We've been having a ton of fun with out Lagoon Season Passports! We are averaging about 2 visits per week and I love how we can just go for 3-4 hours and not feel like we have to stay all day. I know a lot of adults don't like Lagoon but I always have. I love Pioneer Village and all the little museums there. Lagoon is celebrating it's 125 birthday this year and I think the history is really interesting. I discovered this little area on the back of one of the buildings on the midway. It's about in the middle of the park near the "OdySea" ride on the east side of one of the buildings. There's this picture gallery of old photos taken at Lagoon and I love it! My kids think I'm so weird. :) I guess I'm crazy but I absolutely love looking at REALLY old photos of, for example, early 1900's girls in their swimming dresses playing in Lagoon Lake, and pics of the very first rides. Some seriously cool photos. The kids weren't all that keen on the idea of Pioneer Village at first but now they love it too. I had to seriously drag them out of a few of the little places. Plus it's a nice break from rides and heat (since many of the buildings there are air-conditioned). I've been reading some cool websites devoted to the history of Lagoon too and it makes our visits even better.
An example:
In the very early days, Lagoon used to have an old iron cannon that they called "Old Sow". It was brought across the plains by the pioneers. They would use it before the fireworks on the 4th and 24th. Lagoon closed during the years of World War II and the cannon was forgotten and disappeared. Years later they found it buried in the south bank of Lagoon Lake where the weight of it must have made it sink into the mud. They hauled it out and cleaned it up and now it is at the Farmington Historical Museum (old city hall). The cannon was also used in the Morrisite Battle at Uintah at the mouth of Weber Canyon in 1862. Cool, right?!!
One of my favorite things at Lagoon is the old Carousel. Built in 1893 and at Lagoon since 1906. It's one of the oldest in the country and one of the few that still has the hand-carved wooden animals. I love the old carousel music, looking up at the little rotating mechanisms that make the animals rise and fall, those little old-style round incandescent light bulbs. I just like it. Lagoon had a huge fire in 1953 (if I'm remembering the year right) and they lost a lot of the park....the story is that the owner came and dumped/sprayed water on the carousel all night to save it. I read about this lady who hand paints the animals and fixes/maintains them. Things like that are not lost on me....I always notice the intricate little painted designs and appreciate them. :) Needless to say.....I love pictures of my kids on the Carousel!
A huge collection of Lagoon pictures......mostly for me to remember all these great days with them!
Me and my fabulous boys on the train. Seriously, this summer has been so good....I've had some awesome times with my buddies! Grady thinks he will die if he doesn't get to go on the train! :)
Austin and Jerrett on the Skyscraper (big Ferris wheel)
The one (and only) time I bought them cotton candy
At closing time one night Austin, Jerrett, and I played a carnival game. I was really trying to win and Austin still beat me....he is a little gamer!
My little Grady is starting to try and smile for the camera....so cute!
Good grief....he looks so sweet in this one! Stupid I-phone camera...
Enjoying some dippin dots on a hot afternoon in Pioneer Village
Austin and Jerrett in front of an old water wagon.
The telephone museum....I love all these little buildings and the air-conditioning doesn't hurt! :)
Grady in the telephone museum
Model Train Museum
Grady loves anything and everything about trains....he was in heaven!
Train schedule 1893
Old Pullman Car China.....I could stare at these for an hour.....I love stuff like this!
The model circus museum
Antique Toy kitchen.....I want it!
I can't believe these old circus poster....they are pretty scary, right?
Jerrett and a cannon inside the armory/gun museum....my boys LOVE this one - I had to almost drag them out the first time!
This is supposedly Porter Rockwell's safe
The boys inside the old Lagoon holding cells
Tilt-a-whirl....one of my childhood favorites!
Austin and Jerrett LOVE the Paratrooper but I hate it! It made me sick when I was young and it makes me sick now. It looks so innocent and I forgot that I hated it....I even took Grady on it and we both had a horrible time! The poor kid seriously DOVE into his stroller and slammed the tray shut after we got off....I felt so bad I took him on it....way too fast for his age.
The dinosaur drop is certainly one of Jerrett's faves
Grady is a huge fan of the carousel
Austin and Jerrett cracked me up so much when they stood on the steps of the old Opera House and did their best tenor performance! :) hahaha!
Log ride! Jerrett still has to be convinced that getting wet is fun. :) While we were in line he saw all the coins in the water and asked about them. After I explained he went to the edge and whispered, "I wish for a baby sister". It was so cute and kinda sad too....I had no idea that he thought about things like that! Good thing he didn't know he has to throw a coin in! :)
Jerrett was a little nervous the first time so here is both of them in the same little bumper car! :) It was a very tight fit.
Austin and one of his twerpy faces that always makes me laugh.
Weekdays in June.....we hardly ever encountered any line at all! It was awesome. July started getting more busy sadly.
The dragonfly
Lagoon at night is so fun!
Can you believe how old Bulgy is and it still looks so cute! Austin rode with Grady on his first time but now this is absolutely one of his favorites.
