FARMINGTON — You can ride a new dragon at Lagoon this spring, but you won't be miniature golfing there anymore.
Lagoon will add its fourth dragon-themed ride as the new $2.3 million Jumping Dragon premieres on opening day, Saturday, April 4, weather permitting.
"It will be fun," said Dick Andrew, Lagoon spokesman. "It's a family ride and will have a beautiful setting and theming."
Andrew said the ride is most similar to the existing Musik Express at the south end of Lagoon, though the Jumping Dragon will be more family-friendly and superbly themed.
It is a circular ride with hills, dales and considerable centrifugal force. It will operate forward and backward and carry 36 riders at a time — 720 per hour — to heights of 18 feet. Children under 3-foot-10 must be accompanied by an adult to ride.
However, don't expect to "putter around the park" anymore, as the mini-golf course has been removed to make room for the new ride.
"It had been there a long time," Andrew said.
Golf Fun, as it was first called, opened in 1962 and had been a fixture at Lagoon for 46 years.
There were some regrets among park officials about taking the mini-golf course away, Andrew said, but it was getting somewhat rundown.
"It had seen better days," he said. "This was very valuable real estate for us."
Andrew didn't rule out the possibility for a new mini-golf course at the park in the future.
The Jumping Dragon will have a walk-through dragon sculpture located next to it, as well as a Chinese garden.
Lagoon already has three dragons — Colossus: The Fire Dragon, a double-loop roller coaster; the Dragonfly; and Puff the Little Fire Dragon in the children's area.
The new dragon ride is under construction and is expected to be ready when Lagoon opens its 123rd season.
The new ride continues Lagoon's annual tradition of adding one major new ride each season. OdySea, a $3 million family ride, opened last season, and Wicked, a world-class, $10 million roller coaster, debuted in 2007.
Besides the Jumping Dragon, Lagoon is also reworking the entry to its wooden roller coaster. Andrew said it will have a retro, 1950s look and include some rock work and neon lighting.
Lagoon is also working on a new service station and old-fashioned gas pumps for its Speedway Jr. ride.
As far as the poor economy goes, Andrew said Lagoon is hoping it will benefit by people staying closer to home.
"We're opening the doors and hoping for the best," he said.
Park hosting job fair for this summer's employment
FARMINGTON — Lagoon is holding a job fair for applicants age 14 and older from 4 - 7 p.m. Tuesday at Farmington Junior High, 150 S. 200 West.
Employees age 16 years and older earn $7.50 or more per hour and a $1 end-of-season bonus for each hour worked.
For more information, call 801-451-8001 or visit www.lagoonpark.com/jobs.php.
E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com