Lagoon works to rebuild days after fire destroys popular attractions

FARMINGTON, Utah — Just days after a fire destroyed two longtime, well-known attractions at Lagoon Amusement Park, cleanup is underway and they’re already looking at what to rebuild in the park’s main drag.

From the front gates, one can see the caution tape and rubble inside where Carousel Candy and the children’s bumper car ride used to stand.

“It’s the first thing you see when you walk into the park,” said Julie Freed, special events director at Lagoon Amusement Park.

The door frame to the candy shop still stands amid the heap of destruction. Candy can be spotted in the building’s remains — bright patches of color popping up out of twisted, burnt material.

A fire ignited at Carousel Candy Saturday morning, and Freed said an animals employee smelled smoke before the fire alarm went off. While firefighters got the blaze under control, it rekindled later that night, taking down the entire building that housed the shop and decades-old children’s bumper car ride.

Two popular Lagoon attractions a total loss after crews battle pair of blazes

Freed explained that electrical issues with an outside light started the fire.

It’s a huge loss for Lagoon.

Freed said the mini bumper cars were iconic, and many generations have ridden them.

“I think all of us here, we have pictures of us on the bumper cars as kids, of our kids riding the bumper cars,” Freed said. “It’s sort of a Lagoon staple, so we’re really, really sad to see bumper cars go.”

In the couple days since, crews have cleared much of the bumper car area already, while what’s left of Carousel Candy still sits there — the shop’s whimsy poking out of the broken pile.

Freed is relieved firefighters stopped the flames from spreading to other buildings, and thankful for a rescue of sorts.

She pointed out a goat, dog and pig they brought out from inside. The animals are historic, over 100-year-old Herschell-Spillman original carousel animals, carved out of wood with their original patina.

“There is, I think a picture of a firefighter holding one walking out, and we’re just so grateful,” Freed expressed.

Not only grateful firefighters and Lagoon employees saved the animals, but that no one was hurt.

Freed explained that they’ll refurbish and repurpose the historic carousel animals.

As far as what they’ll do with the space that housed Carousel Candy and the bumper cars?

“We have a lot of ideas and we’re not sure. We’re still assessing,” Freed answered. “We’ll see what we decide to replace it with, but we plan on opening on time next year.”