Thrillography Goes to Lagoon + Snowbird: My Salty ACE PreservationConference 2016 Trip Report - Part I

Hello. :}

Welcome to my favorite trip report this year so far! 

It's the American Coaster Enthusiasts' 2016 Preservation Conference at North America's largest family-owned amusement park, Lagoon! 

Located in Farmington, Utah (just outside of Salt Lake City), Lagoon boasts a ride roster that rivals that of any major regional chain park while still maintaining the charm and quality of a small independent park. 

My fabulous host Lisa (remember her from our Dollywood trip in August??) needed to get her season pass processed the day before the conference, which gave me the chance to run around Lagoon's parking lot and get pictures!

The best way to get shots of Lagoon's oldest coaster is to hang out outside the front gate for a while.

It's also a good way to get some nice shots of Lagoon's newest coaster, the one-of-a-kind, 5-inversion, elevator lift, beyond-vertical-diving hyper coaster, Cannibal! 

We'll talk more about Cannibal later. Now lets focus on the 95-year-old John Miller classic known simply as "Roller Coaster."

As you can see, Roller Coaster is just about the cutest little mid-size woodie there is. 

And you can't beat the mountainous backdrop. 

Since Roller Coaster juts out in the middle of the parking lot, the park provided a cut-through inside the ride's infield to help improve traffic flow. 

I SEE YOU DRAGON! I'm coming for you tomorrow!

Lagoon has the most fabulous ride operations I've seen at a U.S. park. Roller Coaster consistently had one train on the lift hill while the other train was approaching the final brake run. 

Swift operations make for happy roller coaster photographers!

The people in the front row seem a little tense. Loosen up, guys! You're on a great old wooden coaster!

Here's this other thing.

This is Wicked, the precursor of sorts to Cannibal. It was Lagoon's first custom steel coaster and, like Cannibal, it's a real oddball.

It's the only Zierer Tower Launch Coaster. It propels guests on a short ground level launch and into a vertical launch up and over into the first drop. 

The ride's only kinship is Knoebels' Impulse, which uses a traditional lift but features the same track and vehicle system as Wicked.

Hiding behind Wicked is the VASTLY SUPERIOR Colossus the Fire Dragon Schwarzkopf double loop coaster. ;}

Just to the right of Roller Coaster is yet another one of Lagoon's coasters, a production model Maurer Söhne spinner called Spider. 

Here's the only other picture I have of Spider. I know it's not a very good picture, but this is all you get. Don't like it? Too bad.

If you need better pictures of this off-the-shelf spinner, please refer back to my Dixie Landin' Blue Bayou Trip Report. ;} 

Roller Coaster was a classic whitewash coaster until only just recently. Amid gradual restoration of the ride's track and superstructure, Lagoon's maintenance department decided it would be advantageous to transition the ride to a natural wood appearance. 

So right now the ride is a mixture of painted and unpainted wood. I kinda like the shabby-chic look of it. 

I know the locals are going to miss the white paint, but maintenance knows best!

I think I see a budding coaster enthusiast in the front seat of this train!

Yes! I do believe there is a future ACEr in our midst. 

My appetite is thoroughly wet'd for Lagoon tomorrow! So excited! 

Good morning! Morning ERT is in full swing at Preservation Con 2016!

First ride of the day was Wicked.

It looks so good but Wicked gets a big thumbs down from me. 

Wicked's trains have very unfortunate shin bars that beat the hell out of me. Most people like the ride, but pretty much everyone over 6ft had experience similar to mine. 

Oh well. At least it looks nice. 

Michael, Pat, Joe, and John love Wicked!

...becuase they're all short. ;}

There are only two tilt shift photos in this update. Aren't you proud of my incredible discipline? x}

Goodbye uncomfortable thing. 

Hello beautiful old woodie who gives fantastic rides!

Hello Derek and Lisa!

Morning ERT included the carousel and I think that's pretty swell. 

Right after ERT we decided to acquaint ourselves with Wild Mouse.

And, more importantly, with Colossus the Fire Dragon!

*____________________*

Manufactured in 1980 for the Germain Fair Circuit, Colossus made it's way to Lagoon in 1983.

It gives an utterly flawless ride. 

There is really nothing better than a Schwarzkopf looper. 

Fans of Dorney Park will notice the ride's similarities to Laser. The only difference is Fire Dragon features and additional helix before the brake run. 

Lagoon's commitment to Colossus the Fire Dragon is one of the key reasons why ACE brought the preservation conference here to Salt Lake this year.

In addition to 10 roller coasters, Lagoon has a diverse array of flat rides. 

Here we have Dragonfly, and Wave Swinger / Scrambler hybrid the likes of which I've never seen. 

Lagoon features an unprecedented holy trinity of classic coasters: A Miller woodie, a Schwarzkopf looper, and the ONLY Schwarzkopf Jet Star II in the Western Hemisphere! 

This very special little coaster was built for the 1974 World's Fair in Spokane and was brought to Lagoon in 1976.

Cannibal is an amazing ride. It's honestly overshadowed by the park's classic coasters, but it's a neat ride. Great drop, nice acrobatics, and one (1) good airtime hill. I'd've thrown a few more hills in here and there if it was my ride, but it's not. 

Midday at Lagoon was starting to look unappealing in terms of weather and crowds, so the decision was made to run up to Snowbird real quick to nab their mountain coaster credit. 

It's the shortest mountain coaster I've been on by far, but still. 

The weather had cleared up by the time we returned to Lagoon. 

So yeah. Cannibal's great and all, but I really can't get enough of this Jet Star II.

Just look at this angelic creature. 

This little torpedo of delight is fast, ferocious, forceful, and as smooth as humanly possible. The same cannot be said for the often rumbly Cannibal.

Every Jet Star II seat must have two occupants, which means every Jet Star II vehicle has six passengers, which means every ride on Jet Star II is top shelf forces and thrills!

....and back to the other Schwarzkopf. 

Yeah, I know there are other coasters here, but honestly these are the most important. 

Gotta love Roller Coaster's glitzy station!

Lagoon has two fabulous old dark rides: Dracula's Castle and Terroride. Two very well-loved classics!

Goodnight Lagoon! More soon! 

There's so much more Lagoon and SLC to see!

Join us next time for a VIP tour of the S&S Power manufacturing plant, day two of Lagoon, plus visits to Salt Olympic Park and Park City Ski Resort! 

:}