The Great Saltair is one of Utah’s most iconic and mysterious landmarks. Built in 1893 on the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake, the original Saltair was designed as the “Coney Island of the West,” featuring massive Moorish-style architecture, dance halls, bathhouses, and amusement rides. Visitors arrived by train to swim in the salty waters and escape the summer heat.

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Over the decades, Saltair became a symbol of Utah entertainment and culture, but disaster repeatedly struck the resort. The first pavilion burned down in 1925, and a second version later suffered fires, flooding, and declining lake levels before also being destroyed. 

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The current building, often called Saltair III, opened in 1981 near the original site in Magna. Today it serves primarily as a concert and event venue, hosting famous bands and large gatherings while still overlooking the haunting beauty of the Great Salt Lake. The old wooden pilings from earlier Saltair structures can still be seen stretching into the water, adding to the location’s legendary and paranormal reputation.