From Utah Historical Quarterly, Winter 2005:
Indeed, much of basic life in Utah was segregated and exclusive. However, in 1954 Utah education as well as labor unions did not practice racial separation. On the other hand, almost all of Utah's recreational facilities were segregated until Robert Freed and his family purchased Lagoon and later, Rainbow Gardens, which was located on Main Street between Fourth and Fifth South streets in Salt Lake City. They opened these previously segregated amusement and entertainment facilities to all races around 1950. Freed believed in open access, private and public. He wanted to attract entertainers and their fans to both areas and believed in that policy.13 Freed once said, “One of my most satisfying experiences was when Lagoon opened its doors to people of all races."
