Urban legend has it a guy was killed on the Balloon Race back in the 70s and has haunted that ride ever since. I think I see his ghostly image under the purple balloon at about 1:27 !
When I saw the snow man ride I literally got extremely sad! How weird is that! I remember coming here every summer and me and my siblings had to come on summer with my grandmother and I couldn't do ANYTHING (because I was the youngest)....except get on this ride.....lol oh the memories.....I'm glad to hear it reopened tho I don't know if it'll be the same -___-
What strikes me is how post apocalyptic it seems. I mean, in the way that there are still scores on the scoreboards and flypaper hanging in the office. It's as if one day, everyone just disappeared. but that's just me.
They should have closed its doors in 2000 like they said they were going to. I worked there at one time. And my family knows the owners... Its very sad. ALot of good times here when we all were kids. And what funny is my Aunt worked there when she was a teen and I did as well when I was a teen..
ill add in a word here, Santa Village is reopened under a new company new rides, but is a bit smaller now, half the property is being rented by Paintball Explosion, PBE uses a good chuck of old buildings, giving it the abandon feeling, but both places areup and running and you can visit Santa Village for $16.50 and PBE for around $50 per person maybe a little more
Too bad. I used to sell to them, and at times they had trouble paying their bills. I'm surprised they didn't try to auction some of that stuff off. Probably a greedy bank made them put down the tool, and walk. The waterslide in the video was like a sister company called Racing Rapids.
I love this place and thank god it reopened a few months ago. I drove past it coming back to Chicago from Gat and saw it with all the cars in the lot. It scared me t first I thought it was a repressed memory or something but honestly, I can't see Great America staying around much longer. If that happens thatll be painful to see go. But right now theyre just barely treading water. They took out everything vintage about the park. Sooner or later i wouldnt be surprised if it turns to rubble and
It's kind of creepy to see... I went there a few times when i was a child. I still live in the area, about 15 miles away. I had no clue it shut down. Hell i haven't even thought about this place until i stumbled across this video.
@MrBOOMheadshot32 i do not know the specifics of this amusement park.......but one thing is forsure......their expences exceeded the money coming in..........why that is...could be many things. The family unit is broken in the USA and people do not go as a family to things anymore or modern people just don't find this entertaining any more....just like silent movies from the 1920s, who watches them anymore?, another big factor the cost of liability insurance & rising city property taxes...etc
@MrBOOMheadshot32 The unsuccessful launch of the "Typhoon" roller coaster, decreased attention to the aesthetics of the park and a decline of patrons eventually prompted the corporation to sell. The sale did not proceed as smoothly as hoped and with many setbacks and unmet deadlines the park had to shut its doors.In August 2006, the park announced its permanent closure. Most of the rides and fixtures were auctioned in October 2006.
@bart123levo The unsuccessful launch of the "Typhoon" roller coaster, decreased attention to the aesthetics of the park and a decline of patrons eventually prompted the corporation to sell. The sale did not proceed as smoothly as hoped and with many setbacks and unmet deadlines the park had to shut its doors.In August 2006, the park announced its permanent closure. Most of the rides and fixtures were auctioned in October 2006.
wow I remember going here every Summer with my grandfather. Is sad, I have looked up all 3 of the small parks he took me to as a kid and they are ALL dead now :(
I will never forget how exciting it was to see the Christmas figures on the approach to the parking lot.
this was bought by premier parks (6 fags) just to put it out of business. they did alot of mom&pop parks like this - leaving the ruins for others to observe.
@reggie20061 Why was it abondoned in the first place??? I remember my parents taking here back in the day as a kid!!! To see look like this is sad..Looks like LIFE AFTER PEOPLE or something..But anyway Im hearing that its open again??? I dont live in illinios any more, and we dont have parks here in Arizona..Thats what I do miss about chicago..Great AMerica, Kiddi Land, Santas Village, and Old Chicago!!! Six Flags Magic Mountain is far from me, but I gotta get there before I ever move...
I am in love with abandoned amusement parks! =D especially,: Santa's village, Marine World, Six flags new orleans, River country, and Playland! =] but they are also very sad. =[
@JoshBroz I've never actually went to Six flags new orleans but I think it would be totally worth it! =D I might of heard they're rebuilding it, but I'm not sure. =D
So sad. I'm 21 now but this was one of my first amusement park experiences! I remember my Dad took me on all the rides.. and I was sad cause I wasn't tall enough for the roller coaster yet.
