It seems smaller than I remember. Last I heard it was closed in '06. I had no idea it was reopened. I was an occasional visitor there in the '70's with my final visit no later than maybe 1979/80. By then I was already outgrowing the place and was much more interested in Marriott's Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. In my youth Santa's Village boasted "three worlds" with one area called Coney Island. I think each "world" had a theme with some rides. I recall a giant Christmas Tree that allowed people to ride inside the ornaments. It was a gentle ride that just went in a circle...kinda like a carousel with the ornaments moving up and down at various heights. I also recall a Toboggan-style coaster that was there in the '70's for a few years as well, which was a favorite of mine because it was quite unique. As much as I can appreciate the park's revival, the original park was bigger and a bit better. To be honest, Santa's Village was never my favorite park as a child.... I preferred Kiddieland in Melrose Park Illinois, which was closed and demolished after 2009, sadly ending 80 years of operation. From my perspective it was wayyyy better than Santa's Village, in fact Kiddieland's famous wooden rollercoaster, The Little Dipper, was dismantled and rebuilt/restored, including its famous boarding area, at Six Flags Great America where it operates today. It's now a 74 year-old roller coaster which makes it the oldest operating rollercoaster in Illinois. I think for most Chicagoans who were either the younger Baby Boomers born in the early '60s through Generation X, Kiddieland was the preferred place to go. However, it is very nice to see Santa's Village making a comeback, which is an opportunity Kiddieland will never have. Seeing the snowball ride again certainly brought back a memory or two and it's a cheaper option than Six Flags Great America if one has very young children.
It's really cool of you too make a video of our park. I'm a ride operator and ride mechanic at Santa's Village and this made me feel good about working here. Within the next few years the park will expand into the paintball area again as paintball explosions time is almost up on the property
As one who worked at Santa's Village back in the day, the Paintball area was the Coney Island area of the park. It included a bumper car racetrack, was the original location of the fire truck ride, along with a Swiss Tobaggan, English Rotor, and a Tilt-a-Whirl. There was also a ski lift type ride that was a round trip circuit over this section. The hillside area was the picnic grounds back in the day, where families could bring in their own food and eat at one of many, many picnic tables. It was also where the large groups would be based for the day, with the Fraternal Order of Police of the Chicago Area having their very large picnic each year. The original waterpark was a bit more standard back in the day, with a dual fairly decent sized slide as the centerpiece. Even as I worked there in the early 1980s the park had already begun its slow decline. Buildings and rides showed chipped paint and morale was odd as we had to pretty much beg for customers' service awards to keep in good standing. Problem bring that each customer upon entry received two and so if you weren't stationed for the day near the entrance those service awards could be very hard to come by. Still, it was a fun place to work. The movie Adventureland often seems eerily familiar complete with wild drunken parties at rich employees families' homes. Still a few good friends from my time there.
I went there when I was young. I was heart broken when I heard it closed. I'm so glad it's up and running again. Even though it's not as big as it used to be, It's heart warming to see it running again
I remember taking my nephew here in the 80s and my kids in the 90s. It closed for a time but obviously reopened. I can't wait to take my grandkids! Thank u for posting this video!
for anyone who is curious about the future of the park: i don’t work there myself, but my mom has for almost 8 years now. i also am considering working there as “the princess” when i’m 16 in just a couple years. point is, i know a good amount about this place, lol. anyway, when the park reopened, they didn’t have many rides and attractions yet, however, each year they have at least one new ride. the question isn’t “will they add a ride,” it’s “what ride will they add?” as of now, my mom says that she’s heard of the current small water park possibly getting another slide, possibly getting a lazy river, and also a log ride. according to her, as far as she knows they already have materials for a log ride, just haven’t found a good spot to put it yet. she has also heard that they are planning to get a new coaster eventually. however, since santa’s village added back their water park, i think that’s what their focus is for now! santa’s village is becoming a thing again! (and for the better, this time.) the new owner jason is definitely changing this place for the better 🥳 edit: one more thing i forgot to mention! there is also talk of sv buying back the paintball arena! we’ll see what the future brings
I remember around the time this park closed how many of the reports were how trashy the park was with Typhoon being the cherry on top. With the new incarnation, despite seemingly having a limited budget, it looks like they've poured a lot of thought and care into what they have.
