Adventureland was an
amusement park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...
located in
Addison, Illinois
Addison is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,702 at the 2020 Census. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
History
The village was incorporated in 1884, at which time it had a population of 400. T ...
, which operated from 1961 to 1977. The land where the park is located was originally a restaurant and tavern known as Paul's Picnic Grove and, from 1958 to 1961, was a family attraction site known as Storybook Park.
From 1967 to 1976, it was the largest amusement park in
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
. Attractions at the park included Dizzy Hofbrauhaus, Scrambler, Crash 'n Splash Torpedo Tubs, Western Round-Up, Bumper Cars, Italian Bobs, which reached high, and Super Italian Bobs, which reached . The park offered parking for 3,000 cars.
History
The former Storybook Park was sold to Durell Everding, whose family also owned Santa's Village (now
Santa's Village AZoosment Park) in 1961 and renamed Adventureland. Some attractions from Storybook Park were kept, but the new owner began to focus on adding more rides to the park to attract older visitors as well. Owner Durell Everding died in 1970 and the park was run by his family until it was later purchased by Medinah Investors. The park closed in 1977 as the result of competition from newer parks; the park's rides and attractions were sold off upon the park's closing.
Since the park's closing, Medinah Road on the site's east side was re-routed through part of the property. The Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago building now occupies most of the site, although aerial views show evidence of the park's trails, while
urban explorers have reported finding remains of park buildings and ride foundations on the site.
References
External links
Pictures of AdventurelandBloomingdale Library Picture Archives*
{{Amusement-park-stub
Defunct amusement parks in Illinois
Addison, Illinois
1961 establishments in Illinois
1977 disestablishments in Illinois
Buildings and structures in DuPage County, Illinois
Amusement parks closed in 1977
Amusement parks opened in 1961