Lagoon in Farmington, Utah quietly runs one of the deepest coaster collections in the western United States, topping out above a dozen credits if you count everything on the midway. It is the only major park in the country that designs and builds its own world-class coasters in-house, and the results are unlike anything at the chain parks. Here is every coaster that matters, ranked.

1. Cannibal

Lagoon built Cannibal itself, and it shows a wild imagination: an enclosed elevator lift inside a 208 foot tower, a beyond-vertical 116 degree free-fall drop, a top speed around 70 mph, and the enormous inverted Lagoon Roll that has become the ride's signature. It is one of the steepest drops on any coaster in the world.

• Height requirement: 50 inches
• Best seat: front row, the elevator reveal and the drop are the whole show
• Best time: first hour of the day, the elevator lift limits capacity all afternoon

2. Primordial

A coaster inside a man-made mountain, mixing real drops with tilting vehicles, screens, and interactive scoring. No two rides play out quite the same, and the finale drop in the dark catches everyone. It is the lowest-capacity major ride at Lagoon, which makes timing everything.

• Height requirement: 42 inches with an adult
• Best seat: any, the vehicle motion matters more than the row
• Best time: rope drop, before the line becomes the longest in the park

3. Wicked

A Zierer tower launch that fires you straight up a 110 foot spike, over the top, and straight back down at 55 mph. Short, sharp, and rerideable.

• Height requirement: 50 inches
• Best seat: front row for the vertical view
• Best time: morning, then again at night

4. Colossus the Fire Dragon

A classic Schwarzkopf double-looper from 1983, one of the last of its kind still running in North America. The loops pull real positive g-force the way modern coasters rarely do.

• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Best seat: back row for the pull through the loops
• Best time: after dark, the lit loops over the midway are the best photo in Utah

5. Roller Coaster

The white wooden classic has been running since 1921, making it one of the oldest operating coasters on earth. Gentle by modern standards, essential by any standard.

• Height requirement: 46 inches
• Best seat: back row for the strongest airtime pops
• Best time: anytime, its big trains keep the line moving

6. Jet Star 2

A rare Schwarzkopf Jet Star with toboggan-style cars, a spiral lift, and no shoulder restraints. It feels faster than it is, in the best way.

• Height requirement: 46 inches
• Best seat: front of the car, riders sit in line
• Best time: midday, the line is rarely long

7. Wild Mouse

A proper Maurer wild mouse with hairpins that convince you the car is leaving the track. A staple, and rougher fun than it looks.

• Height requirement: 46 inches
• Best seat: identical everywhere
• Best time: early, small cars mean slow lines by afternoon

8. Spider

A Maurer spinning coaster where your car's rotation depends on weight balance. Load unevenly and it becomes a legitimately intense ride.

• Height requirement: 42 inches with an adult
• Best seat: whichever unbalances the car
• Best time: early or late, another low-capacity line

The family credits

The Bat is a compact suspended family coaster with a surprising swing, BomBora is a cheerful surf-themed family ride Lagoon built in-house, and Puff the Little Fire Dragon starts the youngest riders on their way. All three are worth a lap with kids, and none needs strategy.

First-timer order

1. Primordial at rope drop

2. Cannibal

3. Wicked

4. Colossus the Fire Dragon

5. Roller Coaster and Jet Star 2 midday

6. Wild Mouse and Spider late afternoon

7. Colossus or Cannibal again at night

Enthusiast order

1. Primordial first, it bottlenecks hardest

2. Cannibal twice before the elevator line builds

3. Spider and Wild Mouse before noon, low capacity punishes patience

4. Roller Coaster, Jet Star 2, and the family credits through the afternoon

5. Wicked at dusk

6. Colossus night ride, back row, to close the day