Eerie ‘Laffing Sal’ Was Famous For Scaring You at Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver

With all the places to go for fun in Colorado, Lakeside Amusement Park stands out as a unique experience. For 46 years, there adjacent to Denver, an automated mannequin's shrieking laugh could be heard all around the park and neighborhood.

Lakeside Amusement Park, near Lake Rhoda, first opened in 1908. Over 100 years later, the park still draws crowds, as well as its detractors. With the park being so old, it's bound to have its problems; the 'Third Degree' funhouse that they once had, became such a liability (due to injuries) that they tore that "problem" down in 1986 after 46 years of providing scary fun with your cost of park admission.

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It's almost a rite of passage in Colorado to spend a day at Lakeside Amusement Park; the rides, the people, the history of it all. I didn't go for my first time until I was almost 30; I rode the Cyclone Roller Coaster, and it scared me to death. My buddy, had the time of his life, however. Millions of people must have ridden that coaster in the 82 years it was in operation; they shut it down in 2022.

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Lakeside's "Third Degree" funhouse must have been a real treat for thrill-seekers while it, itself, was in operation. You can find videos of the dangerous attraction, including a short "creepy" video of 'Laffing Sal,' who stood at the front of the funhouse for all its years. I'm glad I never saw her in person, I can tell you that.

I would not be surprised to learn that many horror movie creators were inspired by Sal; this clip alone gives me nightmares.