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

Dellwood Park was built by the Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Company to help promote ridership on the line. Costing nearly $300,000 to build, Dellwood Park officially opened on July 4, 1905, and quickly became one of the most outstanding and beautiful park sites in the state. 

Dellwood Park Attractions Map.
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For over 30 years, this park, located in Lockport, was one of the region's finest amusement, recreational and picnic areas. Thousands of people came to the park annually by rail from Chicago and other surrounding communities.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

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

This was an amusement park, built by the Wabash Railroad to encourage weekend riders. It was located just east of the railroad and just west of the Kankakee River. Ten-car excursion trains bearing Chicago fun-seekers, mainly from German neighborhoods, would arrive early in the morning and return to Chicago very late in the evening.

There were picnic groves, concession stands, a merry-go-round, sideshows, games of chance, and a dance floor. A German Oom-pah band could be heard every weekend in summer.

Another attraction for the excursionists was a little riverboat operated by Nick White, an enterprising railroad conductor. For 25¢, riders were given a two and one-half mile cruise upstream from the docks just outside the park.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.