Saltair

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Saltair

SALTAIR

The original Saltair Pavilion

Yet another beautiful and lost remnant of the age of amusement parks. This time, hundreds of miles away from the other stops on our journey thus far, on the shore of the Great Salt Lake, a fantastic Moorish palace took shape

Saltair Pavilion

View from the train arrival point

Band concert

Saltair was the beautiful amusement pavilion constructed directly in the waters of the Great Salt Lake. Called the "Coney Island of the West," Saltair was built by the Mormon church as a place where its members could enjoy waterfront amusements in a "clean, family atmosphere." The inordinately saline waters gave Saltair a special attraction, such a degree of buoyancy that swimmers literally floated like inflatable balls. The original Saltair burned and was rebuilt in the 1920's in a slightly larger and grander form. It flourished for many years, before the retreating waters of the Lake, neglect after becoming state property and a final fire in the 1970's destroyed this landmark. Today, Saltair has been reopened, but it is a ghost of its former self and is only used now for the occasional rock concert. The current building is actually an aircraft hangar with a facade attached, rather than a genuine pavilion and is not located in the same spot as the original Saltair. Ironically, when they reopened Saltair, the tides returned, flooding the building and endangering the project. It occasionally floods to this day.

Arriving for a day in the sun at Saltair

Swimmers demonstrating the amazing buoyancy of Saltair's waters

The fire that would destroy Saltair closes in on the pavilion

SALTAIR TODAY and the ORIGINAL SALTAIR LOCATION

Edge of Saltair Pavilion with Antelope Island in background

(compare to modern day photo of original Saltair location above)

"Those of us who lived in the last years of Saltair still relish it the way New Englanders breathe in the smell of burning leaves in autumn. To us it means racing for the open-air car of the train that went out to Saltair, riding in the Giant Racer and screaming all the way, and dancing to Harry James and Louis Armstrong as the waves lapped at the pilings under the biggest outdoor dance floor in the world. And now, years after the grand Lady of the Lake burned to the ground, new folks or visitors smell that lake wind and say, "What is that strange sour smell? We 'old timers' lick our lips, trying for a taste of salt, that stupid, pecky salt, and maybe trying, too, for a taste of our childhoods." Terrell Dougan, in the Deseret News, 7/14/75

There is no definitive website dedicated to Saltair. I recommend you read the excellent book:

"Saltair" by Nancy D. and John S. McCormick

===============================

Long ago sunset at vanished Saltair


	Vanished History \| home An introduction \| Coney Island History \| Luna Park \| Steeplechase Park \| Dreamland Park \| Coney Island Extras \| Wentworth By The Sea \| Saltair \| Sutro Baths and Cliff House \| Contact Me \| Gifs \| FIRM Saltair SALTAIR The original Saltair Pavilion Yet another beautiful and lost remnant of the age of amusement parks. This time, hundreds of miles away from the other stops on our journey thus far, on the shore of the Great Salt Lake, a fantastic Moorish palace took shape Saltair Pavilion View from the train arrival point Band concert Saltair was the beautiful amusement pavilion constructed directly in the waters of the Great Salt Lake. Called the "Coney Island of the West," Saltair was built by the Mormon church as a place where its members could enjoy waterfront amusements in a "clean, family atmosphere." The inordinately saline waters gave Saltair a special attraction, such a degree of buoyancy that swimmers literally floated like inflatable balls. The original Saltair burned and was rebuilt in the 1920's in a slightly larger and grander form. It flourished for many years, before the retreating waters of the Lake, neglect after becoming state property and a final fire in the 1970's destroyed this landmark. Today, Saltair has been reopened, but it is a ghost of its former self and is only used now for the occasional rock concert. The current building is actually an aircraft hangar with a facade attached, rather than a genuine pavilion and is not located in the same spot as the original Saltair. Ironically, when they reopened Saltair, the tides returned, flooding the building and endangering the project. It occasionally floods to this day. Arriving for a day in the sun at Saltair Swimmers demonstrating the amazing buoyancy of Saltair's waters The fire that would destroy Saltair closes in on the pavilion SALTAIR TODAY and the ORIGINAL SALTAIR LOCATION Edge of Saltair Pavilion with Antelope Island in background (compare to modern day photo of original Saltair location above) "Those of us who lived in the last years of Saltair still relish it the way New Englanders breathe in the smell of burning leaves in autumn. To us it means racing for the open-air car of the train that went out to Saltair, riding in the Giant Racer and screaming all the way, and dancing to Harry James and Louis Armstrong as the waves lapped at the pilings under the biggest outdoor dance floor in the world. And now, years after the grand Lady of the Lake burned to the ground, new folks or visitors smell that lake wind and say, "What is that strange sour smell? We 'old timers' lick our lips, trying for a taste of salt, that stupid, pecky salt, and maybe trying, too, for a taste of our childhoods." Terrell Dougan, in the Deseret News, 7/14/75 There is no definitive website dedicated to Saltair. I recommend you read the excellent book: "Saltair" by Nancy D. and John S. McCormick =============================== Long ago sunset at vanished Saltair