Kiddieland Amusement Park

Kiddieland Amusement Park was an amusement park located at the corner of North Avenue and First Avenue in Melrose Park, Illinois. It was home to several classic rides including the Little Dipper roller coaster, which opened in 1950. The park closed on September 27, 2009, and was demolished in 2010 to make way for a new Costco store. The sign for the amusement park was relocated to the Melrose Park Public Library, where it can be seen in the parking lot.

Kiddieland Amusement Park
Sign at the front of Kiddieland.
LocationMelrose Park, Illinois, U.S.
Coordinates41.9094°N 87.8364°W / 41.9094; -87.8364
OwnerFamily owned and operated
Opened1929
ClosedSeptember 27, 2009
Operating seasonMay – September
Attractions
Total27
Roller coastersThe Little Dipper
StatusClosed
The Little Dipper.
The top of one of the carousels before the park closed.

History

Kiddieland started out as a small venture of Arthur Fritz in 1929 when he purchased six ponies and offered rides as an escape for parents reeling from the Great Depression. Miniature gasoline-powered cars were added a few years later after Fritz learned that they were being given away to children by a Chicago newspaper as a subscription promotion.

In 1940, the "German Carousel", two Miniature Steam Locomotives, the "Little Auto Ride", the "Roto Whip" and the "Ferris Wheel" were added. The "Roto Whip" and "Ferris Wheel" would last until the park's closing. The park saw its first major expansion in the 1950s with the addition of the Little Dipper and the Carousel, both of which lasted until the park's closing. Bumper cars were added in the 1960s as they replaced the original pony ride.

The park transferred ownership in 1977, as Fritz's grandchildren took over the park and its operation. The park continued its expansion and installed several major attractions, including a Log flume, a swinging pirate ship, a 40-foot (12 m) long water coaster, and numerous other attractions.

Closure

A dispute developed between Shirley and Glenn Rynes, who owned the land that Kiddieland occupied, and Ronald Rynes, Jr. and Cathy and Tom Norini, who owned the amusement park itself.[1] The landowners sued the park owners in 2004, claiming that the park had an improper insurance policy and that fireworks were prohibited in the lease. The case was thrown out in a Cook County court and later in an appeals court. The landowners declined to extend the lease on the land in early 2009.[1][2] In late June 2010, it was announced that Kiddieland would be demolished, nine months after the park closed to the public. A Costco store now occupies the land.[3]

Legacy

Kiddieland sign restoration

Portions of the Kiddieland sign are now visible on the outer north wall of the Melrose Park Public Library. A display featuring one panel of the girl figure (facing left) and boy figure (facing right) along with one side of the portion of the sign showing the Kiddieland name was erected during the summer of 2012. The red and white striped pole is a recreation created especially for the display. The Melrose Park Historical Society held a Restoration Ceremony in the library parking lot on September 28, 2012.[4]

Kiddieland Facebook Page and Committee

In the fall of 2015, a former Kiddieland patron and his grandmother published a group on Facebook known as, "Kiddieland: Gone But Never Forgotten." Former guests, employees, and residents of Melrose Park continue to join the group, now totaling over 3,500 members. In 2017, grandmother/grandson duo founded a committee with two other individuals who had strong connections within the community. The committee met for two years at the Melrose Park Library (home to the Kiddieland sign) to plan the, "Kiddieland ten year event," having signs designed for the Kiddieland rides at Santa's Village Azoosment Park, and working with State Representative Camille Lilly to dedicate 1st Avenue to Kiddieland. Their slogan for their work within the community was, "We keep the legacy of Kiddieland alive not just for us, but for future generations." The committee concluded their work to preserving Kiddieland's legacy by hosting the ten year event at the Melrose Park Library in June 2019. The Kiddieland Facebook group continues to grow each day with new members. The founder of the Facebook group and committee encourages all to join the Facebook group to share memories, pictures, and ask questions.

Kiddieland Steam Engine Re-visit

On April 14, 2016, the Hesston Steam Museum brought the Kiddieland steam engine back to Chicago for a day of memories. The engine re-visited its original home (Costco) and traveled to other spots throughout Melrose Park and then ended at the Melrose Park Library. Guests were able to take pictures with the engine along with the Kiddieland sign, which was lit up as a back-drop for pictures. Guests also got the chance to toot the engines' whistle. Popcorn and cotton candy were served to evoke Kiddieland.

Celebrate a Lifetime of Memories Event

On June 14, 2019, from 5-9pm, the Kiddieland committee held a celebration honoring Kiddieland being gone for ten years at the Melrose Park Public Library. The Kiddieland sign lit up in the evening for guests to see. The original steam train was on display for pictures along with an original Kiddieland tractor, raffle prizes were won by guests for places such as Santa's Village AZoosment Park and Six Flags Great America guest speakers spoke about their connections to Kiddieland, a Kiddieland sign costume contest was held, artifacts from the park were on display and so much more. The Kiddieland committee also shared big news about First Avenue being dedicated to Kiddieland.