OMG. I used to go to this park from1959 through 1963-65. I lived in Lake Bluff, IL and Santa's Village was THE place to go back then. It was advertised on TV all summer. I can even tell the rides that were NOT there during that time by seeing the images on this video. It's sad to see it in ruins. It was a clean, pretty, fun place to go and was always full of people! My parents have old 8 mm movies of us all playing there.
Good news to those who don't know yet. Santa's Village Azoosement Park will be re-opening officially this saturday, 5/27/11 with several rides salvaged from the original park and Kiddieland in Melrose Park!
I went here as a six year old during summer camp from Chicago, its so sad how this park has gone, now kiddieland is gone:/ its so sad how the next generation of Chicagoan children will not have these beautiful places in their lives. I wish i had ridden that roller coaster.
What was the name of the amusement park there by the freeway near ....Burbank or Willow Springs? Right there where Archer avenue turned in towards Midway Airport and the South Side? Was it Kiddieland? Anyway, it sure was colorful when you passed by it at night. I remember they advertised the heck out of Santa's Village. Never went there. That was for rich people.....LOL. Yeah, we were poor.
LOVE LOVE LOVE your video! Great pics and a perfect song for these images. I miss 'em all...Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, Adventureland, Kiddieland and Santa's Village. Great tribute to SV!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your video! Great pics and a perfect song for these images. I miss 'em all...Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, Adventureland, Kiddieland and Santa's Village. Great tribute to SV!
i remember going there as a kid and it closing shortly after i turned 21 and, i regret never going there to have a drink.. as it was the only santa's village to allow and serve alcohol. im pretty sure a lot of the rides got auctioned off or sold to a few other santas villages but if it reopened im sure it would make more than a few people really happy.. .. maybe someone should start a bring back our santas village charity or something..
Ok, I have questions. 1. When did it close? 2. were the rides actutioned off?
3. Have they sold it? 4. If they haven't sold it, and if they rides were autioned off, is it just sitting there? If you know any answer to one of my questions, please send me a reply. If you know all, great! If you know one, thats fine too! thanks, Thefunluver101
I went with my "friend"each year to Santa's Village. We would have to go to the "show spot" at least an hour before Santa's appearance and sit and wait. She was like 13 and still believed in Old Saint Nick and thought he would think she was "good" if she was on the front row.
*grief*.. she was scared of all the rides except the Snowballs, so we went to Old McDonald's farm 4 the rest of each visit. *ick*
so sad! i have wonderful memories of this place as a child. but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! in may, the park will re-open as "azoosment at santa's village!" it won't be the same, unfortunately, but at least the land will not sit empty, abandoned and vandalized. according to google, it will be a very family-friendly place! :)
they moved to cherokee north carolina that place is a good place to take toddlers buts a huge eyesore in the spring summer fall yes there open only 2 months a year
Gosh I'm really surprised it looks this run down. Why we all know that everything is getting better and those silly entropy laws don't really apply. Since man has been able to continually build himself up from some goo it would seem that this complex would be getting better and better and not falling apart. Oh wait, I forgot, those silly entropy laws apply to EVERYTHING except living creatures, how silly of me.
The owner owed back taxes on it. it was shut down for that reason. no that is just a head of a Moose. don`t think IL has any Moose anywhere! I know they wanted to put a housing development in there, but when the economy took a dump so did that idea.
@XxSomxRayxX I think that was a decoration for some room in the park. See, people use those as decroations [their heads and antlers] on walls. But what's strange is, they do that in western places and santa's village is about christmas...
How sad. I'd asked someone who was a friend of the family what had happened. The father had passed away, the children argued constantly about Santa's Village, letting it eventually go to ruin, as you can see. One of my son's school friend's has the little elephant that you see in one of the scenes. Most of it did go to auction. It's a very deserted, ugly eye sore now. Though it was for some time leading up to its eventual complete closure. Welcome to Zombieland is right :(
If you or anyone you know is interested in learning about the behind-the-scenes goings on of the old Santa's Village theme park, feel feel to check out my new book - it makes a great X-mas gift! SANTA'S VILLAGE GONE WILD! (available on Amazon)
No this place has not been demolished yet. In fact they are trying to bring it back. If only the present owners will just listen to Tom P. who knows exactly what and how to do this, but not given the chance to do so!
