DEFUNCT ILL. AMUSEMENT PARKS

The Personal Collection of Dr. Neil Gale.

The Midway Plaisance at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the birthright of the amusement park, began the amusement park craze around the county, especially in Illinois. The isolated amusement zone thus created, the first of its kind at any world's fair, gave its name to the "Midways" of every fair and carnival since and provided the model for the modern amusement park to come.

Within a few years of the World's Fair, amusement parks 'popped up' like dandelions. Illinois alone had well over 140 local amusement parks that are now defunct. I've dedicated many years and countless hours of research to finding the history of these parks and locating pictures.

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Acorn Ridge (Amusement) Park, Lemont. (late 1940s-1989)

Adventureland (Amusement Park), Medinah, (advertised as Addison) (1961-1977)

     aka: Storybook Park, Medinah (advertised as Addison). (1958-1961)

     aka: Storybook City, USA, Medinah (advertised as Addison). (1958-1961)

Al Fresco Amusement Park, Peoria Heights. (1905-1944)

Alexander Park, Princeton. (????-????)*

Auburn Kiddieland, Rockford. (1921-1942) 

     aka: Central Park Gardens, Rockford.

     aka: Rockford City Traction Park, Rockford.

Bounce Land Trampoline Parks in Northeastern Illinois. (late 1950s - early 1960s) 

Brown Derby (Amusement) Park, Thornton. (mid-1930s-1960s)

Cagle Amusement Park, Marion. (????-????)*

Central Park Gardens Amusement Park, Rockford. (1921-1942) 

     aka: Auburn Kiddieland, Rockford.

     aka: Rockford City Traction Park, Rockford.

Chap's Amusement Park, Decatur. (ca.1945-ca.1958)

Chateau De La Plaisance Amusement Park, Chicago, 5318-26 S. State. (1907-1910)

Cream City (Amusement) Park, Lyons, 7601 West Ogden. (1905-1908)

Custer Bowery Amusement Park, Kankakee. (ca.1890-ca.1920s)

Deer Haven Kiddie Park, Fox Lake. (1960-1967) 

Dellwood (Amusement) Park, Joliet. (1905-ca.1938)

Dick's [Richard Bell] Amusement Park, Bloomington. (1955-1965) 

     aka: Richard Bell Amusement Park, Bloomington.

Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, Oakbrook Terrace, Rt 83 & Rt 38. (1975-1984) 

     » Complete History of Dispensa Carnivals, Castle of Toys and Kiddie Kingdom.

Doc Rivers Raging Rapids Water Park, Oakbrook Terrace. (1987-1989)

     aka: Ebenezer Floppen Slopper's Wonderful Water Slides. (1980-1987)

Donley's Wild West Town (Amusement Park), Union, Illinois (1974-2021)

Douglas Park Amusements, Danville. (????-????)*

Dreamland Amusement Park, Decatur, Illinois. (1905-1912)

Dreamland (Amusement) Parks, Springfield. (1912-mid-1930s)

Dunes Kiddieland, Waukegan. (????-????)*

Ebenezer Floppen Slopper's Wonderful Water Slides, Oakbrook Terrace (1980-1987)

     aka: Doc Rivers Raging Rapids Water Park. (1987-1989)

Electric Park (Amusement), Joliet. (????-????)*

Electric Park Amusements, Chicago, Elston, Belmont, and California. (1895-1901)

Electric (Amusement) Park, Kankakee. (1894-1934)

Electric (Amusement) Park, Marion. (c.1904-????)

Electric (Amusement) Park, Plainfield. (1904-1932) 

Electric (Amusement) Park Corners, Sycamore/DeKalb. (1904-1931)

     aka: Electric Park, Sycamore/DeKalb.

Elliott's Amusement Park, Matteson. (1890-1913)

Exposition (Amusement) Park, Aurora. (1922-1931) 

Exposition Amusement Shelter, Peoria. (1926-????)*

Fairgrounds Park, Danville. (????-????)*

Fairyland (Amusement) Park, Lyons, Harlem & 40th. (1938-1977)

Ferris Wheel Park, Chicago, 1288 North Clark Street. (1896-1903)

Forest (Amusement) Park, Forest Park, Desplaines & Harrison. (1908-1922) 

Fort Sheridan Amusement Park, Highwood. (1898-1908) 

Fox River (Amusement) Park, Aurora. (1910-1925)

     aka: Riverview Park, Aurora. (1899-1910)

     » In-depth History of Riverview Park (Fox River Park), Aurora, IL.

