Santa's Village Closing For Good

Hey they had a great pole! A bit cold but still great.

just want to say that i worked there along time ago and i have so much memories and pictures, sad to hear it closed, i wanted to take a trip up there so my children could see where i worked as a teenager.

Texas wrote:

just want to say that i worked there along time ago and i have so much memories and pictures, sad to hear it closed, i wanted to take a trip up there so my children could see where i worked as a teenager.

It is still there, sort of. All the buildings are still standing and the grounds are there. It is just that all the rides and decorations have been stripped away. And the property has been neglected, it looks pretty sad.

But I was playing with YouTube last night, and they have some neat SV things on there. You could show you kids that.

We are entering year four of no Santa's Village. And now Kiddieland is gone too.

What are families to do for good affordable entertainment? It is a very sad time to be growing up.

IS there anyone still out here?

I heard Haunted Trails is struggling now too....

The place was falling apart! No maintance for the last 5 years had taken it's toll! Sorry to see it go.

Beersteiner wrote:

The place was falling apart! No maintance for the last 5 years had taken it's toll! Sorry to see it go.

That place blew like you!

Is the Santas Village land still vacant?

Bill Janbrener wrote:

Is the Santas Village land still vacant?

I was in the East Dundee area yesterday. Nothing has been done with the property since the park closed. The old sign still stands out front with a few candy canes. The orginal buildings are present and the large candy cane with the arrows to the park's attractions is still there.

The lot is used for a flea market.

Wished I had my camera with to take a few shots as I am not in the area often. Last time was 2005.

The area is really beat up. Since the aprk closed it really has gone down hill. We stopped at Spring Hill Mall first and it was scary. It gave a glimpse of what the USA will look like in 2050. It was very heavily hispanic. Everywhere except Barnes and Nobles book store.

I had hopes of a restored park one day, but seeing yesterday made me realize that will not happen. The buildings are starting to fall apart. And the local population would prevent it from returning to the attraction it once was.

If there was assimilation to the culture like others groups do, it would not be an issue. But that does not seem to want to happen. It is more accommodation.

Santa's Village is truly dead.

(Knock)(Knock) Helloooooooo, anyone home?

Well it looks like Santa's Village will have some attempt at an after life. They are breaking the park up in seperate areas. The first to open is the area of the orginal park. It is call Azoosment Park @ Santa's Village. It has a wide variety of petty zoo animals, and a few rides from the orginal park, and KIDDIELAND! The whip is there. That was my favorite as a kid.

Have not been there yet, but may take the kids soon if the weather holds out.

The other areas are roller hockey in the Ploar Dome, and the Coney Island are is to become a paint ball adventure area.

Still not the same old park, but it might be nice to visit the old grounds and have the kids ride on a few rides even they remember.

One item still on the ground and functional is the orginal metal slide. Pictures with that alone would worth the price of admission.

Well I traveled to Dundee to check out the new park on the grounds of Santa's Village. It is called Azoosment Park.

I have to say they did a pretty nice job. Especially considering the park sat vacant for five years. They really cleaned up the property. The only building that needs work is the old Ginger Bread House. That shows a lot of wear from the weather. But that is closed off and not sure what the plans are for it.

There are about six rides. Two from Santa'a Village and two from Kiddieland. Plus the old slide was restored. Talking with the staff, the plan is for three more rides next year.

My kids really enjoyed themselves. We spent about four hours there. They loved riding the old Whip again. And they spent 30 minutes playing on the slide alone. The barn yard had a nice sampling of animals and the ponies were back.

There was a great animal show. Very hands on. The old game building is now a bird and reptile house.

It was nice to be on the grounds again. Yes there are a few changes. The pond is gone. The signs for Santa's House and the North Pole are gone. There is a crank train on the site of the Snow Ball ride, but at least it is open.

They did a soft opening this year. They were going to stay operational until Christmas, but decided to make Halloween the final weekend and close for teh season. The manager said they were going to save the money now and invest it into next spring.

The kids were very exicted when I pulled into the parking lot and they realized teh park was open. We took pictures by the old sign, the concrete mushrooms and by a lot of the old buildings. My five year old has only heard stories of the old park as it closed the year she was born. So she was very excited to finally be able to walk through the doors.

It is geared for kids under 10, but my older boys found things to do. It was very reasonable price wise too. I would recommend checking it out and see what they do next year.

I went to Santa's Village many times as a child during the 60's. glad to see it is surviving

I just found out that there is a book coming out this month about Santa's Village! It's written by a former employee, and collects stories from other former employees as well. It's called:

SANTA'S VILLAGE GONE WILD! Tales Of Summer Fun, Hijinx & Debauchery As Told By The People Who Worked There.

I found this off the website: www.santasvillagegonewild.com

Sounds like a good read!

Received the Santa's Village Gone Wild book for Christmas.

It was alright, but I was hoping for more behind the scenes stories of the operation of the park.

A lot was 'glory days" stories and things that guys would share in the locker room.

I just finished reading the book & thought it was fantastic!!! I laughed out loud multiple times & even got a bit misty eyed at some of the stories. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The first season of the new Santa's Village closed late last month. The family that took over the part did a great job. 2012 is promising even more additions, including the return of the Fire Truck. The owners have been looking for more of the Kiddieland rides as well.

It is very nice to have a small local park for my kids to grow up with like my wife and I did. They are forming thier own memories.

who cares