Kiddieland
Kiddieland was an amusement park in Melrose Park that opened in 1929. I fondly remember going to it as a child, and took Zoe there once (she’s never much cared for amusement parks). Unlike the modern variety, it was a park that catered in particular to young children, with a miniature train running along its periphery. It closed on September 26th, the victim of a feud between family members who owned the park and their kin who owned the land.
I went there on September 19th, just to take a few photos and say good bye. The park was a bit shabby, maintenance no doubt the victim of imminent closure. The Little Dipper roller coaster was badly in need of repainting.
The rides and other equipment will be auctioned off next month. Will someone bid for everything and attempt a resurrection? More photos here.
Nicole Bergstrom said,
October 26, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
We shot in kiddieland for Pert Plus & Leo Burnett! We needed a roller coaster that would blow back hair gracefully ! it was such a great roller coaster, all rickety and white picket fence-ish.
I am sorry it is closing. should be preserved, along with apple-picking
thanks for the great pictures
Greg Holden said,
October 26, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
I went to a Kiddieland (I think it was related to the one you are talking about) on Golf Road when I was a kid. I took the girls there once. It was surprisingly good, especially the log ride. I, too, liked the roller coaster. Like Riverview, it should be preserved, but I fear it will be bulldozed.
netter.j said,
October 27, 2009 @ 7:10 am
I’m afraid the “assets” will probably be scattered, but perhaps seed some new sanctuaries for childhood. I agree about apple picking!
netter.j said,
October 28, 2009 @ 6:31 pm
Heard today that Costco wants to buy the land.
Ukulele Welsh said,
October 29, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
this brought back lots of mammories.. Fuzzy happy memories of Kiddie Land, we would make 2 trips a year: one in Summer and the other at……Halloween! For their big spookhouse. Many years I would make it OUT of the spookhouse first and then my brother and/or sister would run out screaming and crying. Most vivid memory: friend Mike Graham threw up while on the Tilt-O-Whirl…. and we had to drive all the way back (to Downers Grove) home holding our noses, he was soaked in puke. Then my brother puked in the car, from the smell of the vomit…. station wagon packed with kids…..then several others started gagging, on the verge of puking, with my mother yelling “don’t puke” “put you head out the window” …..all in the 66 Monoco station wagon barreling back…. oh those tender memories. We lived in DG, which didn’t have White Castle - so every trip was made more special because we’d hit White Castle nearby.