Fox River Picnic Grove (Amusement Park), Fox River Grove. (1900 to Mid-1970s)

Freeport Park, Freeport. (????-????)*

Fun Fair (Amusement Park), Skokie. (1948-1968)

Fun Harbor, Waukegan. (????-????)*

Fun Valley Amusement Park, Springfield. (????-????)

Funland Kiddy Park, Dundee. (1959-1972)*

FunTown Amusement Park, Chicago, 95th & Stony Island. (1967-1982)

     aka: KiddyTown Amusement Park, Chicago, 95th and Stony Island. (1950-1967)

Gabriel Yon's Balloon (Amusement) Park, Chicago, Cottage Grove & 50th. (1892) 

Glen Oak (Amusement) Park, Peoria, Illinois. (1895-????)

Glennwood Park & Swimming Pool, Macomb. (????-????)*

Glenwood (Amusement) Park, Batavia. (1900-ca.1928)

Gould Park, Morris. (????-????)*

Green Oaks Kiddyland, Oak Lawn, 95th & Crawford Avenue [Pulaski]. (1946-1971)

Harlem (Amusement) Park, Rockford. (1891-1928)

Hasting's Bathing Beach and Amusement Park, Fox Lake. (????-????)*

Hawthorn-Mellody Farms & Amusement Park, Libertyville. (1907-1970)

Henry Amusement Park, Murphysboro. (1925-????)* 

Highland (Amusement) Park, Quincy, Illinois. (1872-1919)

Highland Park Kiddieland, Galesburg. (ca.1950-1972)

     aka: Kiddieland, Galesburg, Illinois. (ca.1950-1972)

Hillcrest (Amusement) Park, Woodridge (formerly Lemont). (1952-2003)

Hilltop Amusement Park, Richton Park. (c.1960-c.1975)*

Hollywood Kiddieland, Chicago, McCormick & Devon. (1949-1974) 

Hopkins Park, DeKalb. (????-????)*

I & I Amusement Park, Danville. (????-????)*

Jo-Jo Kiddie Land Amusement Park, Chicago Heights. (1950-early 60s) 

Joyland (Amusement) Park, Chicago, 33rd & Wabash. (1923-1925) 

Joyland Amusement Park, Decatur. (1963-1975) 

Joyland Amusement Park, Urbana, on North Rt. 45. (1951-????)*

Joyland Kiddie Rides, Manheim & Grand, Melrose Park / Schiller Park. (????-????)*

Jus-Fun Amusements, Oakbrook Terrace, (1981-2020)

Kiddie Dude Ranch, Lombard. (1940-1960)

Kiddie Land Amusement Park, Springfield. (????-????)*

Kiddieland, Hollywood, Chicago, McCormick & Devon. (1949-1974)

Kiddieland, Galesburg. (ca.1950-1972) 

     aka: Highland Park Kiddieland, Galesburg. (ca.1950-1972) 

Kiddieland, Melrose Park, North & 1st Avenues. (1929-2009) 

Kiddieland, Naperville. (????-ca.1975)

Kiddieland, Quincy. (????-????)*

Kiddieland Park, Rockford. (1950-1962)

     aka: Sherwood Park Kiddieland, Loves Park. (1962-1967 )

     aka: Sherwood Park, Loves Park. (1967-1977) 

Kiddies Paradise, Rockford. (????-????)*

Kiddieville (Amusement Park), Niles. (c1936-c1966) 

Kiddyland, Green Oaks, Oak Lawn, 95th & Crawford Avenue [Pulaski]. (1946-1971)

KiddyTown Amusement Park, Chicago, 95th & Stony Island. (1950-1967)

     aka: FunTown Amusement Park, Chicago, 95th & Stony Island. (1967-1982)

