FROM THE ARCHIVES - Old Chicago Amusement Park

Chicago History Podcast

Send us a text

It was an innovative idea in its day - a 200 store indoor shopping center 35 miles outside of Chicago with a 31-ride amusement park in the middle. Unfortunately, once you throw in costly delays, waning attendance, lackluster store selection, competition, and a trapeze death, that's when trouble starts.
This is the story of Old Chicago, billed at the time as the "world's first enclosed combination theme park and shopping center," which in five years went from the next big thing to bust.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN MAY, 2020. This version contains some changes.
Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory
Amazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
BOOKS:
History Lover's Guide to Chicago, A by Greg Borzo
https://amzn.to/3w8fcQF
Fodor's Chicago (Full Color Travel Guide)
https://amzn.to/3P6Mmc0
CHICAGO ITEMS (PERFECT FOR GIFT GIVING):
Greenline Goods Whiskey Glasses - 10 Oz Tumbler Gift Set for Chicago lovers, Etched with Chicago Map | Old Fashioned Rocks Glass - Set of 2
https://amzn.to/3FrjSFr
Chicago Map Coasters by O3 Design Studio, Set Of 4, Sapele Wooden Coaster With City Map, Handmade
https://amzn.to/3vNyDiN
Chicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com):
https://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883
https://twitter.com/chicago_pod
https://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/
Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/
Like, subscribe, and kindly review. Much appreciated!

Support the show