Shireland

[DarkMeasures]

I did a search and I couldn't find anything about it.

 

But when I lived in Illinois, on the way to Chicago and the suburbs I would always drive by this abandoned amusement park called Shireland. It still stands there to this day. Apparently, it was a very different kind of amusement park.

 

The park was only open in 2 years. 1988 and 1991.

 

Does anybody know more?

 

Edit:

I found this site with pictures and information.

http://shireland.tripod.com/aerial_view.htm

[gisco]

I like articles about old and abandoned parks. This one is pretty cool because I buy from Fox Valley Systems. The upside down paint that made him rich.

[mcjaco]

This is really interesting. I had completely forgotten about Shireland. I remember seeing it on our way to the Illinois Railway Museum (same exit). There's a Wild West Town amusement park out there now as well.

 

I'm planning on heading out to Union sometime this summer, I might take a quick gander to see what I can find.

[christianscoasters]

Yeah this is kinda similar. I just find it funny that WWW couldn't even stay open a whole season!

[gnewton34]

Shireland makes me think of Lord of the Rings.

[Airtime&Gravity]

Wow, I totally forgot about this park, but it wasn't exactly what I'd call a park. While Riverview, Old Chicago(okay, OC wasn't successful,but it was the first attempt to build a major indoor park) , Adventureland, Satan's Village, and the 500 kiddie parks that were successful but eventually closed, Shireland didn't have any rides to my knowledge. There was a hiking attraction, but the whole "park" was more of a permanent renaissance fair. If I remember correctly, Santa's Village was looking to move out there, but they obviously didn't.

[DarkMeasures]

The park had a ride: