HISTORIC SALTAIR RESORT
On the shore of the Great Salt Lake

This is the story of Saltair, a world famous Moorish looking resort pavilion on the south shore of Utah's Great Salt Lake, the story of the love-hate relationship between Saltair and the lake she adornes, a story of dreams, persistence and of courage.
Over the years there have been three elegant Saltair Resorts. The first was opened in May of 1893, owned by the Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railroad Company, which was mostly owned by the Morman Church. It was claimed to be the largest most spectacular recreational bathing resort ever built on the Great Salt Lake. It was intended to be, and was, a wholesome place of recreation just 12 miles west of Salt Lake City.
Tragedy would strike her down just 32 years later. Workman were readying the resort for another season, when suddenly, a fire broke out in one of the concession buildings. Within 2 hours the the majestic resort was a mass of twisted iron and smoldering ashes.


Salt Air #2

A year later, in the summer of 1926, under the ownership of the Salt Lake, Garfield and Western Railroad Company, it was rebuilt at the cost of almost $750,000. It was modern in every respect, having it own fresh water service, sewage, and fire department. The main building was 350 X 250. There were also 1,250 bathrooms with shower baths in each.
Saltair #2 boosted the world's largest dance floor. 2000 couples could dance at one time to the live music of some of the great names of the times. Like, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey. Saltair #2 even had a rollar coaster that was advertised to be the highest and steepest in the world.
It fell into hard times in the 1950's. In the summer of 1957 violent gusts of wind during a major lake storm toppled Saltairs notorious roller coaster. During the 50's the lake took a drastic drop in level due to lack of rain and snowfall in the area, and by 1958 the water had receded nearly a half mile from the resort leaving it high and dry and leaving the resort without much to attract guests.
For twelve years Saltair stood empty and decaying into the salty shores of the Great Salt Lake until one night when someone decided to built a campfire in the middle of that old myjestic dance floor and again Saltair was in ashes.


Saltair #3


In 1983, 100 years to the day, after the opening of Saltair #1 it reopened again. This time four businessmen moved and abandoned airplane hanger from the nearby Air Force base to a site not far from the original. The immense, wooden hanger truesses were sawed in half for trucking, reassembled on the beach, and erected with a hugh crane. A facade painted to resemble the original Saltair was built, but the pilings and lacy open latticework were a thing of the past. Her reign would be even shorter this time. Record rain and snowfall started the level of the lake rising. In April 1984 another violent storm would come off the lake and break down the lakeside walls of the building and wash through the pavilion sweeping away just about everything inside. The raging Great Salt Lake unmercifully violated the beautiful Lady, and visited just about total destruction to the first floor of the pavilion.
As she has done before the Lady of the Lake has risen again. The new pavilion has a fire sprinker system, from a fresh water pond. It is now totally enclosed and includes a heating and air conditioning system, allowing year-round operation for the first time in 100 years. The new pavilion includes a large dance floor, concessions and a gift shop. Whether you want to go to a rock concert, or just sit quietly and watch the birds and enjoy the peacefulness of the lake. Saltair has it all.
If you are ever in the Salt Lake City area it is well worth your time to stop by and look at the new Saltair, visit the gift shop and museum.

During the 70's I lived in the Salt Lake City area, all that was left of this grand resort was some charred pilings in the shallow water. Years later on one of my antique flea market adventures I came upon a postcard of the Saltair resort that was mailed in 1907. Thus the beginning of my collection of postcards. Finally in 1997 I was able to return to Salt Lake City and see the new Saltair. A joyful culmination of years of study and wonderment of the great Lady of the Lake.

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