1976-2006

Location: Pioneer Village

Ride Capacity: Approx. 10 riders

Ride Time: Approx. 10 minutes

Height Requirement: None

HISTORY & INFO

The Stagecoach was open on a limited basis - usually on holidays and busy weekends. In 2007, the ride was completely out of operation and there was no offical word about why it closed or if it would ever return. The carriage could be found sitting behind Pioneer Pavilion next to the old Pioneer Village Railroad tracks.

The boarding area was on the south end of Pioneer Village at a small stable west of the Telephone Museum. Riders were taken down a path that led behind the Telephone Museum, past buffalo and other animals, circled the hay shed east of Rattlesnake Rapids and went back.

This ride was operated by the Thurston Family from Morgan, Utah. They also owned and cared for the clydesdale horses. It's usually a tight fit, but still a very relaxing ride through an area of the park only accessed by this ride.

The last vehicle used was not exactly a stagecoach, but more like a horse-drawn carriage. Originally, a full-size stagecoach was used (as seen in the photo below). My guess is that they began using the current one because it's not as easy to fall off of. This first stagecoach is now on display inside Carriage Hall. The boarding area was in front of the Pony Express Museum, which is just south of the restrooms and currently closed to guests. The path has also changed over the years. When it first opened, it traveled across the tracks of the Pioneer Village Railroad, over Farmington Creek, through the woods, crossed the creek and the railroad tracks again and down Main Street. Before the addition of Rattlesnake Rapids, the path was much like it is today except it made a loop about where the reservoir is now.

PHOTOS

Photo: Lagoon

The original Stagecoach on Main Street around 1976.

Photo: Lagoon

SOURCES

Lagoon

Deseret News

Website Visitors

Updated 18 Sep 2007