Boy Scout Troop One from Logan, Utah (Sponsored by the Logan Lions Club-Trapper Trails Council-Old Ephraim District) is celebrating its’ 100th anniversary as a continuously chartered scouting unit with specially scheduled activities each month throughout the year 2010. Troop One is the oldest Boy Scout Troop west of the Mississippi River and has created a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community for hundreds of Cache Valley’s youth over the past century. Boys between the ages of 11-17 who are interested in joining Troop One are encouraged to visit our troop meetings at First Presbyterian Church, 12 South 200 West in Logan, Tuesday’s between 7:00-8:30 pm. Troop One is a non-denominational scouting unit.
August 15-Lagoon Amusement Park-Farmington, Utah
By Stu Parkinson, Asst. Scoutmaster-Troop 1 and Security Guy for everybody’s valuables at Lagoon!
Thirty some Troop 1ers and their families, together with their British scout guests from Ashford, Kent, UK arrived at Lagoon Amusement Park Sunday morning, August 15th at 11:00 am, to find the parking lot nearly full already! One could tell the park was going to be packed….and indeed it truly was!
After migrating to our reserved Maple Terrace, which was packed even by 11:15 am with people, everyone plopped their towels, coolers, water containers, and snacks, with the American guests showing their British friends the lay of the land, so to speak, at Lagoon. It became clear, very fast, the park was filling with people….getting their last chance to have fun before school starts for many this week….which made the ride lines absolutely ridiculous!
With rides such as Centennial Screamer, Cliff Hanger, Colossus: The Fire Dragon, Log Flume, Roller Coaster, Rocket, Rattlesnake Rapids (my favorite as it goes about 6 mph), Turn of the Century, Wicked, Wild Mouse….and countless others to mention here….the Brits and Troop 1ers with family members quickly made their way to their favorite attractions.
After our chicken lunch arrived, courtesy Smiths Food King with assistance from lunch procurement specialist Paul Davis…..it was time for this author to make my way to Rattlesnake Rapids to capture some video of our bunch floating down the rapids. After waiting for nearly 35 minutes in the soaking sun…..and getting a nice sun tan I might add….I got my video! Sixteen seconds worth for waiting 35 frickin’ minutes! Howz that for patience!
As the day progressed, everybody on both sides of the pond seemed to be having a superb time! Every now and than….people would come back to our sardine-packed terrace….to grab a cold drink…..a piece of chicken…..or even a Dorito or two or three! Those returning from Rattlesnake Rapids were of course drenched, so they would immediately go out in the sun and get dry again in no time.
One of our scout leaders asked me….how old do you think Lagoon is? After pondering that question for a moment…..I guestimated that it opened sometime in the 70s. WRONG! After doing some research….for those of you who are curious like me…..please go to:
http://www.lagoonpark.com/pdf/mediarelations/LagoonPressKit.pdf
for anything and everything you always wanted to know about Lagoon but were afraid to ask!
Did you know……Lagoon actually started up in the 19th Century……In July of 1886 to be exact! That’s ten years before Utah became a state in 1896! For 50 cents, one could:
1. Swim
2. Dance
3. Go boating
4. Ride a mule drawn Merry Go Round
5. Go roller skating
6. Go target shooting at a photo of your favorite elected Democrat official
7. Go bowling
And….for an extra half dollar….get a full course dinner in their restaurant! Heck today….that will almost get you a straw for your drink!
After a terrible park fire in October 1953….rebuilding began…..to form the park as we all know it today! And….being a ex-dj from many moons ago….did you know the likes of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Glenn Miller appeared with their famous orchestras, as did….now get this….Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and his Doors, The Rolling Stones, THE THREE STOOGES (nyuk, nyuk, nyuk) and even the The Beach Boys appeared at Lagoon in the 50 and 60s!
And….speaking of those famous Beach Boys…..did you know…..they made a song in the 60s entitled “Salt Lake City”! And yes……the lyrics include even “Lagoon”! To needle drop this popular tune from years past……go to:
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Beach+Boys/Stack-O-Tracks/Salt+Lake+City
Ya see….I wasn’t kidding! They really did sing about SLC!!!
To conclude this potpourri of pleasantries……the scouts and leaders from the Ashford District, Kent, UK with their host families and friends departed the blistering hot amusement park between 6:00-7:00 pm. On tap for Monday and Tuesday for the Brits: A tour of the Beach Boys favorite city (SLC)…..followed by Ogden…..than back to Happy Valley for a Farewell Party Wednesday evening. On Thursday, August 19th…..they will make their way to SLCIA….for a long flight across the USA and Atlantic Ocean back to Heathrow Airport in the UK….remembering the many fantastic adventures they experienced, courtesy of the Troop 1 leaders, scouts, host family members and friends. A job well done by all!
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