I remember going there and having so much fun and Adventure Land too! Seems like just yesterday I was there eating cotton candy and riding the rides! So sad to see it like this.
so are they still doing a haunted house there or not anymore? I was with the first comp to do a haunt there. we used the back "adult" area and incorperated some of the rides like the hym and the train (with a troll), along with the fire truck ride with some demons in the flame of the house lol. its so sad to know its closed but from what i read their opening anotherone in southern il soon, 2012 i think it said.
man most of the stuff still there or no cuz if there not you just gave up one of my dreams going to that abandon park the first iv hered of it that is witch is now
I used to live near this Santa's Village. I saw it in it's glory days, and watched it deteriorate. It's so sad to think that for all those years after it closed, I was driving by remembering how it used to be. In reality, it looked like this just inside those gates.
thanks for sharing i remeber this place well is all that stuff still really there.that would be a cool place just to play in n now. do you remeber the waterslide i was just thier exploring this past summer when i went to chicago for vac. i grew up around thier live in ga now
So all of this stuff is just sitting there out in the open for anyone to go exploring and look at??? Damn, Illinois gets all the good abandoned places! We don't have anything near as cool as this Maine. We're getting ripped off!
@PinkStupidity plymouth county hospital in hanson ma, and lincoln park in north dartmouth. i forget the websit but you can search up by state to find all of the abandoned places u want
@Princessgurl1088 Awesome! Thanks for the info. I watched this video again. It's so fascinating! I wish it was still there. I wanna go in there sooo bad and take pictures myself.
@Dude0096 I agree. I've been to Schlitterbahn New Braunfels and stayed at the resort a few times and the park looks eerie even when it's just closed for the evening. I can't imagine what it will look like when it actually does close and it starts to decay.
I heard the park is re-opening this fall! The theme park will re open with a petting zoo and they are also going to have a paintball park onsite. How exciting....can't wait!!!!
wow! i just watched the commercial for this place and it is so amazing to see it before and after and when did it open and close? and why did it close?
@TallRobby They went bankrupt. They tried for over a year to sell it, but were unable to and they announced in 2006 that the park would not be reopening and they auctioned off all the rides.
@TallRobby Most of them....I think a few of the smaller kiddie rides might still be there....I remember going there as a kid. Kind of creepy to look at it now.
I blame modern movies and bigger thrill rides for the closure of such places. As generations change, expectations do too. Sadly, these fun places no longer hold the thrills and excitement they once did.
@MELISSA84008 yeah i was wondering that to, and i dont think he did because one picture two doors were chained off and he didnt hop over and even if he did trespass its not that bad, and this video was worth it
So very sad to see.. To have childhood memories destroyed like that.. You can never take anything for granted and assume it will always be there for you.
I don't get it, don't the owners of these places have an obligation to take everything down and dispose of it? It's like leaving a load of rubbish somewhere, it's not gonna degrade is it??
@Schizophrenia222 Even when the rest of the rides fail i wish they would keep the roller coasters going. I mean i'm sure someone would want to pay to ride it.
this is the most deppressing thing ive seen in a while. it was still a pretty thriving park when we did our haunted house there in 1997. wonder what the heck happened. thanks for the upload. i cant believe their opening another one. one question is the poler dome still in operation?
hey steve- great song choice! i have never heard it before!
DogFlavor 1 month ago
Urban legend has it a guy was killed on the Balloon Race back in the 70s and has haunted that ride ever since. I think I see his ghostly image under the purple balloon at about 1:27 !
19psi 1 month ago
Good news for all...Santa's Village is open and summer 2011 was great! Check out our new YouTube Channel and stop by this coming summer...
SVAPdundee 2 months ago 5
@SVAPdundee Is the snowman ride still there?
flix2view 2 months ago
good thing half of it is now a airsoft and paintball park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOORAH
Mega101productions 2 months ago
When I saw the snow man ride I literally got extremely sad! How weird is that! I remember coming here every summer and me and my siblings had to come on summer with my grandmother and I couldn't do ANYTHING (because I was the youngest)....except get on this ride.....lol oh the memories.....I'm glad to hear it reopened tho I don't know if it'll be the same -___-
dalishus09 2 months ago
What strikes me is how post apocalyptic it seems. I mean, in the way that there are still scores on the scoreboards and flypaper hanging in the office. It's as if one day, everyone just disappeared. but that's just me.
roboticpigeon42 2 months ago
They should have closed its doors in 2000 like they said they were going to. I worked there at one time. And my family knows the owners... Its very sad. ALot of good times here when we all were kids. And what funny is my Aunt worked there when she was a teen and I did as well when I was a teen..
ndawg79 2 months ago
They reopened it this year... Crazy
quiksilvermanblue 2 months ago
the reindeer scared th e shi out me
BubbaTiger1495 3 months ago
awsome video! :)
tingovida107 4 months ago
ill add in a word here, Santa Village is reopened under a new company new rides, but is a bit smaller now, half the property is being rented by Paintball Explosion, PBE uses a good chuck of old buildings, giving it the abandon feeling, but both places areup and running and you can visit Santa Village for $16.50 and PBE for around $50 per person maybe a little more
xXxM4A1xXx08 4 months ago
Too bad. I used to sell to them, and at times they had trouble paying their bills. I'm surprised they didn't try to auction some of that stuff off. Probably a greedy bank made them put down the tool, and walk. The waterslide in the video was like a sister company called Racing Rapids.
MrMaypole14 4 months ago
gets vandalized by pyromaniacs and what not
AIRmaxGMAILG2 4 months ago
I love this place and thank god it reopened a few months ago. I drove past it coming back to Chicago from Gat and saw it with all the cars in the lot. It scared me t first I thought it was a repressed memory or something but honestly, I can't see Great America staying around much longer. If that happens thatll be painful to see go. But right now theyre just barely treading water. They took out everything vintage about the park. Sooner or later i wouldnt be surprised if it turns to rubble and
AIRmaxGMAILG2 4 months ago
@AIRmaxGMAILG2 Great America"?
Yeah right, c´mon,,,
EarthquakeMachine 3 months ago
It's kind of creepy to see... I went there a few times when i was a child. I still live in the area, about 15 miles away. I had no clue it shut down. Hell i haven't even thought about this place until i stumbled across this video.
tr28901 5 months ago
Sad...
wheresthebeeph 5 months ago
just another reminder that were are living in the "fall of the USA"
inkey2 5 months ago
y is this abandon
MrBOOMheadshot32 5 months ago
@MrBOOMheadshot32 i do not know the specifics of this amusement park.......but one thing is forsure......their expences exceeded the money coming in..........why that is...could be many things. The family unit is broken in the USA and people do not go as a family to things anymore or modern people just don't find this entertaining any more....just like silent movies from the 1920s, who watches them anymore?, another big factor the cost of liability insurance & rising city property taxes...etc
inkey2 5 months ago
@inkey2 I'll bet liability insurance premiums went through the roof. Too many lawsuit-happy people here in the USA. :-(
slworking2 4 months ago
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@MrBOOMheadshot32 The unsuccessful launch of the "Typhoon" roller coaster, decreased attention to the aesthetics of the park and a decline of patrons eventually prompted the corporation to sell. The sale did not proceed as smoothly as hoped and with many setbacks and unmet deadlines the park had to shut its doors.In August 2006, the park announced its permanent closure. Most of the rides and fixtures were auctioned in October 2006.
LeavingForVenus 5 months ago
such a fun place as it once was.
musicman257 5 months ago
I know right where this is, when did it die ?
raw5069 5 months ago
@raw5069 Located in East Dundee Illinois and it closed in 2006.
LeavingForVenus 5 months ago
It's like everything was just dropped and left.
Creepy<3.
NicoleNapalm09 6 months ago
Why was this abandoned?
bart123levo 6 months ago
@bart123levo The unsuccessful launch of the "Typhoon" roller coaster, decreased attention to the aesthetics of the park and a decline of patrons eventually prompted the corporation to sell. The sale did not proceed as smoothly as hoped and with many setbacks and unmet deadlines the park had to shut its doors.In August 2006, the park announced its permanent closure. Most of the rides and fixtures were auctioned in October 2006.
LeavingForVenus 5 months ago
wow I remember going here every Summer with my grandfather. Is sad, I have looked up all 3 of the small parks he took me to as a kid and they are ALL dead now :(
I will never forget how exciting it was to see the Christmas figures on the approach to the parking lot.
Almostflyin2 6 months ago
Great music! Went well with the vid.
spectroman71 6 months ago
Not very amusing.
jauchiu 6 months ago
where is the new santa's village located at?
SpeakMyMind500 7 months ago
@SpeakMyMind500 If you are talking about the one in Illinois, it is in the same place. They just reopened a partial part of the original park.
DBFan71 6 months ago
@DBFan71 ok.
SpeakMyMind500 6 months ago
this was bought by premier parks (6 fags) just to put it out of business. they did alot of mom&pop parks like this - leaving the ruins for others to observe.
PrimeTargetSecurity 7 months ago
not far from there is a little know "garfield land" hidden in woods. abandoned b4 finished - entersitement owned in 2000
PrimeTargetSecurity 7 months ago
hard to believe that the park is open again. we are going this summer of 2011
reggie20061 7 months ago
@reggie20061 Why was it abondoned in the first place??? I remember my parents taking here back in the day as a kid!!! To see look like this is sad..Looks like LIFE AFTER PEOPLE or something..But anyway Im hearing that its open again??? I dont live in illinios any more, and we dont have parks here in Arizona..Thats what I do miss about chicago..Great AMerica, Kiddi Land, Santas Village, and Old Chicago!!! Six Flags Magic Mountain is far from me, but I gotta get there before I ever move...
cowbells4u 7 months ago
@reggie20061 I'm glad they saved the park instead of letting it rot there :)
Swampertchamp 7 months ago
Santa's Village is back in business! :D
santasvillagedundee (.) com
They're also bring back Racing Rapids too!
