Utah has tons of great things to do, from our ski slopes to our national parks to our cultural arts offerings. Of course, not all great things last forever. You can’t do these 14 things in Utah anymore…even though you probably wish you could.
- Dance to the Big Bands in Ogden.
Ben Lomond Suites/Facebook Between the 1920s and 1950s, Ogden was THE spot in Utah to cut a rug to the Big Bands of the time. Three ballrooms: The Berthana, White City Ballroom and Crystal Ballroom at the Ben Lomond Hotel (pictured here) were packed to capacity every weekend.
- Tour the Wonder Bread factory with your 2nd grade class.
LeoLondon/flickr In the 1970s, school classes toured the Wonder Bread factory in Salt Lake City. At the end of the tour, each student got a mini-sized loaf of Wonder Bread.
- Watch “Hamlet” at the Adams theater in Cedar City.
Utah Shakespeare Festival/Facebook 2016 was the last season to see a play at the Adams theater. The Utah Shakespeare Festival is in the process of building a new theater to replace the Adams.
- Go through the Hallway of Mirrors in the Fun House at Lagoon.
Lagoon Amusement Park/Facebook In fact, you can’t enjoy any of the cool features of the Fun House; it was removed from the amusement park in 1991.
- See Shasta the Liger at Hogle Zoo.
Ali West/flickr Shasta the Liger was born at Hogle Zoo in 1948; she was the first liger cub born in the U.S.. She lived for 24 years, but died in 1972. She was preserved and displayed in a glass case at the zoo for many years afterward.
- Enjoy some delicious fried chicken at the Famous Spring Chicken Inn in Wanship.
Arnold Gatilao/flickr The Spring Chicken Inn opened in 1929, and was famous for its fried chicken. It changed hands in 2007, and again in 2012. It’s now closed for business.
- Take the train to Saltair, eat a picnic and float in the Great Salt Lake.
Marriott Library, University of Utah/flickr The original Saltair was quite the place to party. Guests could ride a train out to the resort, change into their bathing suits in little tents on the beach, eat a picnic and bob in the lake. Of course, you can still take a dip in the Great Salt Lake…but it’s just not the same.
- Tour the silver mine in Park City.
Brad.K/flickr It was once possible to tour a silver mine in Park City. Visitors rode an elevator 1,500 feet down, then spent 1 ½ hours below ground, learning about the silver mine. The Park City Silver Mine Adventure is now permanently closed.
- Ride the tram to the top of Bridal Veil Falls.
Ken Lund/flickr The tram to the top of the falls was built in 1967 and was advertised as the “world’s steepest aerial tramway.” The small trams only held 6 people, but the view was amazing and it was a popular attraction. An avalanche in 1996 destroyed the tram. This photo shows the tram line, before it was removed in 2008.
- Cheer for the Golden Eagles at the Salt Palace.
U14A Utah Golden Eagles/Facebook Long before the Grizzlies came to the Maverik Center, the Golden Eagles played at the Salt Palace. The team was sold in 1994.
- Go bowling, play mini golf and flirt with boys at the 49th Street Galleria in Murray.
Urban Exploration Adventures/YouTube If you grew up in the Salt Lake Valley in the 1980s, the 49th Street Galleria was THE place to hang out. You could show off for girls in the batting cages, bowl and play mini golf with your friends and flirt with boys in the food court.
- Learn to dance at the New Academy of Music and Dancing in Brigham City.
brighamcitycorp/YouTube This is where you went in 1903 to learn how to waltz and two-step. The academy held cotillions occasionally. After the dance school closed in 1909, the building housed a bowling alley and roller skating rink.
- Do your Christmas shopping at Crossroads Plaza and ZCMI Center Malls.
Radio Citrus Podcast/YouTube At Christmastime 1980s and 1990s, people from all over the state travelled to Salt Lake City for two things: to see the lights at Temple Square, and to shop at the two downtown malls. Both were demolished in 2006 to make way for City Creek. Check out this cool video that gives us a last look at the two malls.
- Be as cool as these kids in St. George.
Ben Lomond Suites/Facebook
Between the 1920s and 1950s, Ogden was THE spot in Utah to cut a rug to the Big Bands of the time. Three ballrooms: The Berthana, White City Ballroom and Crystal Ballroom at the Ben Lomond Hotel (pictured here) were packed to capacity every weekend.
LeoLondon/flickr
In the 1970s, school classes toured the Wonder Bread factory in Salt Lake City. At the end of the tour, each student got a mini-sized loaf of Wonder Bread.
Utah Shakespeare Festival/Facebook
2016 was the last season to see a play at the Adams theater. The Utah Shakespeare Festival is in the process of building a new theater to replace the Adams.
Lagoon Amusement Park/Facebook
In fact, you can’t enjoy any of the cool features of the Fun House; it was removed from the amusement park in 1991.
Ali West/flickr
Shasta the Liger was born at Hogle Zoo in 1948; she was the first liger cub born in the U.S.. She lived for 24 years, but died in 1972. She was preserved and displayed in a glass case at the zoo for many years afterward.
Arnold Gatilao/flickr
The Spring Chicken Inn opened in 1929, and was famous for its fried chicken. It changed hands in 2007, and again in 2012. It’s now closed for business.
Marriott Library, University of Utah/flickr
The original Saltair was quite the place to party. Guests could ride a train out to the resort, change into their bathing suits in little tents on the beach, eat a picnic and bob in the lake. Of course, you can still take a dip in the Great Salt Lake…but it’s just not the same.
Brad.K/flickr
It was once possible to tour a silver mine in Park City. Visitors rode an elevator 1,500 feet down, then spent 1 ½ hours below ground, learning about the silver mine. The Park City Silver Mine Adventure is now permanently closed.
Ken Lund/flickr
The tram to the top of the falls was built in 1967 and was advertised as the “world’s steepest aerial tramway.” The small trams only held 6 people, but the view was amazing and it was a popular attraction. An avalanche in 1996 destroyed the tram. This photo shows the tram line, before it was removed in 2008.
U14A Utah Golden Eagles/Facebook
Long before the Grizzlies came to the Maverik Center, the Golden Eagles played at the Salt Palace. The team was sold in 1994.
Urban Exploration Adventures/YouTube
If you grew up in the Salt Lake Valley in the 1980s, the 49th Street Galleria was THE place to hang out. You could show off for girls in the batting cages, bowl and play mini golf with your friends and flirt with boys in the food court.
brighamcitycorp/YouTube
This is where you went in 1903 to learn how to waltz and two-step. The academy held cotillions occasionally. After the dance school closed in 1909, the building housed a bowling alley and roller skating rink.
Radio Citrus Podcast/YouTube
At Christmastime 1980s and 1990s, people from all over the state travelled to Salt Lake City for two things: to see the lights at Temple Square, and to shop at the two downtown malls. Both were demolished in 2006 to make way for City Creek. Check out this cool video that gives us a last look at the two malls.
The cool kids in St. George were expert skateboarders. Check out this awesome “skateboard movie”, shot in the 1970s!
Do you remember doing any of these things? Which do you miss the most?
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