First Avenue Dedication

In 2017, the Kiddieland committee reached out to State Representative Camille Lilly of the 78th District to have First Avenue dedicated to Kiddieland. The portion of First Avenue dedicated includes the intersection of North and First, and continuing on First Avenue until the intersection of First Avenue and River Road. The resolution, (HJR0046) was adopted by the Illinois House and Illinois Senate. The honorary street signs for Kiddieland are now in the works of IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) and will be hung in the near future. The Kiddieland Committee was able to share this news at their "Celebrate a Lifetime of Memories" event at the Melrose Park Library on June 14, 2019.

List of rides and attractions
Ride Year opened Year closed Description
Boats 1949
Tractors 1958 1988 5 gas-powered tractors could be driven between guardrails (not on tracks) by children with an optional standing platform in back for adults. Tractors were painted two green (John Deere), three red (International) and one yellow (Allis-Chalmers). Tractors were not sold at the closing auction. Family kept one, and the whereabouts of 3 more are currently unknown (2 John Deere, 1 International). 2020 UPDATE - Thoosie Rocco Casella (EPHS Class of '88) owns one of these tractors.
Dune Buggies 1971
Ferris Wheel 1940 Now located at Neli's Dutch Village. A windmill has been constructed onto the Ferris wheel, making it "Harry's Windmill Ride."
Flying Saucers 1966
Galleon 1986 Now located in Edaville, Massachusetts. Will be set up for the 2017 summer.
German Carousel 1962 Located in Georgia, currently looking for a buyer. Last seen on eBay.
Kiddieland Sign 1950 Now located at the Melrose Park Public Library.
Kiddie Swings 2008
Kiddieland Limited 1941 14 in (356 mm) gauge miniature railway. Had 2 steam locomotives. One, a 4-6-4 Hudson, was built in 1941 and the other, a 4-8-4 Northern, was built in 1949. The Hudson was sold to Hesston Steam Museum in the 1980s. The Northern stayed at Kiddieland until 2009. Kiddieland also had 2 diesel locomotives which were built from 1950-53. Both remained at Kiddieland until 2009. The diesels and the Northern were purchased by Bill McEnery of Gas City in 2009. The diesel locomotives were held in storage in Homer Glen, IL. The Northern, which has now been reunited with the Hudson, was leased by McEnery to the Hesston Steam Museum in Hesston, IN and operated for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Following the bankruptcy of Gas City and McEnery, all equipment that was sold to McEnery in 2009, including the diesels and the Northern, was put up for sale. The Northern was purchased by Hesston Steam Museum but waits to operate again as it is in need of repair. The diesels have since disappeared and it is unknown if they were sold or what their current location is; however, if the locomotives were to be located, the Hesston Steam Museum has said that they would like to purchase them.
Midge-O-Racers 1954 2009 Now located at Santa's Village Azoosment Park
Mushroom Ride 1979 2009 Now located at Lake Winnie, Georgia
Lava Run Hand Cars 1950 1984 Now located at Nelis' Dutch Village in Holland, Michigan.
Little Autos 1939 1954 Replaced with Midge-O-Racers
Little Dipper 1950 2009 Designed by Herbert Schmeck and built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1950. The brakes are operated manually by a wooden handle in the station. The out-and-back coaster is 24 feet (7.3 m) tall and travels a course of 700 feet (210 m). It was awarded the ACE Coaster Classic award by the American Coaster Enthusiasts. The ride was relocated to Six Flags Great America after Kiddieland's closure.[5]
Little Ferris Wheel 1951 2009
Log Jammer 1992 2009 Now located at Little Amerricka in Wisconsin. Waiting to be rebuilt. Hope to be put up for the summer of 2016.
Merry-Go-Round 1949 2009 Now located at Sonny's Place, Somers, CT. Currently undergoing restoration by the New England Carousel Museum, Bristol, CT.
Pipeline 1995 2009
Polyp 1967 Moved from Kiddieland to Lake Winnie, GA (2009 - 2020). Now located at Indiana Beach Amusement and Water Park, Monticello, IN.
Race-A-Bouts 1982 2009
Scooters 1962 2009 Being shipped to another country. One is staying in the USA in California
Scrambler 1966 2009 Now located at Gillians Wonderland Pier with same name and same look.
Sky Fighters 1950 2009
Tilt-A-Whirl 1962 2009 Now located at FunPlex in Mount Laurel NJ
Tornado 2008 2009
Umbrella Rides (Space Age Ride) 1966 2009 Now located at Santa's Village AZoosment Park.
Volcano Play Center 1984 2009
Whip 1938 2009 Now located at Santa's Village AZoosment Park as the Kiddie Whip Ride.

References
  1. Kara Spak (2009-05-20). "Kiddieland, Chicago area's oldest amusement park, to close". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  2. Staff (2009-05-20). "Family feud closing kids amusement park". Chicago Breaking News Center. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  3. "Kiddieland coming down". Sun-Times Media, LLC. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  4. https://www.flickr.com/photos/eddie-chicago-railfan/7590851252/
  5. Vikki Ortiz Healy. "Kiddieland auctions off rides; carousel sells for $355K" Chicago Breaking News Center. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
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