Childhood = returned!
ctmajka 8 months ago
@ctmajka WOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BigAirChicago22 7 months ago
cool vid. Abandoned amusement parks are THE best. Thanks for getting some cool pics. Doesn't look like this was too long after the place shut down.
kylelastname 8 months ago
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This music sucks. Sounds gay!
classysassy3 8 months ago
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classysassy3 8 months ago
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classysassy3 8 months ago
I am in love with abandoned amusement parks! =D especially,: Santa's village, Marine World, Six flags new orleans, River country, and Playland! =] but they are also very sad. =[
TheFunluver101 8 months ago
@TheFunluver101 how is six flags new orleans, i live in kansas and would want to take a trip their, is it worth it??
JoshBroz 7 months ago
@JoshBroz I've never actually went to Six flags new orleans but I think it would be totally worth it! =D I might of heard they're rebuilding it, but I'm not sure. =D
TheFunluver101 7 months ago
it doesn't look old at all
joostjb 8 months ago
So sad. I'm 21 now but this was one of my first amusement park experiences! I remember my Dad took me on all the rides.. and I was sad cause I wasn't tall enough for the roller coaster yet.
NAsHviLLePeroxiDe 8 months ago
It's official, Santa's Village is reopening this summer.
onnie101 9 months ago
OMG. I used to go to this park from1959 through 1963-65. I lived in Lake Bluff, IL and Santa's Village was THE place to go back then. It was advertised on TV all summer. I can even tell the rides that were NOT there during that time by seeing the images on this video. It's sad to see it in ruins. It was a clean, pretty, fun place to go and was always full of people! My parents have old 8 mm movies of us all playing there.
jakestud2007 9 months ago
Heartbreaking. ;[
TheFunluver101 9 months ago
why didnt they sell the rides?! what a waste!
ash3227 9 months ago
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At least there's a paintball park here now
TheChicagoBalla 9 months ago
At least there's a paintball park here now
TheChicagoBalla 9 months ago
Good news to those who don't know yet. Santa's Village Azoosement Park will be re-opening officially this saturday, 5/27/11 with several rides salvaged from the original park and Kiddieland in Melrose Park!
Demonridesthemoon 9 months ago
I went here as a six year old during summer camp from Chicago, its so sad how this park has gone, now kiddieland is gone:/ its so sad how the next generation of Chicagoan children will not have these beautiful places in their lives. I wish i had ridden that roller coaster.
pawpawnorth 9 months ago
2 of my friends went here one day to look around and explore. they have been missing for a fue years now.
babieejesse 9 months ago
What was the name of the amusement park there by the freeway near ....Burbank or Willow Springs? Right there where Archer avenue turned in towards Midway Airport and the South Side? Was it Kiddieland? Anyway, it sure was colorful when you passed by it at night. I remember they advertised the heck out of Santa's Village. Never went there. That was for rich people.....LOL. Yeah, we were poor.
JetMechMA 9 months ago
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LOVE LOVE LOVE your video! Great pics and a perfect song for these images. I miss 'em all...Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, Adventureland, Kiddieland and Santa's Village. Great tribute to SV!
dawncastro65 9 months ago
LOVE LOVE LOVE your video! Great pics and a perfect song for these images. I miss 'em all...Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom, Adventureland, Kiddieland and Santa's Village. Great tribute to SV!
dawncastro65 9 months ago
It looks like everybody just left in a hurry! They left everything behind.
AmberFaithChloe 9 months ago
i remember going there as a kid and it closing shortly after i turned 21 and, i regret never going there to have a drink.. as it was the only santa's village to allow and serve alcohol. im pretty sure a lot of the rides got auctioned off or sold to a few other santas villages but if it reopened im sure it would make more than a few people really happy.. .. maybe someone should start a bring back our santas village charity or something..
popanollie1 9 months ago
Ok, I have questions. 1. When did it close? 2. were the rides actutioned off?
3. Have they sold it? 4. If they haven't sold it, and if they rides were autioned off, is it just sitting there? If you know any answer to one of my questions, please send me a reply. If you know all, great! If you know one, thats fine too! thanks, Thefunluver101
TheFunluver101 9 months ago
I paintball there now!!!!
puffaliciouschester 10 months ago
@2:15.. a bane of my existence.
I went with my "friend"each year to Santa's Village. We would have to go to the "show spot" at least an hour before Santa's appearance and sit and wait. She was like 13 and still believed in Old Saint Nick and thought he would think she was "good" if she was on the front row.
*grief*.. she was scared of all the rides except the Snowballs, so we went to Old McDonald's farm 4 the rest of each visit. *ick*
dravenousone 10 months ago
so sad! i have wonderful memories of this place as a child. but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! in may, the park will re-open as "azoosment at santa's village!" it won't be the same, unfortunately, but at least the land will not sit empty, abandoned and vandalized. according to google, it will be a very family-friendly place! :)
LittleMissAngel08 10 months ago
I can't believe Santa's village is gone! I only went there once as a kid. It was such a great place.
LPfan1983 10 months ago
Thanks for making this! This place was the place to be as a kid.
mknippy1 11 months ago
what happend to the good ole days!
ByHisStrypes 11 months ago
so is this just an empty lot now? or is there anything left? I think it'd be wicked to go shoot some sort of scary movie in there
NolanSordyl 11 months ago
Very cool video Steve!
aphony 11 months ago
I think abandoned amusement parks are on the top of the list of my favorite things!
silverose1209 1 year ago 16
@silverose1209 Same here. I want to visit Six Flags in New Orleans...
pierzedntattooed 11 months ago
@silverose1209 check out Spreepark from the movie Hanna. You can even see it on google earth.
ash3227 9 months ago
@silverose1209 I AGREE!
TheFunluver101 5 months ago
wasnt it creepy?
rideyz3 1 year ago
they moved to cherokee north carolina that place is a good place to take toddlers buts a huge eyesore in the spring summer fall yes there open only 2 months a year
wolfdevon117 1 year ago
Good work here! Never been there yet you made me feel like I had!
txeenee 1 year ago
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Gosh I'm really surprised it looks this run down. Why we all know that everything is getting better and those silly entropy laws don't really apply. Since man has been able to continually build himself up from some goo it would seem that this complex would be getting better and better and not falling apart. Oh wait, I forgot, those silly entropy laws apply to EVERYTHING except living creatures, how silly of me.
backdraft57 1 year ago
i remember going there as a kid just a few years ago... like 4.
kids everywhere so happy. now it looks like that.
KatieFayAllDay 1 year ago
Damn, hard to believe it's been closed so long that it turned into this. Remember going here a few times as a kid.
kirbyyasha 1 year ago
The owner owed back taxes on it. it was shut down for that reason. no that is just a head of a Moose. don`t think IL has any Moose anywhere! I know they wanted to put a housing development in there, but when the economy took a dump so did that idea.
dodgeguyz 1 year ago
why was it abandoned?
redneckmechanic5 1 year ago
I went here every year as a kid. I loved it! Its so sad to see it in this condition. Great memories!
claz28 1 year ago
@tekno90000 yea im on a local airsoft team and they invited us outh there and the place is awsome!
conman8553 1 year ago
is that pic of a dead moose really a dead moose?
XxSomxRayxX 1 year ago
@XxSomxRayxX it looks like it, doesnt it? o.o that be weird.but i have no idea.
ASRkitty1 1 year ago
@XxSomxRayxX I think that was a decoration for some room in the park. See, people use those as decroations [their heads and antlers] on walls. But what's strange is, they do that in western places and santa's village is about christmas...
TheFunluver101 9 months ago
@TheFunluver101 ohh ok i see. Thanks!
XxSomxRayxX 9 months ago
Just found out there is a Paintball Park opening there spring 2011. Cant wait to go!!
tekno90000 1 year ago
"Santa's Village is not responsible for anything lost, tossed, stolen or broken."
Oh man when the Himalaya went backwards and everybody screamed.. that was the shit.
:):)
heartthief44 1 year ago 5
@heartthief44 we have the himalaya at our local fair every fall. I love it!! Me and my friends rode it like 30 times
xroxysweetiex6 5 months ago
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That house is amazing, I'm a fan of large abandoned places
this is the best video i have seen of abandoned places love it
cherd1971 1 year ago
I find the picture in 2:03 kinda creepy.
