Opened: Sep 1995
Current Attractions: 10
For most of Lagoon’s history, the park would close for the year on Labor Day, or soon after. Sometimes it stayed open on weekends through the month of September. As kids went back to school and the weather cooled down, this was often the time when the biggest discounts to the park were available. In 1994, Lagoon stayed open on weekends and during the UEA school break, with the last day scheduled for October 23rd, much later than usual. Perhaps this was their way of testing the waters for a Halloween event.
Then in 1995, the first Frightmares event was held. Since then it has grown to become the busiest time of year at Lagoon. During the first eight years alone, attendance during Frightmares tripled. Its increasing popularity has caused the beginning of the event to gradually creep up earlier and earlier in recent years. Over time, the amount of Frightmares attractions has grown and more of the park has opened up.
For many years, Pioneer Village buildings and rides were closed during Frightmares. Now it’s home to a few walk-throughs and even Rattlesnake Rapids stays open longer into the season. Sky Scraper used to be the first ride to begin its annual disassembling and would close during Frightmares until the 2010s. Even the campground is now open later into the season.
GALLERY
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Sources
Lagoon may beat record, exceed 1 million in ’94. Deseret News, 7 Sep 1994.