KiddieLand

---

Taking big hits in real estate and casino investments, McEnery's empire went into bankruptcy last fall, and Gas City was sold off in April. He did not respond to a request for comment, but at least one of the Kiddieland Express engines, a steam-powered model built by Wagner and Sons Miniature Train Co. Small amusement parks are no easy business either, said Nelis. Pinched on the low end by video games drawing kids' interest, and on the high end by big amusement parks that can afford a new mega-coaster every year, "a lot of the small mom-and-pop places have really been squeezed out," Nelis said.

Every year it's a struggle. It's sad to see it go," he said. The gem of the Kiddieland collection, this spinner sold at the auction as individual pieces on the condition that a buyer who then wanted to pay the aggregate price of the individual pieces could buy the whole thing so ultimately the ride would be kept together.

Zygmunt said he may have a buyer for the carousel in the northwest suburbs who would, he believes, keep the ride together. This splendid wood-frame ride was given Coaster Classic status by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, and with good reason.

The Family Entertainment Center for Shoppingmalls

With its short, figure-eight run and mild curves compared with today's multiple-loop, high-torque coasters, it was the first roller coaster many Chicagoans ever rode. Yet it was still a surprisingly compelling little ride for parents and teens who visited Kiddieland. And, adding some paint and new upholstery in the cars, Six Flags was able to get it up and running right away, for the season.

People really love this ride. But, Kaye said, the village of Melrose Park kept asking him if he would consider giving it to the town and, a couple of months after the auction, he and his partner did just that, chalking it up as a "tax write-off" and a favor earned, he said. They didn't have any money in the kitty. Give 'em the darn sign," he said. More than a year later, it still is not on display but may end up in a park or gracing a popular shopping plaza along North Avenue, as the Spindle autos-on-a-spike sculpture used to do in Berwyn, said a village official.

When Jeff Kimble bought four of the Kiddieland rides, he intended to put up a small private park in Snellville, Ga. So he sold two of the kiddie rides to the new Santa's Village in East Dundee. The bumper cars, a circa ride officially called Jhile Scooters and modeled on Corvettes, went to a man in Texas' capital. I just couldn't believe it went for that little amount of money. He would not name the buyer but said the man is a car collector who, as a hobby, sometimes makes over old bumper cars.

But this particular bumper car ride he is going to actually build a building and set it up for him and his buddies. It's like a toy. As for the carousel, which features 27 vehicles for riders, including a firetruck, a small Alfa Romeo, bicycles and actual small motorbikes, Kimble said he believes he got a gem. His two months of research ahead of the auction told him it was installed in Kiddieland in and was the only remaining one of the six similar carousels its German maker exported to North America.

We looked at those," he said. When we saw the pumper cars it seemed to fit perfectly with our theme. We are transforming Dutch Village from being just an educational Dutch attraction to more family-fun entertainment. It was extended to the golf range. Then it was shortened to it's original length. I wish it was still there. My son's first rollercoaster ride was hear. Actually first rides were there. I still remember him pumping away on that hand powered train cart thing But he was having such a great time.

The Hodges Handcar was manufactured in Indiana and patented in Can you get links to the commercials? I was on one with my family. We were on the train! Does anyone else remember the little hand crank cars that went around a track? I didn't read any mention of them or see any photos. They were called Lava Run Hand Cars in their "second life" on the map, when I took my kids there. But when I was little, in the 60s, they were propelled differently. I loved the original ones - the later ones just weren't the same! Yes, my favorite ride was the hand cracked little train carts. I put an image in my profile pic to share!

I remeber the little boats in the water. That was a fun ride. I have a picture of the sign. Growing up summers were special for friends and myself going to Kiddieland. We lived in Elmwood Park and travelled through the "forest preserves" which would lead us right across the street from the park. The thrill of going there and riding all day is etched in my memory. Such a shame it had to close, greed no doubt.

It was closed due to a family feud, as stated in the posted story.

Search the Journal

Land owners wouldn't renew the lease As stated in the story: This article brought back such fond memories of us with our chikdren at Kiddieland. They were always asking to go. Too bad it had to close. My deceased husband enjoyed working at Kiddieland for several years while he was in high school.

He had a great time helping the children on and off the ponies and rides. He always remembered the experience with joy and fondness. We knew Tom Norini from Boy Scouts and we could tell he was sad that it was closing. We had fond memories of going there, the funniest was that my son age 5 or so thought we said we were going to KITTYLAND and he was sorely disappointed that there were rides there instead. He got over it, but it a fond memory,. I used to think that was the way it was spelled I have so many amazing memories of Kiddieland. My father worked here for a number of years and we spent a great deal of time at the park.

Love the history re-cap so sad it had to end. Does anyone else remember a ride consisting of small hand crank cars that went around on a train track? You'd turn the crank with both hands and it would drive the car around the track. I seem to remember a ride like this from back in the early 60's but I don't see a picture of it here. Yes, it was called the Hand Cars. It was immensely popular. It was definitely there later than that I started going in around and it was there for at least another 5 years I remember when I got a little older I always wondered what happened to that, I used to love those when I was little!

Back in my family visited Kiddieland. The only thing I remember was my father talking me into riding the Little Dipper I was only 5 years old and scared to death. Later I brought my children and then my grandkids in the last month open. Four generations of happiness. Luckily I have hanging in my office an entrance to north Ave directional sign.

Back in the 60's there was a Kiddie Land on 95th where Evergreen Plaza is now Then they moved to 87th west of Harlem near the over pass. It was also known as Kiddie Land. Next time I heard the name it was in Melrose Park. Are all these the same people or have they only been located in Melrose Park. I was able to take my kids there before it closed, "Daddy go back there! Are there photos or any information as to the gas-powered cars they obtained in the s?

He said that his grandfather owned Kiddyland but I forgot all about it until now! I had a buddy who lived in the house behind the Little Dipper,,,.

Readers Since 11/06/2016

Our aunt and uncle would take us there every summer. I use to work at Kiddytown on Harlem ave and Irving pk road, I remember the owner of our amusement park sending us to buy a ticket and stay there till park almost closed and then bought another ticket to see how many people would attend their park and he would compare attendance with our park. We also had a roller coaster that was exactly like theirs, and many similar rides. I use to operate the roller coaster, and the tilt a whirl, we also had Two fire trucks for birthday parties and ride through the Harlem Irving Plaza!

I had many good years of driving the locomotive train around the park, Kiddieland you will be missed. Comments not on the articles topic will be deleted as well as advertisements. In , the year of the Great Depression, Arthur E. Fritz, like many other Americans, found himself in financial trouble.

Kiddieland Amusement Park

He managed to pay all of his creditors and with the little money he had left, he purchased six ponies and offered rides to children. The Little Dipper was a light-hearted, breezy ride through a figure eight track. The train tackled swervy descents and swift turns, racing at moderate speeds that made riders scream and giggle at the same time.

The car chugged through a whirlwind foot-long track in about a minute. Plus, the quick swoops, fast curves, and sudden switchbacks were extra jaw-dropping.

• Origami Safari
• Bone Crusher
• Essays in Little
• Dynamic Reconfiguration: Architectures and Algorithms (Series in Computer Science)
• Küsse mich noch mal! (German Edition)
• A GOLDEN NUGGET WAY OF LIFE
• Rethinking Fundamental Theology