Lagoon amusement park in Farmington is building the biggest and and fastest roller coaster in the park's history. It's called "Wicked," and it's being built by a German company that specializes in thrill rides. When it's completed, riders will be shot through a dark tunnel filled with mist and straight up a 110-foot tower at speeds of 55 miles-per-hour, and then over a steep downslope. The coaster also features various twists, turns and cork-screw flips. "We think we have come up with a humdinger. ... It will look very impressive from the freeway," said Dick Andrew, Lagoon's vice president of marketing. Unlike traditional roller coasters, "Wicked" will feature separate cars instead of attached snake-like cars on the track. Riders will also be fastened on their torso as well as their legs. The new ride is scheduled to open in the spring of 2007.

Hate crowds and long lines but love amusement park rides? Then the pre-season — April and May — is the place for you at Lagoon. Lagoon amusement park is now open on weekends for its 120th season. The early season is an excellent time to ride until you drop. With the exception of a few rides, like the wooden roller coaster, lines are almost always so short in the spring that patrons have to stand in line only one cycle of the ride to get on.

Lagoon amusement park will celebrate its 120th season when it opens for 2006 on Saturday. Two children-oriented Zierer drop towers will open as new attractions for this season. The park also will open a large roller coaster in 2007.