was enlarged. Hence, the name "Lagoon."

The inland park reopened as Lagoon on Sunday, July 12, 1896. A "Shoot the Chutes" ride also opened then, a forerunner of today's log-flume rides. In 1921, the historic wooden roller coaster came along. The precursor to Lagoon's "water fit to drink" swimming pool also arrived that year.

Lagoon was closed for about three years and was empty for the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II and gasoline rationing.

After World War II, the Bambergers weren't sure what to do with Lagoon. The Freed brothers and a friend, Ranch Kimball, were looking for an enterprise after the war, and they leased Lagoon from the Bamberger Estate under the name of the Utah Amusement Corp.

The resort was extremely run down at the time and only had eight rides, including the wooden roller coaster and the merry-go-round. They are the only rides from that time that still exist at the park today.