"Chicago area's oldest amusement park, to close" (Gurnee: school, university)

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I saw it set up earlier this week when we were up that way -- I love carnivals so I wanna go

Be on the lookout for that "Alpha" bike riding cross-dresser!

[prelude91]

Have not been to Kiddieland in probably 20yrs, we use to call it ****tyland, haha...Is Santa's Village still around?

[Avengerfire]

^No.^

[via chicago]

I loved Kiddieland...we'd go and ride the Little Dipper all day. the miniature train was great as well, especially as a little kid.

santas village in my mind was always a bit of a step up. better rides, more expansive grounds...truly a unique operation at the time it opened. its really kind of a sad story if you've never read up on it...the guy who built the park was truly committed to bringing joy into childrens lives, but was constantly plagued by financial issues and suffered a nervous breakdown. meanwhile, disney (who was also just building disneyland at the time), went on to further fame and fortune
Santa's Village Theme Parks - Glenn Holland

its sad to see these small mom-and-pop amusment parks getting shuttered. i guess now kids would rather stay in and play video games.

[ajolotl]

Why does everyone always say that last line about kids staying in and playing video games? Is that really what's behind this? I don't know any kids who stay in all day and play video games to the point where they have no interest in an amusement park.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

I am shocked that people that live in or grew up in the Chicago area have never heard of it.

I went there probably like 100 times as a kid.

So I guess if they don't know Kiddie Land that knowing Skip's is out of the question.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

Why does everyone always say that last line about kids staying in and playing video games? Is that really what's behind this? I don't know any kids who stay in all day and play video games to the point where they have no interest in an amusement park.

true. in this case it is certainly more about family feuding than anything else.

[Costa Rica Chica]

Now there's Legoland in Shaumburg. Has anyone been there? Is it worth it?

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Costa Rica Chica

Now there's Legoland in Shaumburg. Has anyone been there? Is it worth it?

I would go there in a heart beat! I love the one in SoCal.

[Bumppo]

The Tangerine Tent in Romeoville was actually was run by the Lewis University theater department before they got to use a permanent structure at the university itself. I do not know all of the places it was set up, or if it was only set up in one place, but I do recall it set up near what is now the Robert C. Hall Elementary School. ( previously Park View) Back then in the late sixties, early seventies there was a field next to the school where the library is now, and the field from the school to Ace Hardware ( the Jewel Grocery was where the hardware store is now. was pretty much empty.
Mr. White, last I heard was the theater director at Lewis, acted in the Tangerine tent, if I recall correctly. The Theatre at Lewis would be the best place for more history on the Tangerine Tent.