Kiddieland may not be completly dead.

[Chitown]

A recent article talks again about the closing of the amusement park. However, toward the end of the story, this was said,,

"Kiddieland co-owner Tom Norini says he and his partner Ron Rynes are looking at land in Utica. Their hope is to move the entire amusement center there, but they will always cherish the memories created in Melrose Park."

That would be great but it's ironic that Utica is also the same town that has Grand Bear Lodge where the owners there want to create a new Santa's Village.

http://www.wbbm780.com/Goodbye-Kiddieland/5212320

[Ilovthevu']

It also says this part like it's really going to happen:

"The owners of Kiddieland will immediately post on their website when their new venue will open."

[monsterfan99]

Great idea overall. They are the number 2 park in Chicago and have a chance to remain that way.

On the article, I'm glad I didn't go to the ACE event, 4,000 people there is insane. But it sounded like a good time for those that went, which is all that matters.

It's sad the park is down to 6 days (4 public, the reunion and the last day) left. I'll be there on the last public day and last day period (if I win an auction) for sure and really thinking hard about going this Sunday to photograph the entire place. Anyone else have visits left?

[traincrossing9]

^I'm planning on going to Kiddieland on the 26th.

[Ilovthevu']

I think Kiddieland would be much better closer to the Chicago area, Rockford, Naperville, Orland Park, Aurora, Schaumburg, or Gurnee. I never even heard of Utica until I heard of that Great Bear Lodge place. Location is a big deal in whether a place will do good or not. Santa's Village to me wasn't in a great location like Kiddieland, or Great America is.

[tp41190]

I agree, Mel Rose Park was a great location for it. Its really felt like it was part of the community. And I think that is key for families who want to return year after year.

[monsterfan99]

I think Kiddieland would be much better closer to the Chicago area, Rockford, Naperville, Orland Park, Aurora, Schaumburg, or Gurnee. I never even heard of Utica until I heard of that Great Bear Lodge place. Location is a big deal in whether a place will do good or not. Santa's Village to me wasn't in a great location like Kiddieland, or Great America is.

I'm with you there. I am new to the area (only been here a year) but had no clue where the place was until I googled it. From it's current location, it is almost 2 hours away without traffic. At that rate, it goes from a short drive for the people of Chicago to a full day trip and maybe overnight stay if you go with kids. Not at all what I would do, but I will still visit.

[Goku1910]

This is VERY Random, but just throwing it out there.


I think SFGAm should consider buying KiddieLand's Scrambler...Hometown Fun Machine is getting too old.

[FParker185]

unless SFGAm got it used, I believe Kiddielands scrambler is significantly older than Hometown Fun Machine.

The ride serial numbers are.

Kiddieland.... 257-65
SFGAm........414-74

I'm going to guess the last 2 numbers are the year they were fabricated. Either way Kiddielands clearly came long before SFGAm's

[raginbullrider]

I was recently at kiddieland for an ace event kiddielands scrambler is not original. i don't remember the year but i believe it is newer than fun machine. it runs better than fun machine.

[DejaVu2001]

^ Kiddieland's Scrambler is not newer than HTFM. As FParker185 noted, the serial numbers are 257-65 for Kiddieland and 414-74 for HTFM. Last two numbers of the serial number for all Eli Bridge Scramblers refer to the year the ride was made which means Kiddieland's was made in 1965 and SFGAm's was made in 1974.

[BrianPlencner]

As usual, Parker is correct. This is on HTFM, taken back on 11/3/2002



You can see the serial # is 414-74.

--Brian

[ttd rox]

I think Kiddieland would be much better closer to the Chicago area, Rockford, Naperville, Orland Park, Aurora, Schaumburg, or Gurnee. I never even heard of Utica until I heard of that Great Bear Lodge place. Location is a big deal in whether a place will do good or not. Santa's Village to me wasn't in a great location like Kiddieland, or Great America is.

Kiddieland wouldn't last in Rockford, even though it's one of the largest cities in Illinois. It would do better in Woodfield area of Shaumburg or somewhere by there. But the property is also A LOT more expensive. Gurnee and any Lake county property is very expensive to build on because of it has some of the richest soil in the midwest.

[Chitown]

^Kiddieland would probably do fine in the Rockford area. Rockford only has a waterpark, so something like Kiddieland would probably thrive.

[Chitown]

As usual, Parker is correct. This is on HTFM, taken back on 11/3/2002



You can see the serial # is 414-74.

--Brian

I would still take the older Scrambler from Kiddieland over HTFM any day. KL's cranks up alot faster.

[FParker185]

Just an aside for anyone planning on going to KL tomorrow (sunday) or next week. I bid on the polyp and called the park today to pay for that and as of this weekend the Polyp is up and running again, for the first time this year basically.

[traincrossing9]

I went to Kiddieland for the first time today and loved the park. Little Dipper was my 50th coaster, but I must say that one of my favorite parts of the park was the retro arcade game Galaga and all of the skeeball machines they had! There were lots of families there and all of the parents were retelling memories of when they went to Kiddieland as a kid. It really is a great family park and it will be sad to see it go.

