Paul's Grove ─► Storybook Park ─► Storybook City USA, in Medina, Illinois (Addison, IL). (1952-1961)

The land that Storybook City sat on was originally owned by Paul Werner and was known as Paul's Grove. It is unknown exactly when Werner began to operate Paul's Grove. It consisted of 24 acres and hosted a restaurant and a dance pavilion.

It was located at the northwest corner of Medinah Road and Lake Street in the Chicago suburb of Bloomingdale, Illinois, but all advertisements and the mailing address read "Addison, Illinois."

Paul's Grove was purchased by John and Marie Spiezio in 1952 and they managed it until 1958.

C. Diane Bishop: "My first job was Cinderella here in 1959. That's Mike the coachman in the seat. My fondest memory is when the horses spooked one day and jackknifed the coach into a tree. Moms were not happy."

Sometime in 1958, the park was purchased by Richard Barrie who changed the name to Storybook Park, then later Barrie changed the name to Storybook City, USA. The park was geared to families with young children.

Richard Barrie was the founder and owner of the private, corporate event amusement and picnic park called, "Hillcrest Park" in Woodridge [formerly Lemont], from 1952 to 2003.

Barrie added some kiddie rides, built a fairy-tale castle, and hired people to dress in costumes, thus bringing the storybook characters to life. After some financial problems, Barrie sold Storybook City USA to Durell Everding in 1961.

Notice the odd seating arrangement on the miniature train.

Chicago Tribune Ad, December 10, 1960

 

Everding renamed it Adventureland in 1961 and expanded the focus of the amusement park to include older children, teens, and young adults. The original Storybook City structures remained and the kiddie rides were grouped together in a section Everding called the "Kiddie Korral". Adventureland grew and became the largest amusement park in Illinois after Chicago's Riverview Park closed in 1967. It would retain this title until Marriott's Great America opened in 1976 (now Six Flags Great America since 1984), and Adventureland closed in 1977.

The Original "Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" from Storybook Park (the toe was enclosed) can be seen at the miniature golf course at Green Valley Golf Range in Hanover Park, Illinois.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.