Beloved Chicago amusement park closing after 80 years

Absolutely SUCKS!!!!!!

One of the last family-owned parks. I suppose that's true, and I wonder what else qualifies these days. Waldameer? I'm having trouble thinking.

In all my visits to Chicago I never went to Kiddieland, mainly due to lack-o-interest I suppose, but this summer's news has have left me wishing that I had. From what I've seen it looks like a cute place and full of that amusement park architecture and decor that I find so nostalgic and appealing. I've taken Little Dipper and log flume rides on YouTube -the only credits I'll ever have.

There's been lots of grousing about greedy family members and so on, but I'm not sure what I'd do if I was looking at that kind of money.

Good bye, friend to millions. I'm sorry I missed you.

This is silly, and perhaps I'm being a bit dramatic, but I'm going to post it.

Reflections on Economic Life and Labor.
"The economy exists for the person, not the person for the economy."

"Workers, owners, managers, stockholders, and consumers are moral agents in economic life. By our choices, initiative, creativity, and investment, we enhance or diminish community life and economic opportunity."

Very sad.

"people came from all over"
Must be nice, to come from all over to spend $23 on a few rides and a small coaster. It is a shame a family owned park is closing, and I am sure it was great for those who could afford it, but stopping here after going to a place like Great America made me feel silly if I would have actually paid their admission price to get in.

I would have liked to check it out if they had some extreme discounts this year up until the end (and I know there were some local ones that dropped it down a few bucks), but it just didn't seem worth it. It looked nice, but I just didn't get "the magic" after seeing it would have been over $45 for the 2 of us. I guess it was just the area too. I'm wondering where any of the rides will end up though.

"Things change, and not always in ways to make you smile." Ain't that the truth. =(

Watching the video brought back so many memories of times at that park with my dad. When my parents divorced, Kiddieland was one of those few places we could go on a Sunday during visitation that would make us both happy and forget the melancholy of everything going on. I have a lot of wonderful things tucked away in the back of my head. I used to even bring some of the kids I babysat for in the summers to the park for a day with my dad when I was seventeen.

I talked to my dad yesterday and he said "Well Shan, it's the Riverview of your generation, and just as much of a bummer." Too true.

P18 said:
"people came from all over"
Must be nice, to come from all over to spend $23 on a few rides and a small coaster. It is a shame a family owned park is closing, and I am sure it was great for those who could afford it, but stopping here after going to a place like Great America made me feel silly if I would have actually paid their admission price to get in.

P18, I am pretty sure those people that came from all over grew up and have fond memories of this park. You shouldn't have skipped it, even without a small child which this park is more designed for, you still would have had a great time. Just the atmosphere of the place screams "traditional".

$23 maybe is a little bit much, but they had 3 buck discount coupons and they provide unlimited free Pepsi products so it really isn't a bad deal.

To bad you were right there and didn't experience. Oh well.

I got to experience Kiddieland in 2002, and it was quite a nice little park. The best ride they had was the Lusse Bumper Cars and they also had a neat German Kiddie Ride.

Shame the place has to close.

I was there on Monday for the first time. It is a great little park and I am really happy we were able to experience it.

I understand it meant something to the people who grew up going to that, and that is a shame, just being right there after going somewhere where I could have paid $19.99 for a second day that was far larger, it really just didn't seem worth it. It looked nice, but not THAT nice enough to spend the amount they were asking for the atmosphere. I guess I have been spoiled by parks such as Knoebels or Indiana Beach where you could stroll around for nothing, which is basically what I would have been doing there aside from a couple rides. In fact we did end up stopping at Indiana Beach on the way home for a quick bite (for $5 each) and to stroll around to stretch our legs before the last leg home.

I am glad I got a chance to stop by, snap some pictures and see what it was all about, but even if I had the chance and were there again I wouldn't pay that much to get in. I am still sad that such a park is closing and understand why some are upset.