This Hopkins lift was added to Lagoon in 1974, when the park was already over a century old.Tower 1 at the north end.The auxiliary hydrostatic drive is located in the center of this photo.Tower 2.The lift gets quite high above ground.A Sky Ride carrier.Tower 5.Starting down at T6.Fixed return bullwheel at the south end.Loading area at the return terminal.I’m not sure this lift has a tensioning system, unless this entire setup is on rails that are covered up.The drive system and a transformer.View south from the drive terminal.Tower 4 along the Midway.
Thanks for putting this up, Peter. This ride and Lagoon brings back many wonderful memories when I was a boy and grew up there at the park and in Farmington.
Here’s an article showing a photo of the man hanging from the chair near Tower 3. Very doubtful it was a mis-load. There usually are 2 employees at each station who help load and unload. There is a safety bar that the employees latch closed. But it is easy to unlatch for those who really want to. I probably rode this thing 50-60 times in the years I lived in Farmington and spend many summer days and nights at Lagoon. I sure miss it. (1983-1990)
If you take a look at the pictures, the man is not only facing backwards, but hanging onto the top bar of the restraint, as if he climbed over the restraint and lowered himself into that position. And in the videos in those articles you linked to, you can see that he got into that position very quickly, because he was already hanging from the car while it was traveling over the fountain, less than 200 feet from the north end. You will also notice that he seems strangely silent, calm and composed. No legs kicking, no struggling, no screaming or yelling to try and gain the attention of anyone.
Yup. More details were released after I posted those links. Looks like he has passed away. I wonder if he was trying for the fountain or landing on top of something else. It passes over several things as I recall. (lots of people would spit their bubble gum out over the fountain and Merry-Go-Round. Uggh. https://www.ksl.com/article/50224267/man-who-fell-50-feet-from-lagoon-ride-dies
I sure do miss the peaceful quiet rides on the sky ride on those beautiful summer days of years gone by.
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Thanks for putting this up, Peter. This ride and Lagoon brings back many wonderful memories when I was a boy and grew up there at the park and in Farmington.
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Do to it’s height and lack of vetical rise, it could operate with no tension. Like River Crossing at Big Sky.
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Well it looks like someone was trying to kill themselves.
https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/man-in-critical-condition-after-falling-from-lagoons-sky-ride
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Here’s an article showing a photo of the man hanging from the chair near Tower 3. Very doubtful it was a mis-load. There usually are 2 employees at each station who help load and unload. There is a safety bar that the employees latch closed. But it is easy to unlatch for those who really want to. I probably rode this thing 50-60 times in the years I lived in Farmington and spend many summer days and nights at Lagoon. I sure miss it. (1983-1990)
https://kutv.com/news/local/man-sent-to-hospital-after-falling-off-lagoon-sky-ride
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If you take a look at the pictures, the man is not only facing backwards, but hanging onto the top bar of the restraint, as if he climbed over the restraint and lowered himself into that position. And in the videos in those articles you linked to, you can see that he got into that position very quickly, because he was already hanging from the car while it was traveling over the fountain, less than 200 feet from the north end. You will also notice that he seems strangely silent, calm and composed. No legs kicking, no struggling, no screaming or yelling to try and gain the attention of anyone.
LikeLike
Yup. More details were released after I posted those links. Looks like he has passed away. I wonder if he was trying for the fountain or landing on top of something else. It passes over several things as I recall. (lots of people would spit their bubble gum out over the fountain and Merry-Go-Round. Uggh.
https://www.ksl.com/article/50224267/man-who-fell-50-feet-from-lagoon-ride-dies
I sure do miss the peaceful quiet rides on the sky ride on those beautiful summer days of years gone by.
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