FARMINGTON - The venerable Lagoon Amusement Park faced a crisis in 1953 when a fire destroyed the west side of the park's midway, including the dance pavilion, fun house and part of the roller coaster.
    As it turns out, the fire might have been a blessing in disguise.
    Robert Freed, then president of the family-owned theme park, vowed to rebuild and add new attractions each year.
    This summer is no exception, starting with the addition of the $10 million Wicked roller coaster that keeps up Lagoon's reputation as home to innovative thrill rides.
    "This ride has been designed for Lagoon and will be the tallest and fastest coaster at the park," said park engineer Dal Freeman.
    The green and yellow coaster, expected to open in June, launches riders to the top of a 110-foot tower. Wicked's eight-seat vehicles hit speeds up to 55 miles per hour while running through high-bank turns, a half-pipe, an inversion and tunnel.
    The park also refurbished its two spook alleys for 2007 and rebuilt the Tidal Wave.
    While the days of catching top acts such as The Doors, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Johnny Cash and Nat King Cole at the park's Patio Gardens are long gone, Lagoon will keep up its musical tradition with three shows: "On Broadway," "Rock You to the Top" and "The Electric '80s."
    Those shows, plus the Lagoon A Beach water park, open this weekend for the Memorial Day holiday. The park opens daily for the summer season in June.
    While Lagoon remains an up-to-date modern amusement park with technologically impressive rides, it has retained some of its history.
    Lagoon has been open in its present location since 1896, making it the 16th oldest amusement park in the U.S. and tied for 27th in the world.
    The park opened as a place for couples to enjoy row-boating, swimming and dancing. Its first "ride" opened in 1906, a contraption called Shoot the Chutes. It was followed that year by the Merry-Go-Round that still operates. Lagoon's classic wooden roller coaster, built in 1921 and designed by John Miller, also responsible for the coasters at Coney Island, N.Y., is tied for third as the oldest operating coaster in the U.S.
    While it bills itself as a family park, for many, Lagoon was, is and likely always will be a place to go on a date. The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson even captured that reputation in his 1965 song "Salt Lake City."
    There's a park near the city, yeah
    All the kids dig the Lagoon now
    It's full of all kinds of girls
    And rides and we'll be flyin' there soon now.
    Lagoon marketing director Dick Andrew said while there is something to Lagoon's reputation as a dating hotspot, demographics show that young teenagers and families make the park one of Utah's top tourist destinations each year.
    "Half of our visitors are 15 years or younger," said Andrew. "The next huge portion of the demographic are adults between the ages of 25 to 45. That translates into families. We hope we have something for everybody. Lots of people come here to date. But it's a family park. It's definitely not a teen hangout, but obviously there is a lot of that."
    Wander back to the east side of the park to Pioneer Village, which preserves many historic buildings from Utah's past as well as a wonderful collection of small arms and carriages, and the feeling of Lagoon as an important part of Utah's history becomes even more intense.
    But the teens and young couples who still flock to the park by the thousands each year are not so much interested in Lagoon's history but the fun it provides. And, with new attractions such as Wicked, one of the world's oldest amusement parks aims to deliver.
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    * TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com or 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
    Roller Coaster, 1921
    Jet Star II, 1976
    Colossus Fire Dragon, 1983
    Wild Mouse, 1998
    The Spider, 2003
    The Bat, 2005
    Wicked, 2007
   
   Oldest operating amusement parks in U.S.
   
   
   * 1. Lake Compounce Amusement Park, Bristol, Conn., 1846
    * 2. Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, 1870
    * 3. Idlewild Park, Ligonier, Pa., 1878
   
    Oldest operating coasters
   
   
   * 1. Leap-the-Dips, Lakemont Park, Altoona, Pa., 1902
    * 2. (TIE) Roller Coaster, Lagoon, Farmington, Utah, 1921
    * 2. Jack Rabbit, Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pa., 1921
   
    Source: National Amusement Park
    Historical Association

Tom Wharton