UIT Spring Party: Boondocks Food & Fun lives up to its name
Speed is a relative thing. In a low-slung sports car, 60 mph seems pretty fast. In a go-kart? When you’re sitting just inches off the pavement, a hairpin turn at 25 mph can feel like a Formula One fantasy.
Luc Nguyen, systems administrator for UIT's Service Management for Platform Services team, reacts to getting sprayed on the bumper boat attraction.
Judging by the smiles, UIT employees whipping around the go-kart track at Boondocks Food & Fun on June 5, 2025, were plenty fast but far from furious. Besides go-karts, Boondocks’ Draper location, site of this year’s UIT Spring Party, gave UIT staff unlimited access to mini golf, bumper boats, a ropes course, bowling, laser tag, and XD Dark Ride — an interactive and immersive 3D motion simulator. Registered guests also received a $5 arcade card games at check-in.
Aspen Field, systems administrator for UIT's UMail & Collaboration team, enjoys a round of laser tag. (Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen)
The Draper location, the company’s first in Utah, opened in 2005 and underwent a remodel from 2023-2024 that modernized its event spaces, incorporated a restaurant, and added several new attractions and enhancements on the grounds like waterfalls, suspended bridges, and a fire-breathing iguana and tiki hut.
Lunch featured a Southwestern buffet of build-your-own fajitas with barbacoa beef, grilled chicken, pork carnitas, peppers and onions, flour tortillas, Spanish rice, black beans, toppings, corn tortilla chips with guacamole, salsa, and pico de gallo, and assorted cookies. A separate buffet with alternative options was available for vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, nut-free, and dairy-free guests.
Thank you to the following people who pitched in to help make the party successful:
- Volunteer: Jan Lovett
- Party planning and management: Jesse Drake, Patrick Harris, Larrisa Turner, and Cassandra Van Buren
And thanks to all UIT employees for the many important contributions you make, every day, to support the University of Utah community and our shared vision and initiatives.
Below are photos of the event (access this folder in Box to see more photos):
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
Courtesy of Thanh Nguyen
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