Final visit to Santa's Village: emotional goodbye.

[Chitown]

We knew Santa's Village in Dundee Il was done but after attending the auction at the park today and watching everything in the park get sold off to the highest bidder, it really hit hard.
Very emotional for alot in attendance that just came to walk the park and say goodbye to a childhood park now just a memory. The highest paid item was the parks rollercoaster Typhoon which fetched $250,000.

I took 50 photos of the park which I hope you enjoy. After a couple weeks, everything in the park will be gone. Quite sad.
Click here for pics

[[jonrev]]

It's always sad when an amusement park, especially one as old as Santa's Village, is due to get the Riverview treatment. Good pics.

I have heard on the news that the Typhoon will be relocated to another park.

[Bob O]

I agree, its sad to see another park being torn down!!
I wish I would have visited the park, from what I have read it seems like a nice park.

[FParker185]

Guy Leavett with RCS purchased Typhoon, it will see alittle restoration at their WQ just outside of Phoenix then debut at the houston rodeo and livestock show and travel with RCS though their route.

[Trailblazer Tony]

Great Job on the Pics! It had been so long since i was there, possibly 10 years or more, and the pictures helped trigger some memories I had long forgotten about. The picture showing the Kid Wash was a big one for me, because i vividly remember that view! Thanks for the last trip report, I appreciate it!

[DejaVuGurl1203]

I wish I would've went there this year. It's sad to see it go. Yesterday while cleaning my room I found pictures from when I was there with some friends. I remember going twice, maybe even three times. Unlike everyone else, I actually really enjoyed the Typhoon and din't find it that bad. I'll miss it.

Thanks for the pics.

[RBull4life]

Thank you Chitown for posting those pictures. Seeing some those pictures, like the one with the bumber cars sitting in the weeds, was like a tug at my heart. When I was a kid, and before Great America came along, Santa's Village was the world to me. I remember when I was 6-7 yrs old, I would lay in bed the night before we would go, and look at the brouchure of the park. I always had a hard time going to sleep that night. Finally getting the nerve to go on The Toboggan. Waiting to hop on that fire truck and try to put out that fire. It's like I am loosing a piece of my childhood.
It's sad that I will never be able to take my daughter back there again. Or take my son. I will never be able to take them to my childhood amusement park. They will only hear stories of how the park was. This is truly sad. Whether you liked the park, or hated it, its now gone. In a few years, you could drive by there, see some houses, condo's, or whatever they decide to build there, and say, "There use to be an amusement park there." With Kiddieland possibly suffering the same fate in a few years, Great America could be the last one standing.

[v2guy13]

Nice pics.

I really hate to see Santas Village go, i only went once when i was like 4. But, they arent "tearing it down", theyre actualy auctioning off all of the rides, with i believe no starting bid. So i guess this brings up the old joke of lets combine our money and get one of them things! I got $20

[Sedir]

/\ They already auctioned them.

[RagingBullrider12]

I always loved the rollercoaster Typhoon My first time was actually last year i never went cause i always was goin to Great america But Santas Village was a nice place

[FRD714]

I only got to take one trip up there in 2002. I dont remember it that much. I know I got ERT on Typhoon becuase it was dead that day due to the weather. Not a bad coaster.