Cameron Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 The good news is that the area really needs another walmart, starbucks and (empty) condos... cbs2chicago.com/topstories/kiddieland.amusement.closing.2.1013956.html Kiddieland Amusement Park To Close After 80 Years Melrose Park Institution Is Among The Last Of Its Kind MELROSE PARK, Ill. (CBS) ― The iconic Kiddieland Amusement Park in the near west suburbs is closing down after entertaining Chicago area children for over 80 years. The owners of the amusement park, at 8400 W. North Ave. in Melrose Park, announced on Wednesday morning that the park is shutting down after this season. Rumors of the demise of Kiddieland have been circulating for a decade, but only now did the park owners and the managers of the trust that owns the land decide it was time to call it quits. Kiddieland dates from 1929, when founder Arthur Fritz set up six ponies and offered rides to children as the country began to struggle with the Great Depression. By 1940, Kiddieland had expanded to include a carousel, two miniature steam locomotives, a "Little Auto" ride, the Roto Whip and a Ferris wheel – the last two of which are still in operation. It became a destination point for generations of Chicago children. "I remember my parents bringing myself, my sister and my cousins to Kiddieland before we were old enough to enjoy the rides at Riverview," a visitor, Sandy, posted on the Kiddieland Web site. "Wow! Talk about a blast from the past! My Mom and Grandmother took me to Kiddieland every summer until I was 12…. It's fantastic that you are still in business! I bookmarked your page to remind me of the wonderful childhood I had," wrote Rosemarie from McMinnville, Ore. Fritz's two daughters later took over the amusement park, and in January 1977, the current owners, Ron and Mary Rynes and Tom and Cathy Norini, took over operation. Ron Rynes and Cathy Norini are Fritz's grandchildren. A family land trust controls the land under the amusement park, and negotiations have been in progress for several years about whether to keep it going. In a news release, co-owner Norini said there is now little hope for a last-minute reprieve to keep Kiddieland going. "Kiddieland has been so much a part of our lives, I am grateful to have been part of the park's history and for being able to bring joy to so many children and families for the past 33 years", Norini said in a news release. Kiddieland is the city's oldest amusement park, and part of a dying breed. Another iconic Chicago area park, Santa's Village in East Dundee, closed in 2006 after nearly 50 years. And of course, the legendary Riverview closed in 1967. The owners of Kiddieland are already preparing to sell off the rides and equipment. Unless something changes, the sale will begin in October, according to the news release. Cameron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 That's a bummer, this was a nice little place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 The place has been in trouble for some time now, and I'm surprised it has lasted as long as it has. Sure it wasn't a park you'd go out of your way for, but it looked to be a nice local park. Now the only real park in the state is Great America, and it's sad that a metro area the size of Chicago has only one park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsor Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Threw up on my girlfriend after riding the Scrambler, Octopus, and Tilt-A-Whirl at Kiddieland back in 1983. Good times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 ^ Sounds like it! I'm surprised they hung on this long. There's been infighting with family for years over waht to do with the land. Obviously, the payout for the land is greater than anything they'll get for continuing to operate. Sad, but kind of the way it is. Although, I bet they're kicking themselves for no selling two years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mike Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 The Big Mike Road Show is hitting this park (this Tuesday) just in time!!! Full trip report of the place coming soon! Peace, Big Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Its sad we're loosing the only small park near Chicago but at the same time I dont know anyone who would actually take their kids there anymore due to it being pretty run down and overall not the greatest place for kids, especially since SFGAm has so many kids rides and a waterpark now. Threw up on my girlfriend after riding the Scrambler, Octopus, and Tilt-A-Whirl at Kiddieland back in 1983. Good times. Exact same thing happenned to me! Those flats are really intense for being under a "Kiddieland" label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsterfan99 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Sad to see this amazing treasure is closing. I went last year and fell in love with the place. Being able to ride the Little Dipper 20-25 times is a fun time. The park had a great train ride, log flume and antique cars. If you are in the area, hit the park. I can not recommend the place enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jojo19799 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I'm so sad to hear that Kiddieland is closing. The Little Dipper is probably one of the best coasters I've been on. Does anyone know who owns the surrounding land? I think there is an old driving range and go-kart place that has been closed for awhile. If the current owners of Kiddieland did own it, and they weren't closing the park, there could be so much potential!