41192tara 1 year ago
How sad. I'd asked someone who was a friend of the family what had happened. The father had passed away, the children argued constantly about Santa's Village, letting it eventually go to ruin, as you can see. One of my son's school friend's has the little elephant that you see in one of the scenes. Most of it did go to auction. It's a very deserted, ugly eye sore now. Though it was for some time leading up to its eventual complete closure. Welcome to Zombieland is right :(
Sweetbrightness 1 year ago
welcome to Zombieland
luckysod04 1 year ago
santa's village wasnt that fun anyway.six flags is way better
1LilAce1 1 year ago
its now a paintball/airsoft field
soccaman847 1 year ago
If you or anyone you know is interested in learning about the behind-the-scenes goings on of the old Santa's Village theme park, feel feel to check out my new book - it makes a great X-mas gift! SANTA'S VILLAGE GONE WILD! (available on Amazon)
SVGONEWILD 1 year ago
Has this place been demolished? I'd love to see it if I'm in the area.
BearKlaw 1 year ago
No this place has not been demolished yet. In fact they are trying to bring it back. If only the present owners will just listen to Tom P. who knows exactly what and how to do this, but not given the chance to do so!
jberreles 1 year ago
I remember going there and having so much fun and Adventure Land too! Seems like just yesterday I was there eating cotton candy and riding the rides! So sad to see it like this.
caroleyahoo1965 1 year ago
I remember going there and adventure Island too! such a waste, and so many great times.
caroleyahoo1965 1 year ago
sad
1superS111 1 year ago
Aw, I remember going there as a kid, kinda depressing seeing the park like this
bivcyz00 1 year ago
What a waste!
petiekas 1 year ago
I remember going there for my dad's company picnics as a kid.
I remember something happened with the water park? And because of it they slowly went bankrupt. But still, it's sad seeing it like that.
flyingcabbit 1 year ago
so are they still doing a haunted house there or not anymore? I was with the first comp to do a haunt there. we used the back "adult" area and incorperated some of the rides like the hym and the train (with a troll), along with the fire truck ride with some demons in the flame of the house lol. its so sad to know its closed but from what i read their opening anotherone in southern il soon, 2012 i think it said.
alyfan1 1 year ago
man most of the stuff still there or no cuz if there not you just gave up one of my dreams going to that abandon park the first iv hered of it that is witch is now
1111111111111111nick 1 year ago
How did you get in. Like did you just walk in
NBABALLER19 1 year ago
What year did this close down and why?
Motorcyclephil 1 year ago
I used to live near this Santa's Village. I saw it in it's glory days, and watched it deteriorate. It's so sad to think that for all those years after it closed, I was driving by remembering how it used to be. In reality, it looked like this just inside those gates.
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wickedchicago 1 year ago
Videos of these abandoned parks are depressing to watch
doomslayer133 1 year ago
its also a shame to se these great places to to pot.
musicman257 1 year ago
thanks for sharing i remeber this place well is all that stuff still really there.that would be a cool place just to play in n now. do you remeber the waterslide i was just thier exploring this past summer when i went to chicago for vac. i grew up around thier live in ga now
musicman257 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I saw it on google earth :D
peywich 1 year ago
that place is a skaters heaven.
mdogmrbliz238 1 year ago
@mdogmrbliz238 im with you man skater heaven
1111111111111111nick 1 year ago
why did it shut
lesleyboxall 1 year ago
I worked there a summer. The Typhoon actually broke apart and one of the carts went flying back down the dip of the roller coaster.
PrincessMaynard2008 1 year ago
so cool that its not all vandalized...
slikkwon 1 year ago
I totally want the awesomely orange chair @ 1:57
LandauTST 1 year ago
please tell me the song plzzz!!
bergren22 1 year ago
What mad person would leave these rides to rust down to dust. These pics just
breaks my heart.
carny44 1 year ago
Why was it abandoned? PLEASE TELL ME!
mrcannonskull2 1 year ago
awesome photos
mike2325el 1 year ago
the song fits perfect with video!
mike2325el 1 year ago
I WANT TO GO THERE SO BAD WHEN IT WAS OPEN!! wait...... did someone get ingured on a ride is that why it closed??
mike2325el 1 year ago
Welcome back santas village was by there yesterday they reopened as a azoosment park and polar dome ice rink is back
denisebil 1 year ago
very poignant. you opened a floodgate - the memories from when I was a kid and from when I took my own kids there! thanks.
onlyacst 1 year ago
Sweet! That would all be good for biking on!
Skaterman30000 1 year ago
So all of this stuff is just sitting there out in the open for anyone to go exploring and look at??? Damn, Illinois gets all the good abandoned places! We don't have anything near as cool as this Maine. We're getting ripped off!
