RetroLisa
On YouTube, I found some commercials for Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom and Castle of Toys. This combination toy store and kiddie amusement park was located in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. I never went there, but I do remember seeing the TV commercials. When I saw these videos, I was surprised at how well I remembered the jingles! ;D Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, 1980s www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM5VjXwHKVUDispensa's Castle of Toys, 1970s www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BxpxYu3-Ns |
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RetroLisa
Another fondly-remembered park is Old Chicago, in Bolingbrook, Illinois. It was open from 1975 to 1981, and was the world's first enclosed amusement park. Basically, it was a collection of rides and attractions under a domed roof, surrounded by a shopping mall. Part of the 1979 movie "The Fury" was filmed there. Here's a YouTube clip showing the ride area: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bXNfzU7B9k |
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RetroLisa
Old Chicago photos... The first two are from an original brochure. The third picture shows the building in 1986 shortly before it was torn down. It was sent to me by a visitor to my website.    |
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RetroLisa
Those of you who live in McHenry or Kane County might remember Shireland....Mr. Smrt's little park dedicated to shire horses. I never went there, but I remember hearing about it because my sister used to work at Fox Valley Systems, Smrt's company in Cary. I found a nice little website about it. Did you know that there are some remnants of the park still there, even though it hasn't been open since 1991?  shireland.tripod.com/ |
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