KiddyTown Amusement Park, Norridge. (1953-1964)

Kolze's Electric (Amusement) Park, Chicago. (1904-late 1940s)

Lansdowne Park, East St. Louis. (1901-1912)*

Lincoln Land Amusement Park, Effingham. (1977-1988)

Lindbergh Amusement Park, Upper Alton. (1927-????)*

Luna (Amusement) Park, Chicago, Halsted & 52nd. (1907-1911)

Mackinaw Dells Park, Congerville. (1932-????)*

Marshall Park, Belvidere. (1921-1938)*

Midway Kiddieland, Spring Valley. (????-????)*

Midway Plaisance at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago.

Mineral Springs, Sterling. (????-????)*

Moline's Prospect Park, Moline. (1911-????)*

Mother Goose Gardens (Amusement Park), La Salle. (1957-1968) 

Naperville Kiddieland, Naperville. (????-ca.1975)

Old Catlin Illinois Fairgrounds, A manual 'Ferris' wheel kills a young girl. (1876)

Old Chicago Amusement Park, Bolingbrook. (1975-1981)

Old Homer Park, Homer. (1905-1928)

     aka: Riverside (Amusement) Park, Homer. (1905-1928)

Olson Memorial Park, Waterfall, and Rock Garden, Chicago. (1935-1978) 

Palace Gardens, Peoria. (1930-????)*

Paul Boyton's Water Chutes (Amusement) Park, Chicago. (1894-1907)

     aka: Water Chutes Park and Chutes Park, Chicago.

Paul's Grove (Amusement Park), Addison, Medinah Road & Lake St. (1952-1961)

Peterson Park, Mattoon. (ca.1952-????)* 

Pioneer Park, (1969-1980s); Today's Blackberry Farm, Aurora.

Playland Amusement Park, Willow Springs, [Justice] 79th & La Grange Rd. (1950-1979)

Presters' Park, Belleville. (1899-1919)

     aka: White City Park, Belleville. (1899-1919)

Prospect Park, Moline. (1904-????)* 

Ravinia Amusement Park, Highland Park. (1904-1910) 

Richard Bell Amusement Park, Bloomington. (1955-1965)

     aka: Dick's Amusement Park, Bloomington. (1955-1965)

Ride-A-While, Alton. (????-????)*

Riverside (Amusement) Park, Homer. (1905-1928)

     aka: Homer Park, Homer. (1905-1928)

Riverview (Amusement) Park, Aurora. (1899-1910)

     aka: Fox River (Amusement) Park, Aurora. (1910-1925)

Riverview (Amusement) Park, Chicago, Belmont & Western. (1904-1967) 

     aka: Schuetzen Park - Sharpshooter Park [Pre-Riverview], Chicago. (1879-1903)

     aka: Riverview Sharpshooter Park, Chicago. (1904-1908)

     aka: Riverview Exposition Park, Chicago. (1909-1912)

     aka: Riverview Park, Chicago. (1913-1967)

     » He Takes People for a Ride (Mechanix Illustrated; 07/1956) - Riverview, Chicago. 

     » Igorrotes Village Complete Story. A Show at Riverview Park in Chicago in 1906.

     » Removal of the racially charged "African Dip" game from Riverview, Chicago.

     » Riverview Built the Pike Walkway parallel to the Chicago River in 1904.

     » Roller Coaster Accidents at Riverview Park, Chicago.

Riverside Park, Havana. (????-????)*  

Rockford City Traction Park, Rockford. (1921-1942)

     aka: Auburn Kiddieland, Rockford.

     aka: Central Park Gardens, Rockford.

Sans Souci Amusement Park, Chicago, 6000 South Cottage Grove. (1899-1913)

Schützen Park, (Schützenverein: Shooting Club), Chicago, Belmont & Western. (1879-1903) 

     aka: Sharpshooters' Park, Chicago, Belmont & Western. 

Sharpshooters' Park, Chicago, Belmont & Western. (1879-1903)

     aka: Schützen Park, (Schützenverein: Shooting Club), Chicago, Belmont & Western. 