This review is great and really captures the essence of this park. It's been years since I've been here for operations (my kids are older now), but we were here multiple times from 2009 - 2012. Heck, my sister-in-law worked in the old ice area when she was in high school. It's great that this park was able to reopen, and your video does a great job of highlighting what the park is all about.
I live in the Western Suburbs and I loved This park growing up. I was very happy seeing it reopen again. xTreme elevation is one of the most intense thrill rides I’ve ever been on, it is much better and more forceful than the worlds tallest one. I think this one of those parks that would be great getting a small gravity group woodie, like Quassy or storyland
Great! I have family with a lot of extended family's as well! This would be a great late after/early evening get away! I'll keep this one in mind! I remember back in the 70's when it WAS Santa's Village and enjoyed myself!
I got to visit last month and had a great time. I also ended up spending 3+ hours here, after thinking I'd be there for 1. It is so charming. But a few things have changed since your visit. The Larson ARM drop tower has been removed. I was shocked seeing it in your video, after not seeing it in the park. Jolly Trolley has also been removed or converted. I paid about $34 for entry, parking still free. I thought I walked right up to the entrance and they scanned my online ticket, but maybe I'm remembering that wrong(?). A few additions include an SBF Visa credit, North Pole Expedition (an excellent dark ride aboard a jeep, going outside then in, passing by what might be those reindeer from Jolly Trolley), and Enchanted Experience (a VR ride on Santa's sleigh, and it was pretty cool, but low capacity, so it could build a line). Plenty of camp groups on my Tuesday, but they advertise Wednesday as a major camp/school group day. Still, lines were short for me. The waterpark was fun, which had another addition since your visit. That 2-slide tower has added a 3rd slide off to the right, and was easily the smoothest and best. And they are currently building mat racer slides to the right of it. The play structure did allow adults and older teens to ride the open slides. The 3-lane, double-down slide was giving me a decent pop of airtime if I flung myself into the slide with enough force. I'll be doing the NH Santa's Village in a week and a half, so it'll be cool doing both for the first time in the same summer.
I much prefer the NH Santa's Village since the theming and charm are superior. The new dark ride at the Illinois one looks pretty good. Not sure when I'll be back though.
When this place was built it was actually part of the Glen Holland chain, being a sister park to the 2 in California. Of the 2 in California one is a mountain bike park and ropes course (original park closed 1998, buildings still standing), the other was demolished in the mid 2010s after sitting abandoned since the 70s, although ACE did a documentary series on lost parks in the area which includes footage of the park before it was demolished (the one that peaked my interest in this chain of parks, as when I go to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk I always pass the sign for "Santa's Village Rd" on rt 17 and remembered hearing about the chain a while back from either Expedition Theme Park or Defunctland. You can often find reminants like I did at Fairyland if the site is not literal concrete for parking and new buildings so I'm making a point to visit next weekend).
@@CanobieCoaster Glen Holland's chain obviously no longer exists, but I think it's pretty cool that 2/3 of his parks still exist in some form even if they're different from how he envisioned them. This park was actually what killed the chain though, ironically because of inability to operate in Chicago winters (the California parks were year round, what killed off Scott's Valley was a rainy December in 1978 likely paired with competition from Santa Cruz being less than 15 minutes away, which has a wider audiance).
Went there a few years ago and plan on taking my son there for his 5th birthday in a few days. I don't like the rides, but the kids love them and have a blast. I think it's the perfect little amusement park for kids under 10 or 12 or who don't like bigger rides
Park Atmosphere is honestly what I look for most and this park looks like it has a lot of charm so if I ever come to the Midwest I would love to visit.
I think it’s just marvelous the park is trying to expand into another demographic! I think a trouble they’ll have though is that some older kids may feel childish going to a place called Santa’s Village. If they continue down this road in the future, I almost wonder if they’ll change their name to something more like Holiday Park or something like that. In 2022, they are reopening the log flume from the old Kiddieland. After that, I would love to see them open up a Gravity Group woodie and an action river for the water park.
they’re actually replacing their drop tower. i’m not sure about the frisbee tho, same thing with the swinging ship. they’re selling it and buying one that’s just as good (for profit, i assume)
you used to be able to bring in a cooler that was a specific size or smaller, i think that was changed, though. you can eat in your car and come back in, though!
They need to add some Jesus themed rides here because Christmas is about the birth of Jesus not Santa Claus and presents. The same goes for the one in New Hampshire
