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1970s Pioneer Village

40 Years Of Pioneer Village At Lagoon

Pioneer Village began in the East Millcreek area of Salt Lake City in 1938. Furniture store owner Horace Sorenson collected pioneer-era buildings and artifacts as others were tearing them down or throwing them away. He opened his collection to the public and eventually turned it over to the Sons Of Utah Pioneers who operated it until the mid-1970s.

Postcard showing Pioneer Village as it appeared in its original location.
Postcard showing Pioneer Village in Salt Lake City.

In its original location, Pioneer Village was out of the way of most tourist traffic and attendance dwindled. The S.U.P. was considering relocating when Lagoon showed interest in acquiring the collection. The S.U.P. favored Lagoon since they wanted to keep the collection together instead of being sold off individually and the two parties struck a deal. The sale helped fund a new headquarters for the S.U.P.

Ox-Drawn Wagon ride at Pioneer Village in Salt Lake City, 1957. Photo: Janice Staker Brown
Ox-Drawn Wagon ride at Pioneer Village in Salt Lake City, 1957. Photo: Janice Staker Brown

Beginning in spring of 1975, the collection was carefully relocated to Farmington. It was forty years ago on Memorial Day, 31 May 1976 when Pioneer Village was dedicated at its new home by Spencer W. Kimball, president of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints at the time.

Spencer W. Kimball in the Rock Chapel on the day he dedicated Pioneer Village at Lagoon, 31 May 1976. Photo: Deseret News
Spencer W. Kimball in the Coalville Chapel on the day he dedicated Pioneer Village at Lagoon, 31 May 1976. Photo: Deseret News

Since then much has changed and much has remained the same. Attractions have come and gone, display items have been rotated in and out of storage and trees have matured. Lagoon has also added to the collection and included a variety of attractions over the years.

A view of the east side of Pioneer Village and the Pioneer Pavilion in 1980. From a film by Joseph L. Hatch
A view of the east side of Pioneer Village and the Pioneer Pavilion in 1980. From a film by Joseph L. Hatch

The Log Flume was purchased from a park in Oregon. It opened a year before Pioneer Village was completely relocated. When everything was finished in 1976, features added by Lagoon included an old-fashioned shooting gallery, ice cream shop and bakery. Lagoon’s original miniature train was fixed up after decades of being in storage to take kids around a track that circled the buildings on the north end of the village. When that ride had run its course, the loading area later became a fishing pond, but fishing only took place for a season or two (the pond is still there today). A larger train circled the entire village and used the old Kaysville Depot on the south end to load and unload.

This Opera House cast photo from 1978 shows the bridge the train went across after leaving the station. Photo: Lagoon

The Old Mill became famous for its barbecued corn on the cob. An old clock from Main Street in Salt Lake City was moved to the Village in 1977. A family-operated Stagecoach ride took guests along a path outside the Village where deer, bison and other animals could be seen.

The Lagoon Show Band performs on Main Street in Pioneer Village in 1980. Photo: Gary Thomas Ogden
The Lagoon Show Band performs on Main Street in Pioneer Village in 1980. Photo: Gary Thomas Ogden

The shady Village Green featured concerts and other entertainment, but the most popular entertainment by far was right on Main Street where wild west shootouts were held regularly. A rare event was held in Pioneer Village in the early ’90s when it was opened to the public in November for a pioneer Christmas celebration.

scotttaylor
Wild west shootouts were a popular tradition for many years. Photo: Scott Taylor

New museums and displays were added over time like Don Ogden’s Miniature Circus, the David E. Sperry Model Train Museum and the Coin, Silver & Currency Collection. The biggest addition came in 1997 with the opening of Rattlesnake Rapids. Over the past year, most of the buildings on Main Street have been repainted and just this month, the old Pony Express building found new life as a Swig ‘n Sweets location offering a variety of flavored drinks and cookies.

The new Swig location opened this year inside what was once the Pony Express Museum. Photo: B. Miskin
The new Swig location opened this year inside what was once the Pony Express Museum. Photo: B. Miskin

Today, Pioneer Village continues to provide a relaxing, quiet atmosphere away from the noise and modern thrills of the Midway where you can grab a treat and learn more about how life was before automobiles, interstates and shopping centers. The authentic buildings still provide a humbling insight into the lives of those who shaped the place Utahns call home.

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10 replies on “40 Years Of Pioneer Village At Lagoon”

My dad had a friend named Moroni who used to work at Pioneer Village before it was moved to Lagoon. I can’t remember his last name. Do you have record of this person?

What is with the animals (elk & bison) tucked away on the other side of the creek behind pioneer village?

They do seem to be hidden now, but there have been animals there since the ’70s and used to be seen from two rides – the Stagecoach and Pioneer Village Railroad. They’ve also been visible from the Lagoon Trail behind the park since the ’90s.

Thank you for providing timely answers to my questions, and great articles about Lagoon and Pioneer Village!

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