Auction may determine future of Santa’s Village

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Hugh Wilson, the owner of the attractions that have entertained area children since the park’s opening in 1958, is auctioning off the park’s assets to pay the almost $170,000 he owes in unpaid rent and taxes. Wednesday’s auction could determine whether the property at routes 25 and 72 continues as Santa’s Village, another amusement park or a different use altogether. The property owner, Chicago real estate firm Sterling Bay Cos., has said reopening Santa’s Village is just one of several options it is weighing for the site.

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Santa's Village

I'll be there tomorrow... :(

I havent lived in the Chicago area all my life, so I dont have "strong feelings" for this park. But I have not noticed a single news report or story about this place going away. Where is the outrage? Once this place is gone, SFGA will be the only park in this metro area. The closest will be Indiana Beach or the coasters up by the Wisconsin Dells or Michigan's Adventure, all of which are not a close drive just for a day.

You forgot Kiddieland in Melrose Park.

The park is gone - every ride, coaster (yes, even the horrible Typhoon), store inventory and tools in the maintenance sheds were sold today. I attended the auction and it was a sad day indeed.

I will in the next day or so, post the entire auction list and sale amounts...

Sorry for the consecutive post, but I figure I'd put up the sale price of the coasters and where they are heading in the meanwhile...

Typhoon sold for $250,000 (plus 10% commission on all items) to Ray Cammack Shows to become (eeeeeeeeeek ) a traveling carnival coaster torturing thousands of unsuspecting people yearly.

The Dragon coaster is heading north to a FEC in Duluth, MN called Carnival Thrillz (http://www.carnivalthrillz.com) for $46,000.

The signature snowball ride will be heading to Grand Bear lodge in Utica Illinois. That fetched about $9,000.

The general manager of that facility who purchased the snowball is also in negotiations with the owner of Santas Village to use the rights to the Santas Village name on his indoor amusement park located within the lodge. He wants to use his new purchase along with re-theming his park to a Christmas theme.

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