Sherwood Park Kiddieland, Loves Park. (1962-1967 )

     aka: Kiddieland Park, Rockford. (1950-1962)     

     aka: Sherwood Park, Loves Park. (1967-1977) 

Shireland Theme Park, Hampshire, Illinois, (1988 & one month in 1991).

Star-Lite Park, Moline. (????-????)*

State Fair Amusement Park, or 'State Fair Kiddieland,' Springfield (c.1940-1992)

State Street (Amusement) Park, Chicago, SW Corner of State & 22nd. (1883)

Storybook City USA, Medinah, (advertised as Addison). (1952-1961)

Storybook Park, Medinah, (advertised as Addison). (1952-1961) 

Storyland (Amusement) Park, Elk Grove Village. (1957-1961)

Thunder Mountain Rapids, Crestwood. (1992-????)*

Trout Park, Elgin. (1909-1922)*

Twin Lakes Amusement Park, Paris. (ca.1954-ca.1983)

Vandalia Park, Vandalia. (????-????)*

Watchtower (Amusement) Park, Rock Island. (1882-1927) 

     aka: Black Hawk's Park, Rock Island. 

Water Chutes Park, Chicago. (1894-1907)

     aka: Paul Boyton's Water Chutes (Amusement) Park, Chicago.

Webster Park, La Salle. (1908-????)*

West End Park, Champaign. (1893-????)

White City (Amusement) Park, Belleville. (1899-1919) 

     aka: Presters' Park, Belleville. (1899-1919)

White City (Amusement) Park, Brooklyn. (????-????)*

White City (Amusement) Park, Cairo. (????-????)* 

White City (Amusement) Park, Centralia. (ca.1896-????) 

White City Amusement Park, Chicago, 63rd & South Parkway (MLK Drive). (1905-1933) 

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Automatic Vaudeville

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Ballroom

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Beautiful Venice

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Boats and Gondolas

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Bumps, A New and Novel Pastime

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Camp of Gypsies

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Chinese Theatre

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - College Inn Restaurant

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Cummins' Wild West Indian Congress

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Double Whirl Ride

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Electric Theatre [Moving Pictures]

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Fire Department

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Fire Show

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Flying Airships

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Fun Factory

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Gum Chewers [Zeno Gum Vending Machines]

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Hereafter

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Infant Incubators

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Johnstown Flood

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Merry-Go-Round

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Miniature Railroad

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Observation Wheel

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Over and Under the Sea

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Photograph Gallery [White City Photo Co.]

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Puzzle Garden

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Scenic Railway

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Shooting the Chutes

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Simian City [aka Dog, Pony & Monkey Circus]

                                                                                           [aka Animal Circus]

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Temple of Music

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - The Midway

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - Toboggan [aka Figure 8 & Double Circle]

     » White City Amusement Park - Exhibit - White City Hospital

White City (Amusement) Park, Herrin. (1924-1957)

White City (Amusement) Park, Springfield. (1906-????)*

Whoopee Auto Coasters of Illinois. (1929-1930)

Wonderland (Amusement) Park, Danville (South). (1903-1909) 

     aka: Wonder Park, Danville (South).

Woodlawn Amusement Park, Chicago, Milwaukee & Devon Avenues. (1921) 

Zoo Park, Springfield. (1910-????)* 

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*We seek information, photographs, ads, personal memories, etc., for any Illinois amusement park listed above. If you know of an amusement park that is missing from the list, please send details to LivingHistoryOfIllinois@yahoo.com

The parks in RED need special attention.

