Old Chicago Amusement Park in Bolingbrook, Illinois, (1975-1981). World's First Indoor Amusement Park.

Old Chicago was the world's first completely enclosed amusement park and shopping center at 555 S. Bolingbrook Drive, Bolingbrook, Illinois. It was open 365 days a year.

Old Chicago consisted of a large square building with a domed center. The rides and attractions (the "Old Chicago Fairgrounds") were in the center, under the dome, and the shopping area surrounded them. When it opened in 1975, part of the grand opening celebration included a tap dancer dancing on the top of the dome.

Old Chicago Shopping Center Tenants List.

In November of 1975, the "Comedy King of Air," 56-year-old Jimmy Troy, fell 20 feet to his death from the trapeze in an aerial accident at the Old Chicago Circus.

The "Shopping Mall" had a cobblestone floor designed to resemble a turn-of-the-20th-century street. One long hallway followed the entire perimeter of the building. At strategic points, there were windows where you could look out into the amusement park area.

A spiral entrance ramp led from the mall level down to the park level, where the rides were arranged in a large circle. Trees, benches, and streetlights provided a park-like atmosphere. The "Fairgrounds" had "31 great rides and attractions," all crammed into the domed center of the building.

It was amazing that they could fit everything in the small space. When it opened, Old Chicago charged $1.00 for admission to the amusement park (50¢ for children) and then charged a flat fee for unlimited rides. They had a small souvenir shop by the entrance to the amusement park. In addition to standard style rides (some with new names) like the Round-up, Tilt-a-Whirl, Chicago Bobs, Scrambler, Spider, Merry-go-round, Monster of the Midway, Rotor, Antique Cars, Barnstormer, Crash of '29 (bumper cars), Enterprise, Trabant, Ferris wheel, Paratroopers, Four Seasons (dark ride), Yo-Yo, Toboggan, Screamer, and the Windy City Flyer, there were two Roller Coasters; the Zyclon and the Chicago Loop. There was also a water ride called the Chicago Log Race.

The Fairgrounds also hosted a circus, a vaudeville theater, a haunted house, a few Kiddie rides, and some games of skill and chance. Various events took place at Old Chicago from time to time. Chicago radio stations held back-to-school bashes, and the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon donated a "fishbowl" and did remote broadcasts during their Chicago segments.

Many rock bands, musicians, and other celebrities appeared at Old Chicago. They performed in an area called the "Old Chicago Stage," which was added in 1978. The stage was placed where the Paratrooper ride stood (next to the Haunted House). The Paratrooper ride was sold instead of being moved elsewhere in the park. Here is a partial list of performers: Black Oak Arkansas - (Go Jim Dandy!), Tommy James and the Shondells, The Coasters (Alley OOP, Charlie Brown), Wild Cherry (Play that Funky Music), Willie Aimes - (Eight is Enough, Charles in Charge), Anson Williams (Potsie from Happy Days), Freddie' Boom Boom' Cannon (Palisades Park), Chubby Checker, Chuck Berry, Peter Tork and the Monkees (He was the only touring member), Jan and Dean (Surf City), Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Rip Taylor (Toupee and all), Sha-Na-Na, The Ramones (One of the original punk bands), Rex Smith, Gary' US' Bonds, The Shirelles, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, The Hudson Brothers (The Razzle Dazzle show), Gloria Gaynor (I Will Survive), The Guess Who (American Woman), Rick Nelson, The Star Wars Robots (C3PO and R2D2), and Karl Wellenda.

Peter Labella, playing the trumpet, led the Circus Band at Old Chicago from 1975 to 1981.

Old Chicago seemed like an idea that couldn't fail. In retrospect, however, it's easy to see why it did. The mall consisted solely of small specialty shops, restaurants, and snack bars but needed an anchor or large chain store like Marshall Field, Sears, Wards, or J.C. Penny to draw in shoppers. There needed to be more than the small stores to make a shopping mall successful.

The famous magician Marshall Brodien, aka "Wizzo the Wizard" on "Bozo's Circus," had a magic shop in the mall. 

Brodien demonstrated and sold professional magic tricks at Baer's Treasure Chest Arcade and Professional Magic Shop, downtown Chicago, on the private 2nd floor that catered to professional magicians.

Once the novelty wore off, the building only attracted repeat visitors if those who attended special events or lived nearby. Unlike an outdoor park, which can constantly update and add rides, Old Chicago was confined to the space between its walls, and it quickly got old. It was also in a remote location 30 miles southwest of Chicago. The cost of operating the building year-round was very high. I'm sure that when Marriott's Great America (now Six Flags Great America) opened in 1976, the downward death spiral for Old Chicago's amusement park began.

Old Chicago didn't fare well financially either. There were too many empty stores, and the amusement park was too confined to attract amusement park aficionados. Old Chicago abruptly closed the amusement park in 1980, and the mall followed in 1981. The building was razed in 1986.

The map below is from Old Chicago's first year of operation. Consequently, rides that were moved or added later will not be shown here.

1. Four Seasons

2. Arcade games

3. Entrance ramp

4. Shooting gallery

5. Round-Up

6. Tilt-a-Whirl

7. Chicago Bobs

8. Guess-Your-Weight

9. Chicago Loop

10. Games

11. Dunk tank

12. Scrambler

13. Chicago Log Race

14. Handwriting analysis

15. Chicago Cat 

16. Spider

17. Kiddie Rides

18. Moonwalk

19. Trabant

20. Paratroopers

21. Merry-go-Round

22. Snacks Concession stand

23. Rotor

24. Circus

25. Yo-Yo

26. Bumper Cars

27. Ferris Wheel

28. Haunted House

29. Games

30. Hats

31. Vaudeville Theatre

VISIT OUR OLD CHICAGO AMUSEMENT PARK SOUVENIR SHOP

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

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RADIO COMMERCIAL

Radio Commercial on WMET in 1977 for Old Chicago. 

VIDEOS

Old Chicago Amusement Park - Interior Footage

Old Chicago Amusement Park - Final Days

February 5, 1976: Children and teenagers use the pinball machines at the Town Arcade in Bolingbrook's Old Chicago, a combination shopping mall and indoor amusement park.

Visit our Old Chicago Souvenir Shop on your way out.