{"id":249,"date":"2011-04-18T18:30:28","date_gmt":"2011-04-19T00:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/?p=249"},"modified":"2026-02-23T20:12:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T03:12:02","slug":"springtime-recovery-at-lagoon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/springtime-recovery-at-lagoon\/","title":{"rendered":"Springtime Recovery At Lagoon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lagoon is no stranger to voluminous amounts of water. For 50 years it boasted a &#8220;million-gallon&#8221; swimming pool and today it features several attractions meant to soak and drench sun-parched guests. There have been a few instances however, when the forces of nature bring in more water than desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Farmington was prone to flash floods. In 1920, flooding along Farmington Creek only had a small impact on Lagoon. About two feet of mud filled the swimming area that spring, but crews acted quickly to have the park ready for the regular opening on Memorial Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sudden storm in August 1923 took the lives of seven people in Farmington Canyon. A recounting of the event in a 1990 <em>Deseret News<\/em> article said, &#8220;At Lagoon, an elderly woman and child were carried downstream before being pulled from the water by Dr. R.C. Robinson, who was awarded a Carnegie Medal.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some sources also suggest minimal damage from flooding in 1927, but so far no record of any notable damage has been confirmed. Finally, in the 1930s, the Lake View Camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps built terraces on the hillsides to minimize hazards from large amounts of water exiting the canyon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Runoff from record snowfall in the winter of 1982-83 caused problems up and down the Wasatch Front. Even State Street in downtown Salt Lake City was transformed into an urban river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/19830531-Flood-Map.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"689\" src=\"http:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830601DNmap.jpg\" alt=\"Map of 1983 mudslides.\" class=\"wp-image-8283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830601DNmap.jpg 500w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830601DNmap-218x300.jpg 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Map of the general path of damage through Farmington, from the 1 Jun 1983 Deseret News.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Farmington, mud and debris from Rudd Creek pushed its way through to Main Street, then down 3rd North where it emptied into pastures on the east side of Pioneer Village. The area was used as part of the Stagecoach ride and is now occupied by Rattlesnake Rapids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-5391\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"798\" src=\"http:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830621ugs.jpg\" alt=\"Aftermath in Pioneer Village.\" class=\"wp-image-8284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830621ugs.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830621ugs-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830621ugs-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/flood19830621ugs-768x766.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aerial image from June 1983 showing the aftermath of mudslides within Lagoon property. Photo: Utah Geological Survey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upstream from the park, Farmington Pond collected debris from Farmington Creek, sparing Lagoon and many homes from further destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crews worked day and night pulling wreckage from the creek around Lagoon. Mud and silt covered areas of the park &#8211; as deep as eight feet in some places. Memorial Day crowds were asked to return home and the park was closed for four days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/flood1983DN.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/flood1983DN.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/flood1983DN-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/flood1983DN-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flooding in the east portion of Pioneer Village, 1983. Photo: Deseret News<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Repairs had to be made to the tracks of the train rides and cleanup in some areas around the park continued until the following spring. It was later reported that Musik Express was also affected. The ride&#8217;s &#8220;decorations, lights, canopy and scenery had to be refurbished and replaced three times&#8221; in 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flooding from mountain snow runoff as well as the rising Great Salt Lake threatened the area again in 1984, but diversion canals and flood control basins were being put in place by then. Instead, Lagoon was faced with problems caused by heavy snow during the winter of 1983-&#8217;84. The amassed snow ruined rooftops of buildings in Pioneer Village, the European Carousel and asphalt walkways. Once again Lagoon worked quickly to have the park ready for visitors in order to open on time. New concrete was poured at the main entrance, rooftops were fixed and the European Carousel was replaced by the Red Baron ride which still operates today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless of what the weather brings, history has shown that Lagoon employees are always up to the challenge when bringing the park back to life each spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"468\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy.png\" alt=\"separator\" class=\"wp-image-3859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy.png 468w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy-300x21.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MORE LAGOON HISTORY<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-4805a82d wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/attractions\/european-carousel\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/eurocarouselbutton.jpg\" alt=\"European Carousel\" class=\"wp-image-20154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/eurocarouselbutton.jpg 400w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/eurocarouselbutton-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/the-lagoon-mine-train-coaster-that-never-was\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/lagoonminetrainneverwasbutton.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/lagoonminetrainneverwasbutton.jpg 400w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/lagoonminetrainneverwasbutton-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/attractions\/pioneer-village\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pvbutton.jpg\" alt=\"Pioneer Village\" class=\"wp-image-19998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pvbutton.jpg 400w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pvbutton-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"468\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy.png\" alt=\"separator\" class=\"wp-image-3859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy.png 468w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy-300x21.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-custom-grey-color has-text-color\">REFERENCES<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-0c1ea883158d52f03c3f3f6d30927b53 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=_wBZAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=fEcDAAAAIBAJ&amp;dq=lagoon%20flood&amp;pg=6917%2C2682307\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lagoon Ready For Memorial Day Opening.<\/a> <em>Deseret News<\/em>, 27 May 1920.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-15322e7ea217194c765ee2541b9d13cf wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=4nUnAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=LIMDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=4673%2C5782967\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8216;Wet sponge&#8217; state may put drain on taxpayers<\/a>. <em>Deseret News<\/em>, 31 May 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-40ebee2e8266b341c31cef1973338532 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=yjJTAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=K4MDAAAAIBAJ&amp;dq=Lagoon%201983&amp;pg=3517%2C18777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lagoon losing a lot of cash<\/a>. <em>Deseret News<\/em>, 1 Jun 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-359c035b3691a7d56dd13ced4da93b7c wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=wZg_AAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=EIMDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=5056%2C4516241\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Davis facing double flood dangers<\/a>. <em>Deseret News<\/em>, 29 Jan 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-631fae5ccde4cf05c65495c6d89700f6 wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Flood Fighters, 1983-84: An Account Of The Mudslides And Flooding In Davis County<\/span>, Carr Printing Company, Inc., Bountiful, Utah. 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-ea2624bc6c0e0752442f8bcbd022a415 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=YfVSAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=_YIDAAAAIBAJ&amp;dq=lagoon%20flood&amp;pg=7071%2C1759815\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Raindrops keep falling on Lagoon on opening day<\/a>. <em>Deseret News<\/em>, 20 Apr 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-26f106354b65fa63710920e5c5cd8deb wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=SzopAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=xIQDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=5124%2C44812\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Watershed terraces built by the CCC still keep Davis area dry<\/a>. <em>Deseret News<\/em>, 16 Apr 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-grey-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-57f1c77bba96a61bde95a48086de7037 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=r1VTAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=7oQDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=4877%2C3053527\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mudslide memorial gets good reception<\/a>. <em>Deseret News<\/em>, 7 May 1993.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"468\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy.png\" alt=\"separator\" class=\"wp-image-3859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy.png 468w, https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/sectionseparator-copy-300x21.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lagoon is no stranger to voluminous amounts of water. For 50 years it boasted a &#8220;million-gallon&#8221; swimming pool and today it features several attractions meant to soak and drench sun-parched guests. There have been a few instances however, when the forces of nature bring in more water than desired. At the foot of the Wasatch [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[155,71,275],"tags":[95,64,65,250],"class_list":["post-249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1920s","category-1980s","category-articles","tag-farmington-canyon","tag-farmington-creek","tag-flood","tag-rudd-creek"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19878,"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249\/revisions\/19878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}