Who doesn’t love an amusement park? I doubt there’s a soul that doesn’t appreciate the terrified screams, the loop de loop roller coasters, and over-priced food items that every amusement park provides. So many are strewn across the country, some better than others, and each generates a unique experience that often create some of the most memorable moments of our lives.
My favorite amusement park, outside of Disney World of course, is Lagoon theme park. Lagoon is located just north of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is right by the small town of Farmington. I made many trips to this park as a child, blowing my money (OK, my grandpa’s money) on the near impossible games, expensive ice cream, and rides that charge for each go. The memories…
Anyway, Lagoon, accessible if you head North from Salt Lake City and follow the road signs, is the largest theme park in Utah. The park provides family friendly fun, rides for every age group, and is reasonable priced for a park of this quality. There are over 40 different rides, too. It is almost impossible to ride them all in one day. For $40 dollars plus parking fees, you get an all day passport that allows you to come and go as you please for the entire day.
Strewn throughout the carnival style games (aka rigged, I swear) and souvenir lay some of the rides that, to this day, hold some of my most cherished adolescent memories. Here is my list of the best rides at Lagoon. Make sure you ride these rides if time is limited.
1. Rattlesnake Rapids
Ready to get wet? That’s what’ll happen on the rapids. This is basically a river rafting ride that takes you through misty caves, right through water falls, and, of course, white water rapids. If you’re lucky, you’ll come out only half covered with water. I wouldn’t count on luck with this ride, though. Besides, getting soaked feels good when its 90 degrees outside. You’re bound to come out soaked, so make sure you place any valuables such as cameras in the water proof container before your boat enters the rapids.
2. The Colossus
One of the original roller coasters from the parks early days, it also remains one of the most thrilling. The only roller coaster to send you on through a double loop track, make sure you hang onto your glasses as you almost stall, hanging upside down at the top of both loops.
3. The Wild Mouse
The Wild Mouse, as the name implies, has the characteristics of a mouse. The carts are small, and the track is jittery. If it weren’t for the seat belts, you would literally fly out of the carts when going around turns.
4. The Cliffhangar
The Cliffhangar is another ride that you’ll get soaked on. The ride is basically is a row of seats that is placed between two rotating bars. The bars rotate, as do the row of seats, so you’re spinning in two different directions. All the while, water is being sprayed directly into your body. One of the newer rides, the Cliffhangar is a great ride to help you cool off.
5. The Rocket
Ready to free fall? Then check out the Rocket. Becoming one of the trademark rides of Lagoon, the Rocket launched into service in the early 1999. The ride consists if 14 seats that surround a 300 foot tower. As soon as everybody is seated and the safety system encompasses your body, the seats slowly rise to the top of the tower. You hang motionless at the top for a few seconds, and then you drop. Freefalling until you’re about 15 feet off the ground, the seats bounce back up. This repeats about 3-4 times before the ride is over. Definitely worth a long wait.
6. The Sky Coaster
Basically a cross between skydiving and being shot through a sling-shot, the Sky Coaster puts 1-3 riders in a safety harness and then the harness takes you 150 feet into the air. When given permission, you pull a ripcord and freefall for 70 feet. You then swing back and forth a few times before grabbing a long loop that some unfortunate teenager has to hold and pull you to a stop. It sometimes takes 2 or 3 passes to successfully grab the loop. The only drawback to the Sky Coaster? It costs $15 per rider for a single ride.
7. The Samurai
My personal favorite. One of the newest rides in the park’s 100+ year history, the samurai centrifuges your body in so many directions, its impossible to orient yourself. The ride consists of 6 radial arms that spin around a center point. The seats themselves spin, as does the arm that the center point attached to. Its hard to explain, but you spin in 3 different directions simultaneously, traveling at combined speeds in excess of 30 MPH. Hold on to your sushi!
There is so much more to be had at Lagoon theme park. These are rides are the ones I recommend when time is limited, or when you have to choose the final ride before you leave. For more information on the parks schedule, since it is always changing, visit the theme parks website at www.lagoonpark.com