Illinois Amusement Park name and locations. Defunct Illinois Amusement Parks, Kiddie Parks, Acorn Ridge Amusement Park, Lemont, Adventureland Amusement Park, Addison, Adventureland Amusement Park, Medinah, Alexander Park, Princeton, Auburn Kiddieland, Rockford, Black Hawk's Park, Rock Island, Bounce Land Trampoline Parks, Illinois, Brown Derby Amusement Park, Thornton, Central Park Gardens Amusement Park, Rockford, Chap's Amusement Park, Decatur, Chateau De La Plaisance Amusement Park, Chicago, Chutes Park, Chicago, Cream City Amusement Park, Lyons, Custer Bowery Amusement Park, Kankake, Deer Haven Kiddie Park, Fox Lake, Dellwood Amusement Park, Joliet, Dick's Amusement Park, Bloomington, Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, Oakbrook Terrace, Doc Rivers Raging Rapids Water Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Donley's Wild West Town Amusement Park, Union, Dreamland Amusement Park, Decatur, Dreamland Amusement Park, Springfield, Ebenezer Floppen Slopper's Wonderful Water Slides, Oakbrook Terrace, Electric Amusement Park Corners, DeKalb/Sycamore, Electric Amusement Park Corners, Sycamore/DeKalb, Electric Amusement Park, Kankakee, Electric Amusement Park, Marion, Electric Amusement Park, Plainfield, Electric Park Amusements, Chicago, Electric Park, DeKalb/Sycamore, Electric Park, Sycamore/DeKalb, Elliott's Amusement Park, Matteson, Exposition Amusement Park, Aurora, Exposition Amusement Shelter, Peoria, Fairyland Amusement Park, Lyons, Ferris Wheel Park, Chicago, Forest Amusement Park, Forest Park, Fort Sheridan Amusement Park, Highwood, Fox River Amusement Park, Aurora, Fox River Picnic Grove Amusement Park, Fox River Grove, Fun Fair Amusement Park, Skokie, Funland Kiddy Park, Dundee, FunTown Amusement Park, Chicago, Glen Oak Amusement Park, Peoria, Glenwood Amusement Park, Batavia, Green Oaks Kiddyland, Oak Lawn, Harlem Amusement Park, Rockford, Hawthorn-Mellody Farms & Amusement Park, Libertyville, Highland Amusement Park, Quincy, Highland Park Kiddieland, Galesburg, Hillcrest Amusement Park, Lemont, Hillcrest Amusement Park, Woodridge, Hilltop Amusement Park, Richton Park, Hollywood Kiddieland, Chicago, Homer Park, Homer, Joyland Amusement Park, Chicago, Joyland Amusement Park, Decatur, Joyland Amusement Park, Urbana, Jus-Fun Amusements, Oakbrook Terrace, Kiddie Dude Ranch, Lombard, Kiddie Land Amusement Park, Kiddieland Park, Rockford, Kiddieland, Galesburg, Kiddieland, Hollywood, Chicago, Kiddieland, Melrose Park, Kiddieland, Naperville, Kiddieville Amusement Park, Niles, Kiddyland, Green Oaks, Oak Lawn, KiddyTown Amusement Park, Chicago, KiddyTown Amusement Park, Norridge, Kolze's Electric Amusement Park, Chicago, Lansdowne Park, Lincoln Land Amusement Park, Effingham, Lindbergh Amusement Park, Upper Alton, Luna Amusement Park, Chicago, Mother Goose Gardens Amusement Park, La Salle, Naperville Kiddieland, Naperville, Old Chicago Amusement Park, Bolingbrook, Old Homer Park, Homer, Paul Boyton's Water Chutes Amusement Park, Chicago, Paul's Grove Amusement Park, Addison, Paul's Grove Amusement Park, Medinah, Pioneer Park, Aurora, (Blackberry Farm today), Playland Amusement Park, Willow Springs, Presters' Park, Belleville, Ravinia Amusement Park, Highland Park, Richard Bell Amusement Park, Bloomington, Riverside Amusement Park, Homer, Riverview Amusement Park, Chicago, Riverview Park, Aurora, Rockford City Traction Park, Rockford, Sans Souci Amusement Park, Chicago, Sherwood Park Kiddieland, Loves Park, Sherwood Park, Loves Park, Shireland Theme Park, Hampshire, Storybook City, USA, Addison, Storybook City, USA, Medina, Storybook Park, Medinah, Storybook Park, Medinah, Storyland Amusement Park, Elk Grove Village, Twin Lakes Amusement Park, Paris, Watchtower Amusement Park, Rock Island, Water Chutes Park, Chicago, White City Amusement Park, Chicago, White City Amusement Park, Herrin, White City Amusement Park, Springfield,White City Park, Belleville