Chicagoist: The Friday Flashback: Old Chicago Amusement Park

awondermom

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:35:00 -0600

I had been to Old Chicago many, many times. In fact, my older brother used to work there. It was a harmless place and my friends and I always had a great time. You are right about the bumper cars and any ride for that matter. If the place was empty, you could ride again and again and again. It was torn down and yes, I believe there are mostly warehouse buildings and office parks near that area now.

johnr

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:42:28 -0600

I recall (possibly incorrectly) bumber cars there that my brothers and I went on. We were the only people in the entire place that was using them and we didn't have to get off until we wanted to. The operator paused the cars at the designated interval and then started them back up again. In later years once I started to drive (and the place was abandoned) that was a pretty typical end point for a run I would make. I did it many times before I found out I was in the Old Chicago parking lot.

Kaonashi

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:58:31 -0600

I LOVED Old Chicago as a small child, because it was indoors and you could go in all sorts of weather. It was also cheaper than 6 Flags (which meant we got more goodies to take home). I think it's a shopping mall now. :(

Chuck Sudo

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:06:28 -0600

Spook: we'll get to the precursor to taste of Chicago in a couple of weeks here.

Spook

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:32:08 -0600

So is that were the urban legend came from about the Old Chicago Roller Coaster breaking, sending a roller coaster car( with people in it) through the window and out into the parking lot??? Yea I remember my moms taking me and my cousins out there when I was a shortie too small to even ride the rides. It was nothing but thugs from Chicago and poor white trash Illinoisans. I guess you could say Old Chicago was the precursor to the Taste of Chicago. Between the indoor rides and the people, I was terrified of the joint!

fr0ntl1n3

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:57:14 -0600

long live the record store in the mall where I got my Peter Criss solo 8-track in 1978!

mich

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:24:00 -0600

omg I am cracking up right now. That clip is hilarious! That movie looks terrible!

salaboutme

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:18:51 -0600

i LOVED that movie!!!!

mss2400

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:05:18 -0600

I remember visiting Old Chicago on a weekday afternoon...right after school when I was about 13 years old. I think there were about 50 people in the whole place. I'd estimate that about half the stores were empty, and the others that were open just sold crap. Even at that young age, it didn't seem like Old Chicago was going to be around much longer... Does anyone know what is on the site now? I haven't been by there in a long time, but I suspect its just suburban retail sprawl? Several years later, my parents purchased our family's brand new 1981 Chrysler K car at a "tent sale" in the Old Chicago parking lot! How's that for a great memory?

ophmarketing

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:36:38 -0600

My folks took me to Old Chicago not too long after it opened, and I remember being somewhat unimpressed with it. I was asking to leave within the first hour or so. When an eight-year-old doesn't enjoy an amusement park, you know it's in trouble.

matty

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:47:46 -0600

WOW What a heaping load of crap that movie is!