{"id":305,"date":"2010-10-12T16:24:56","date_gmt":"2010-10-12T22:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project"},"modified":"2026-02-20T18:22:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T01:22:10","slug":"haunted-shack","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/attractions\/haunted-shack\/","title":{"rendered":"Haunted Shack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Opened: 9 Apr 1966
Closed: Pre-1980
Location: Central Midway<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo used in an ad for the Deseret News Birthday Party in 1966. Photo courtesy of Deseret News<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, Lagoon has had many different haunted attractions, but only a few walk-through attractions. The Haunted Shack was both. It was located where the Carousel Plaza food stands are today with the front of the Shack facing south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Haunted Shack in July 1967 with Bulgy in the foreground. Photo courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Utah State University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most of the information I have about this attraction is pulled from the memories of those who were lucky enough to enjoy it. Here, I’ve pieced together a description of this walk-through based on the more commonly shared details and memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’d start by carefully climbing the stairs (which shifted up and down in opposite directions) to reach the second floor. Once you reached the top, you would proceed through narrow hallways with windows you could look into and see various “spooky” scenes. An employee would randomly wander through trying to surprise unsuspecting guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Skeleton pianist on the top floor. Photo courtesy of Deseret News<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, you’d find your way out front where a skeleton played a piano. Back inside, after traveling down more halls, you could return to the first floor by riding down a very slick steel spiral slide or by taking a regular staircase. Next was the hall of mirrors which ended near a large imitation of one of those cymbal-banging monkey toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hall of mirrors may have been moved to the ground floor after a few years of being in an upper floor. At least it appears to be on the second floor in the 1969 BYU film below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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