[Chitown]

^That is to cool that you went for your very first time and its the final weekend to the public.

I agree, I loved the arcade with all the cool retro games going on in it.

[traincrossing9]

^That is to cool that you went for your very first time and its the final weekend to the public.

Why do you think I went? I was going to go with a couple of my younger cousins, but unfortunately they weren't able to come. But I had fun at the park anyways. Little Dipper was fun, the log ride was fun, the antique cars were fun, the train was fun, the entire place was just fun! And in the end that's what it's all about.

[Ilovthevu']

To me, there was a time when Hometown Fun Machine at Great America didn't feel like it was going that fast, but I think that within a couple years or so it seems faster. I think the reason why we naturally think that Great America's is older is because of the color. Yellow to me (not all yellow, but still) reminds me of older rides like you have the Round-Up rides which are yellow. Maybe, it's that type of yellow because on V2 I don't get the same impression, but on Windy City's Zipper, it looks much older than it did before painted white. To me, it looks 10 times older painted yellow than white.

Kiddieland always has those neon lights whereas Hometown Fun Machine used to have those bulbs on the tops of the thing. To me, Kiddielands still looks better with the flourescents compared to the LED on Hometown Fun Machine, but that's my opinion.

It kind of amazes me how Kiddieland was never seen as rundown, but Santa's Village, people have said that. I like Kiddieland, but comparing the two, how can you just say Santa's Village was run down??? Some of things I will say rundown at Kiddieland that might not make a difference, but I just want to say them, they took the Pirate guy off of the Galleon for a Halloween thing, and never put him back up (the lights going up the thing - a lot of them are out), the Tilt-A-Whirl sign is just so darn old, the Little Dipper was retracked, but they didn't repaint it white, the carousel needs painting, and some are missing, and the Polyp lights are very, very messed up.

Which park Santa's Village or Kiddieland did I like the best? I liked both of them, but I just wanted to give my two cents about people saying Santa's Village being so rundown, and Kiddieland being sparkling clean. I wish they would both still be open with Racing Rapids!!

[Chitown]

The last few years that Santa's Village was open, the place was a dump!!!

At one time it was beautiful but they just let it go.

Kiddieland has always been clean.

[monsterfan99]

Just an aside for anyone planning on going to KL tomorrow (sunday) or next week. I bid on the polyp and called the park today to pay for that and as of this weekend the Polyp is up and running again, for the first time this year basically.

It indeed was running today some of the time. It kept breaking but they kept working on it all day. The lines for the Polyp actually rivaled anything else in the park at around 7 except the train line.

The park was beyond packed. At 11, the line to buy tickets was to the scooters. By noon, the line was the entire length of the park and back to the scooter. There were lines to the Polup to buy tickets until 3. Food and merchandise lines ran 45 minutes to an hour each.

[vprlvr456]

From it's current location, it is almost 2 hours away without traffic

From Libertyville without traffic? Try about an hour, oh wait did you mean Utica?

[Ilovthevu']

^^How long where the lines for any ride time wise? I think the reason why the Polyp rivaled any other ride probably has a) to do with it wasn't open all year, and b) some of these rides you can find at Great America, or carnival (Eli Wheel, Galleon, Scrambler - at Great America, Tornado - at carnivals, Antique Cars but they got the better hill, Log Flume - Kiddieland's is much better in my opinion, Scooters - Kiddieland is so darn good, but Great America's is good but not as great, Tilt-A-Whirl - at carnivals), but the Polyp where else is that exact same type of ride? At Great America it does something different, and carnivals around here have Spiders.

[monsterfan99]

^^How long where the lines for any ride time wise? I think the reason why the Polyp rivaled any other ride probably has a) to do with it wasn't open all year, and b) some of these rides you can find at Great America, or carnival (Eli Wheel, Galleon, Scrambler - at Great America, Tornado - at carnivals, Antique Cars but they got the better hill, Log Flume - Kiddieland's is much better in my opinion, Scooters - Kiddieland is so darn good, but Great America's is good but not as great, Tilt-A-Whirl - at carnivals), but the Polyp where else is that exact same type of ride? At Great America it does something different, and carnivals around here have Spiders.

The lines we stood in were (might be plus or minus 5 minutes)

Polyp - 45 minutes
Scooters - 30 minutes
Ferris Wheel - 10 minutes within a half hour of opening
Log Flume - 25 minutes
Little Dipper - Anywhere from 15 minutes near opening to 35 minutes near close
Merry-Go-Round - 15 minutes
Steam Train - 10 minutes (was around 45 minutes near close)
To get pizza - over an hour
Souvenir stand - 20 minutes near opening (was beyond an hour near close)

The Scrambler and Titl-a-Whirl had long lines as well. My fiancee is not a fan of spinning rides, so we passed on those. I will hopefully ride them next Sunday if time permits.

We spend most of the day in line or taking photos. It was not a bad day at all. I love the fact the place was packed, it deserved to go out with a bang.