Lawn Darts Banned: The Deadliest Toy of the 80s
If you grew up in the 80s, you probably remember Jarts—those metal-tipped lawn darts that turned every backyard barbecue into a potential visit to the emergency room. Known officially as “lawn darts” but universally called Jarts after the most popular brand, these weren’t your typical party games. They were 12-inch metal missiles disguised as family fun, and they left a trail of injuries and tragedy that eventually led to one of the most dramatic toy bans in American history.
Picture this: It’s 1987, and you’re at a backyard party. Someone breaks out the Jarts, and suddenly adults are hurling weighted metal spears through the air with the casual confidence of people who never considered the physics of what could go wrong. This wasn’t just lawn games—this was “horseshoes with missiles,” as one safety expert put it.
What Were Jarts? The Game That Defined Dangerous Fun
Lawn darts were deceptively simple. Each set came with four weighted darts—usually two red and two blue—plus a couple of plastic target rings. The darts themselves were about a foot long, with heavy metal tips on one end and colorful plastic fins on the other for flight stability. The game worked like outdoor horseshoes: you’d toss the darts in a high arc, trying to land them inside the plastic circles placed about 35 feet away.
