Kiddieland Amusement Park facts for kids
Sign at the front of Kiddieland.
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| Location |  Melrose Park, Illinois, United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°54′34″N 87°50′11″W / 41.9094°N 87.8364°W |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Closed | September 27, 2009 |
| Owner | Family owned and operated |
| Operating season | April – October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 30 |
Kiddieland Amusement Park was a popular amusement park located just west of Chicago in Melrose Park, Illinois. It was known for its classic rides, especially the Little Dipper roller coaster, which first opened in 1950. The park closed its doors for good on September 27, 2009, at 8 PM. It was later taken down in 2010 to make way for a new Costco store.
Park History
Kiddieland began in 1929 thanks to Arthur Fritz. He started small, buying six ponies for rides. This offered a fun escape for families during the Great Depression, a very tough economic time.
A few years later, Arthur added tiny cars powered by gasoline. He got the idea after seeing a Chicago newspaper give them away to kids who subscribed.
By 1940, more rides joined the fun! These included the "German Carousel," two Miniature Steam Locomotives, the "Little Auto Ride," the "Roto Whip," and a "Ferris Wheel." The "Roto Whip" and "Ferris Wheel" stayed at the park until it closed.
The park grew a lot in the 1950s. This is when the famous Little Dipper roller coaster and another Carousel were added. Both of these rides still exist today! In the 1960s, bumper cars were brought in, replacing the original pony rides.
In 1977, Arthur Fritz's grandchildren took over the park. They continued to expand Kiddieland, adding several big attractions. These included a Log flume (a water ride), a swinging pirate ship, and a 40-foot (12 m) long water coaster. Many other fun rides were also installed.
The Little Dipper Roller Coaster
The Little Dipper roller coaster was designed by Herbert Schmeck. It was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1950. The ride's brakes were operated by hand using a wooden handle in the station.
This roller coaster was 24 feet (7.3 m) tall. It traveled a course of 700 feet (210 m) in an "out-and-back" style. The Little Dipper was even given the ACE Coaster Classic award by the American Coaster Enthusiasts.
After Kiddieland closed, Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois bought the Little Dipper ride. They purchased the equipment at a Kiddieland auction in November 2009 for $33,000.
Images for kids
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The Little Dipper.
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The top of one of the carousels before the park closed.