PinkStupidity 1 year ago 9
@PinkStupidity Everything was sold at auction and it was empty a week later than this video.
mohead138 1 year ago
@PinkStupidity You mean Steven King and Lobster aren't enough?
gamehound83 9 months ago
@PinkStupidity plymouth county hospital in hanson ma, and lincoln park in north dartmouth. i forget the websit but you can search up by state to find all of the abandoned places u want
Princessgurl1088 8 months ago
@Princessgurl1088 Awesome! Thanks for the info. I watched this video again. It's so fascinating! I wish it was still there. I wanna go in there sooo bad and take pictures myself.
PinkStupidity 8 months ago
This is so sad. I have so many childhood memories at this place, I hate to see it abandoned like this. :-(
SuperRN2007 1 year ago
but why didnt they remove all carousels and the pool... looks like shit :S
Chixxie666 1 year ago
I find this so sad, and the song was perfect by the way. Great video.
shattered0717 1 year ago
how creepy, honestly, nothing creeps me out more than empty amusent parks especially water parks.
Dude0096 1 year ago
@Dude0096 I agree. I've been to Schlitterbahn New Braunfels and stayed at the resort a few times and the park looks eerie even when it's just closed for the evening. I can't imagine what it will look like when it actually does close and it starts to decay.
thurisaz1985 1 year ago
awww man i used to have games there from 2000-2002!
28dekesscores 1 year ago
I heard the park is re-opening this fall! The theme park will re open with a petting zoo and they are also going to have a paintball park onsite. How exciting....can't wait!!!!
tekno90000 1 year ago
But, but the Polar Dome???? It cant be gone..Is the rink still there?? Say yes D:
thawoodbutcher 1 year ago
wow! i just watched the commercial for this place and it is so amazing to see it before and after and when did it open and close? and why did it close?
xxjerseykidx 1 year ago
this looks amazing. i wish i could go there now, i would have a blast(:
xxjerseykidx 1 year ago
It's amazing that the people that take the time to put theese videos together actualy think the SHIT EATING MUSIC adds something.
compukenny 1 year ago
so what did this place go outta bisnuss and all the Carnies just left and no one came ever again?
TallRobby 1 year ago
Comment removed
DBFan71 1 year ago
@TallRobby They went bankrupt. They tried for over a year to sell it, but were unable to and they announced in 2006 that the park would not be reopening and they auctioned off all the rides.
DBFan71 1 year ago
@DBFan71 oh so they auctioned them to people or to other Amusement parks?
TallRobby 1 year ago
@TallRobby Most of them....I think a few of the smaller kiddie rides might still be there....I remember going there as a kid. Kind of creepy to look at it now.
DBFan71 1 year ago
I blame modern movies and bigger thrill rides for the closure of such places. As generations change, expectations do too. Sadly, these fun places no longer hold the thrills and excitement they once did.
GhostAholics 1 year ago
Aww...we used to go there all the time,how sad :( How did u get in if it was closed down?
MELISSA84008 1 year ago
@MELISSA84008 yeah i was wondering that to, and i dont think he did because one picture two doors were chained off and he didnt hop over and even if he did trespass its not that bad, and this video was worth it
xxjerseykidx 1 year ago
Silent Hill and Professor Layton!
zeroxlulu 1 year ago 10
Why do they abandon amusement parks?
racerx8228 1 year ago
nice to see its still in pretty decent condition unlike some abandoned theme parks
Yokey77 1 year ago
So very sad to see.. To have childhood memories destroyed like that.. You can never take anything for granted and assume it will always be there for you.
irvinggirl 1 year ago
i remember a santa's village in CA, think its gone now too. Sad how these happy places are now crumbling and forgotten.
alchemest 1 year ago
I don't get it, don't the owners of these places have an obligation to take everything down and dispose of it? It's like leaving a load of rubbish somewhere, it's not gonna degrade is it??
longlifemilk3000 1 year ago
that rollar coster still looked good!
Schizophrenia222 1 year ago
@Schizophrenia222 Even when the rest of the rides fail i wish they would keep the roller coasters going. I mean i'm sure someone would want to pay to ride it.
Dolphin8097 1 year ago
@Dolphin8097 hell yeah, i hear ya man!
Schizophrenia222 1 year ago
What happened to the park? Why did is close?
kaminsayswhat 1 year ago
Finally a tribute that didn't use heavy metal that really takes away from the tribute! Well done!
Penfold8 1 year ago
im only interested in the roller coaster if i own a theme park which i do not
smartguest 1 year ago
FUN PLACE TO LIVE
calebbuddy 1 year ago
ok does anyone remeber our haunted house here?
alyfan1 1 year ago
this is the most deppressing thing ive seen in a while. it was still a pretty thriving park when we did our haunted house there in 1997. wonder what the heck happened. thanks for the upload. i cant believe their opening another one. one question is the poler dome still in operation?
alyfan1 1 year ago