I like this thread.
And I am impressed that Lagoon has added so many attractions over the past few years. I havn't been to Lagoon since 2000. I wish Elitches would invest in more rides and attractions like Lagoon has been doing over the past few years. Since I have lived here there has only been 2 Roller Coasters added and only hand full of rides added to the park.
Plus Elitch Gardens doesn't have the amount of land like Lagoon to expand, they have plenty of room and if they were to ever make it a National Attraction they could always expand to the parking lot and build a parking structure and share it with Pepsi Center. But that's all just wishful dreaming. The city is big enough to accomodate it but the winter months hender the next level from happening.
I found this on the web of America's top 50 Amuesment parks. Both Elitches and Lagoon are on the list!!! Pretty cool considering both parks are primarily local attractions only a small percentage of out of town visitors. From the smaller surrounding states like. Boise, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas.
Top 50 North American amusement parks
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The 50 most popular amusement parks in North America during 1999/2000, with rank and attendance:
1. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, Fla.), 15.2 million.
2. Disneyland (Anaheim, Calif.), 13.45 million.
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, Fla.), 10.1 million.
4. Disney MGM Studios at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, Fla.), 8.7 million.
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World 8.6 million.
6. Universal Studios Florida (Orlando), 8.1 million.
7. Universal Studios Hollywood (Universal City, Calif.), 5.1 million.
8. Sea World Florida (Orlando), 4.7 million.
9. Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay, Fla.), 3.9 million.
10. Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, N.J.), 3.8 million.
11 (tie). Knott's Berry Farm (Buena Park, Calif.), 3.6 million.
11 (tie). Sea World California (San Diego), 3.6 million.
13. Universal Studios Island of Adventure (Orlando), 3.4 million.
14. Paramount's Kings Island, Mason, 3.32 million.
15 (tie). Cedar Point, Sandusky, 3.3 million.
15 (tie). Morey's Piers (Wildwood, N.J.), 3.3 million.
17. Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, Calif.), 3.2 million.
18. Six Flags Great America (Gumee, Ill.), 3.1 million.
19. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Santa Cruz, Calif.), 3 million.
20. Paramount's Canada Wonderland (Maple, Ontario), 2.9 million.
21. Adventuredome at Circus Circus (Las Vegas), 2.8 million.
22. Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, Texas), 2.7 million.
23. Knott's Camp Snoopy (Bloomington, Minn.), 2.6 million.
24. Six Flags Over Georgia (Atlanta), 2.5 million.
25. Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio), 2.4 million.
26. Hershey Park (Hershey, Pa.), 2.34 million.
27. (tie). Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.), 2.3 million.
27. (tie). Busch Gardens the Old Country (Williamsburg, Va.), 2.3 million.
29. Paramount's Kings Dominion (Richmond, Va.), 2.2 million.
30. Six Flags Marine World (Vallejo, Calif.), 2.1 million.
31. Silver Dollar City (Branson, Mo.), 2.06 million.
32. Six Flags St. Louis (Eureka, Mo.), 2.05 million.
33. (tie). Paramount's Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.), 1.9 million.
33. (tie). Six Flags Astroworld (Houston), 1.9 million.
35. Paramount's Great America (Santa Clara, Calif.), 1.8 million.
36. Six Flags Darien Lake (Darien Center, N.Y.), 1.704 million.
37. (tie). Six Flags America (Largo, Md.), 1.7 million.
37. (tie). Sea World Texas (San Antonio), 1.7 million.
39. Casino Pier (Seaside Heights, N.J.), 1.61 million.
40. (tie). Six Flags Elitch Gardens (Denver), 1.6 million.
40. (tie). Riverside Park (Agawam, Mass.), 1.6 million.
42. Legoland California (Carlsbad), 1.45 million.
43. (tie). Sea World Ohio (Aurora), 1.4 million.
43. (tie). Dorney Park (Allentown, Pa.), 1.4 million.
45. Kennywood (West Miffin, Pa.), 1.38 million.
46. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom (Louisville), 1.3 million.
47. Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, Pa.), 1.25 million.
48. Lagoon (Farmington, Utah), 1.23 million.
49. Geauga Lake (Aurora, Ohio), 1.2 million.
50. Laronde (Montreal, Quebec), 1 million.
Source: Amusement Business