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsterfan99 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 ^ When I went closing weekend last year, they were using the old go-kart track for parking. So i assume they own that or lease it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_teisco_delrey Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 What a bummer. I went there all the time when I was a kid. Maybe Little Amerika will buy the Little Dipper and set it up by their other coaster so they can have a faux racer setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jojo19799 Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 When I went closing weekend last year, they were using the old go-kart track for parking. So i assume they own that or lease it as well. I thought I saw it being used as a parking lot, but I wasn't sure. It really is a shame they didn't expand though. Oh well, I'll have to go there a few more times before it closes. I'm also interested as to where all the rides will end up going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstDropJ Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 The family has been fighting over the park since the late 80’s when I worked there. At the time the park was run by all three siblings Glenn (the oldest), Ron and Cathy. Rumor has it there were differences on how to run the Park. Glenn wanted to expand and make it more thrilling but the other two wanted to keep it kiddie oriented. So there ended up being some sort of big family fight and Glenn decided to sell/get rid of his interest in the park and left it to Ron and Cathy to run. It mentions in some of the other posts about the family land trust which the park sits on is run by the oldest brother Glenn and I believe the mother who sided with Glenn in the dispute. Since then I think Glenn has been trying to find a way to shut the park down on his siblings. Keeping it kiddie was probably the smart thing to do being that the park is basically in the city (it is just a couple of miles west of Chicago).To bring in thrill rides would open it up to the teen and up market and all the problems that go along with that crowd which can be a lot in a urban area like Chicago. Also I am pretty sure the land trust also includes the go cart track and the old driving range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieP Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 To quote Florida Evans in Good Times: "Damn, DAMN, DAAAAAMMMNNN!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstDropJ Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 The Chicago Tribune Did a feature article about Kiddieland's last season the other week. I scanned in the article if anybody is interested. I am not sure how readable the images will be! Doh!!! the images got posted in reverse order! pg1 pg2 pg3 pg4 pg5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsterfan99 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 A big thank you for that article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsdominionlvr Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 That is awful, I hate to see nice little parks shut down like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Bump The park might not be dead after all. While it will no longer operate in its current location, the owners are looking to move to Utica. Utica also happens to be where Grand Bear Lodge is, an indoor water park with a small indoor amusement park, and the owners there are trying to rebuild Santa's Village. Starved Rock State Park, the most visited state park in Illinois, is also located there, so there should be no problem bringing guests in. Link The news on the relocation is towards the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLY Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I was there yesterday for the final public operating day. The place was packed. They were expecting 8,000-10,000 which for a park of its size is unreal. They were darn close when I left. The line in the morning was 600+ an hour before opening! Sorry to see another park go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsterfan99 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 ^ And there was still a line to get in until 4. It is very sad to see this park go. The place only has 2 days left. Saturday is the employee reunion and Sunday is the final ride day for all the high bidders on final rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 It's just sad that so many people came out for the last day...maybe had they come out earlier the park wouldn't be in this position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 It's sad to me that while I have been told over and over I did visit this park as a small child I have no memory of it whatsoever. amusement parks of any kind, have a hard time lasting in the chicago area for some reason. I still wish I had the chance to visit riverview Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsterfan99 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 It's just sad that so many people came out for the last day...maybe had they come out earlier the park wouldn't be in this position. The park's problem was never that. The problem was the land owners (which is half the family that originally owned the park, which got split after the father died) refused to even offer a lease. They wanted to sell the land off to developers and could care less about the park. Only a small miracle saved the park the last time the lease was up. On the positive side, the park owners are looking for a new location in Utica, IL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 ^Money solves all problems. Had the park been raking in the cash with tons of visitors it wouldn't have faced problems and could have afforded to buy the land out. Especially in this time when no one will even want the damn land now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 ^Just like with Riverview, the owners probably figured they could make more money in the short term by just selling the land. In the short term, selling the land now, if possible, would still bring in more money than if they kept the park operation. People want more money now, not to bring in a smaller amount over several years. (even if it will result in more money over time) Greed is what killed the park, not a lack of attendance. As for the relocation, I hope it happens. Also, as I mentioned earlier, Utica is where people are trying to rebuild Santa's Village. Hopefully the projects merge, with the rides coming from Kiddieland, and the buildings from Santa's Village. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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