RetroLisa
Steve 5-14-2002
At the end of January in 1976 I graduated from OSA school at the Naval Training Center at Great Lakes. I was on my way to Virginia Beach but was lucky enough to have some time to spend with relatives in Wheatland. They took me to Old Chicago that weekend and it has been something that I will always remember. That was the first roller coaster I had ever seen that had a corkscrew in it. By today's standards it was pretty tame but in 1976, what a concept!! I especially remember the haunted house and how surprised my cousin was to find that there were live people portraying some of the monsters as part of the ride. My eardrums still ache from the scream she gave out. I was shocked and disappointed this past March, when I was on business in Schaumberg, to find that Old Chicago was gone and very few people even knew about it. Thank you for the memories that this site brought back
Steve Dallas TX
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RetroLisa
Michael 5-20-2002
Wow does this page bring back memories!! I dont exactly remember how old I was but know I was very young when we went to Old Chicago. We lived in Ransom, over by Seneca. I remember going here at least once a year or more. My favorite ride was the Four Seasons. My folks wouldn't let me ride the Loop cause it went upside down. I remember seeing it in the dome from the outside. Also I remember some illusion museum, I think right in front of the entrance to the rides. I remember the Star Wars droids in front, appearing and disappearing. Also a genie in a bottle and a wolfman and putting my hands on a table or something and making a ball move. Also I won a big stuffed St. Bernard dog by throwing a hoop around it and had to lug it with me. It rode on the Four Seasons ride with me ha. Those were the days!! In the 80's I remember driving by it and seeing it look as it was a ghost town with no cars and weeds and grass. I remember going to some little park across the interstate though that had a waterslide. One of my brothers and his family live there in Bolingbrook. I live in Georgia now. I treasure those days. Why do things have to change. If we think we don't have anything in this world, think again, we do have our childhood memories. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Thanks Lisa for putting up this page. God Bless, Michael K
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RetroLisa
Eva 7-11-2002hi Lisa! I would just like to reminisce about Old Chicago. I was born in 1975 but I clearly remember being taken there when i was about 3 or 4. I haven't seen any photos since stumbling onto your webpage--it's SUCH a nostalgic trip. There are two things I remember: one is being on a kiddie ride with airplanes that swung around. Another is a purse my family bought for me--it was the cutest '70's denim cloth bag with little flowers. It had a center pocket with a tiny Mickey Mouse doll that fit inside with his head poking out. I also remember everything being drab and brown inside. I don't think that place had any other color Anyway, it was still a big big treat for my family to drive down from the northern suburbs.
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RetroLisa
Roger & Jeanne 7-15-2002
It's truly amazing how a short run institution made such a huge and long running impact on many people who walked through it's gates. I went there as a kid and so did my wife and we wonder if we ever crossed each other's path there; it wouldn't surprise me, though!
You really made the past come alive for a lot of folks. I still remember the grape soda smell and popcorn!
Thanks for brightening our memories... Roger and Jeanne
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RetroLisa
Vanetta 7-19-2002
I am 36 years old, and I remember when I was nine years old my parents took me and my brothers and sisters to Old Chicago. I was so amazed, because that was my first time being at an amusement park, and riding a roller coaster. I really miss Old Chicago. Great America is OK, but I still think that Old Chicago was the best amusement park ever. I wish it was opened today, so that my kids can see what it is like to have fun at an amusement park without having to stand in long lines for hours in the hot sun.
From Vanetta
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RetroLisa
Barbara 8-29-2002
I would like to let people know that my father Robert W. Tomasik Sr. was one of the people that helped build Old Chicago, and that I have always been very proud of that fact, we lived about 1 mile down the road from Welco Truck stop and from our house you could see Old Chicago clear across the feild from us.
There are 5 of us kids and we watched the progress of it and couldn't wait for it to be finished, when it was my Mother and Father took all 5 of us there and we spent the day having fun, I will never forget the Roller Coaster that turned upside down three times and went up into the Dome.
My father told us that the Dome on top of the building was approximately 17 stories high and that when it was being built he use to stand on the top of it and wave at the planes.
My Father is gone now but I am doing a family history book and would love any pictures for it because even though my 5 children weren't around then it is still a part of their history because their Grandfather helped build that part of history.
Thank You Barbara
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RetroLisa
David 9-6-2002Hi Lisa: Very recently I was watching 'The Fury' with Kirk Douglas and it brought back memories of going to Old Chicago with my aunts as a child. I remember the rides and all the nice times we had there. I was quite sad when they shut the place down. It's a part of my memories growing up in Chicago that (unfortunately) I can never relive again. Too bad they didn't re-open Old Chicago! I even remember the slogan - "Old Chicago, let the good times roll!" Sincerely, David _________________________________ <---- Page 1
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