Kiddieland (Chicago) closing after 2009 season.

[spaceace12]

Getting rid of an amusement park for land sale....I seem to remember a few years back a company thinking partly on this strategy. The land still hasn't been put to any permanent use (Astroworld).

 

So many parks have died in the time I grown to like coasters and wish I could have gotten to.

[mcjaco]

^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!

 

They'd be better to just give them a lease year to year until the real estate market picks up. It's not like Kiddieland is in the greatest area for development anyway.

[larrygator]

^^ and Astroland and Myrtle Beach Pavillion

[Airtime&Gravity]

The train from Kiddieland has found a new home:

 

An antique miniature train from the shuttered Kiddieland amusement park in Melrose Park is getting new life at an Indiana museum.

 

The Kiddieland Limited Train will be giving rides once again this Memorial Day weekend at the Hesston Steam Museum in Hesston, Ind.

 

The train was built in 1949 and was a longtime fixture at Kiddieland, which was located at North and First avenues.

 

Kiddieland closed last year after 81 years in business.

 

The trains and more than a mile of track were purchased by Bill McHenry, founder and president of Gas City, a Frankfort, Ill.-based company that owns gas stations/mini-marts/car washes in Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, and Florida.

 

He has lent the train to the museum, and volunteers have restored its engine. Organizers say the train operates like a full-size locomotive.

 

Trains will leave a replica 1900s depot and take visitors through woods, lakes and farm fields.

 

Link