FARMINGTON — A new year and a new ride are in store for Lagoon when the park opens its gates Saturday. The OdySea will be featured as the new ride this season, and Marketing Director Dick Andrew is excited to see how popular the ride will be once the park opens. “It’s very pleasing to the eye,” he said. “The ride is very family oriented and will be fun for everyone.” The ride is 67 feet wide and stands nearly 22 feet tall. Made to look like a giant squid, it is complete with fish-like characters at the end of each tentacle in which has two seats to ride on.

The OdySea is one of a long line of rides that has been promoted on a yearly basis, with the Wicked premiering last year and a pair of rides, the Dinosaur Drop and LadyBug Bop, emerging two years ago.

“We’ve attempted to get a new ride in every year for the last decade or so,” said Andrew. “It keeps the park looking new and gives our customers something to look for when they show up for the new season.”

During the course of the ride, patrons will receive a warning from a vehicle communications system that the fish could be spraying other riders and patrons with water, but it’s all part of the fun.

“Each fish is also controlled by each rider in order to move the fish,” said Andrew. “It’s a rotating ride, so there is a chance that onlookers will get sprayed.

“It isn’t anything dangerous. The point is to make the ride fun for children and adults.”

Each gondola (fish) also has a controller in which operators can maneuver the seat vertically, rising to a maximum height of 20 feet. The height requirement for the ride will be 46 inches, the same as for most of the rides in the park, leaving room for people of all ages to enjoy.

“It’s one of those rides which (Lagoon) felt would be fun enough for children and adults,” said Andrew. “Especially since the two ‘children oriented’ rides we introduced in 2006.”

The new ride will be ready to operate by park opening Saturday, he said. It is located in the north end of the park by The Bat.

“This is going to be a great ride for the new year,” said Andrew. “I’m sure that the ride will attract many paying customers considering its look as well as its location.”

Shain Gillet