What Happened to Kiddieland Amusement Park in Illinois?

Anytime we ask a question like, "What things do you miss and wish would return in Illinois?", we get several people saying "Kiddieland Park".

I've lived in Illinois my entire life, yet I have no memories of a Kiddieland Park.

Are people referring to the Kiddlieland Park that was on Forest Hills Road in Rockford?

OR are they referring to the Kiddieland Amusement Park that used to be open in Melrose Park, Illinois?

Do You Remember Illinois' Kiddieland Amusement Park?

When Kiddieland Amusement Park opened in Melrose Park, Illinois in 1929, it was started by a man named Artuthy Fritz who scraped up enough money to buy 6 ponies for kids to ride during the Great Depression.

Fritz's vision to provide entertainment for struggling families with young children grew into an amusement destination for people throughout Illinois and beyond. Kiddieland was known for classic rides like the Little Dipper rollercoaster, a massive carousel, and 2 steam locomotives people could ride.

Kiddieland Remembered via Facebook

Kiddieland Amusement Park permanently closed in 2009 following a disagreement between the owners of the park and the people who owned the land the park sat on, but what happened to all those cool, vintage rides?

What Happened to the Rides at Kiddieland Amusement Park

After closing in 2009, the Kiddieland property was completely demolished in 2010 to make way for a new Costco store. Many of Kiddieland's beloved rides were purchased at auction by other amusement parks throughout the country, including Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.

What are your fondest memories of time spent at Kiddieland Amusement Park? We sure would love to hear them; just send a message on our app!