Lagoon History ProjectLagoon was featured as the cover story of the August 1961 issue of Ford Times – a monthly magazine by the Ford Motor Company that focused on travel and, of course, Ford automobiles. The article describes the hidden Utah treasure to outsiders and relates a bit of its history. In the 60 years since it […]
In May 1968, Lagoon was the setting of a key moment in the history of The Monkees. Although the band was created by Hollywood producers for a TV show beginning in 1966 and media critics nicknamed them the Pre-Fab Four, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork quickly rose to fame as The […]
Lagoon has hosted hundreds of performances by popular musicians and entertainers over the decades, peaking with the shows held at the Patio Gardens in the 1950s and ’60s. Those who experienced them in person often have great memories to share and many of those who never got to the chance wish they could go back […]
Competitive racing has been present in some form at Lagoon since it opened in its current location in 1896. Even earlier than that, Lake Park (Lagoon’s predecessor) held boat races on the Great Salt Lake. In the early days, Lagoon served as a starting point and finishing line for many races on foot and bicycle. […]
By the mid-1960s, the Davis County Fair had not been held in its original location at Lagoon for roughly 20 years. The much larger Utah State Fair, with a history dating back to 1856, had been utilizing the same buildings for about 60 years. In August 1964, Lagoon manager Robert Freed sent a proposal to […]
In the days before big box retailers and internet shopping, state and county fairs were prime opportunities for exhibiting locally-produced goods to nearby areas, aside from being major community events. It was especially important in the comparatively isolated settlements of Utah before the introduction of major railroads. The first territorial fair was held as early […]
When Lagoon first opened in its current location, it was much smaller than it is today. New rides and attractions are being added almost every year, but eventually the size of the park needs to expand to accommodate everything, not to mention the added crowds that come to visit. One major expansion began in 1964 […]