Santa's Village AZoosment Park facts for kids
| Previously known as Santa's Village (1959–2005) Worlds of Fun (1972) |
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Entrance sign of Santa's Village
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| Location | 601 Dundee Ave East Dundee, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 42°05′27″N 88°15′35″W / 42.0907°N 88.2598°W |
| Opened | May 30, 1959 (as Santa's Village) May 27, 2011 (as Azoosment Park) |
| Owner | A Zoo To You (2011–present) |
| Slogan | Discover exciting rides, slides, animal attractions and more at Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park, the place for FUN. FAMILY. MEMORIES. |
| Operating season | May – October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 25 |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Water rides | 4 |
Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park is a fun theme park located in East Dundee, Illinois. Many people still call it simply Santa's Village. It was first built by Glenn Holland, who also created two other Santa's Villages in California. The Illinois park was the third one and was meant to be the main park for a whole chain of Santa's Villages across the country. However, other parks planned for places like Richmond, Virginia, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, were never built. This made the East Dundee park the only one of its kind.
The park was known as Santa's Village from 1959 until it closed in 2006. Five years later, after lots of work and fixing up, the park reopened with new owners. It was renamed Santa's Village Azoosment Park because it had a mix of fun rides and cool animals. Today, the Azoosment Park has almost twenty rides and attractions. It also has hundreds of animals you can see up close, from exotic ones to farm animals. For a short time in 1972, the park was called Worlds of Fun. To avoid legal problems with other parks that had similar names, it was quickly changed to Three Worlds of Santa's Village. In 2021, the park updated its name again to Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park.
Contents
About the Park's Fun Features
The buildings at Santa's Village were designed to look like what a kid might imagine Santa's home would be like. When it first opened, it was a very popular theme park. Over the years, more than 20 million people have visited the park.
In the beginning, you bought rides separately using special colored coins. Admission to the park itself was free. Later, this changed to a single ticket price that let you enjoy all the rides. This "all-inclusive" ticket system stayed until the park closed for a while.
Park History: From Opening to Today
Early Years: 1959 to 2006
The park first opened its doors on May 30, 1959. A cool addition in 1963 was the "Polar Dome." This was a place for ice skating and hockey under a big, air-supported dome. On November 28, 1966, a strong wind caused the "Polar Dome" to collapse. The dome was then replaced with a flat cedar roof, but the name of the place stayed the same.
During the 1960s, the park even offered short rides in Amphicars. These special cars could drive on land and then float on water! Riders would drive a short distance to a small lake, go out onto the water, circle a pier, and then return.
Three Worlds Era: 1972 to 2006
In 1972, the park was bought by new owners called Medina Investors. They first renamed it Worlds of Fun. However, to avoid legal issues with other parks that had the exact same name, they quickly changed it again to the Three Worlds of Santa's Village.
- Santa's World: This was the original and main part of the park. It was located north of the Polar Dome. Here, you could visit Santa's House to take a picture with Santa. Other attractions included the North Pole, a live theater, Frog Hopper, Balloon Ride, Snowball Ride, Giant Slide, Convoy, Train, and the Dragon Coaster.
- Old McDonald's Farm: This area replaced the old Reindeer Barn. It brought all the roaming animals together in one spot. It had fun attractions like the Pony Ride, a Petting Zoo, and Animal Pens where the animals stayed at night. The animals were sold before the park closed in 2006.
- Coney Island: This was the southern part of the park and the last area to be developed. It had many exciting rides such as Tilt-a-whirl, The Yo-yo, Himalaya, Galleon Ship, Bumble bee, and the Magic Show. This area is now used by a paintball park.
In 1983, the park owners added Racing Rapids Action Park to the north side of Santa's Village. Even though the parks were connected, they had separate entrances. You could buy a special ticket to visit both parks on the same day. Both parks also had their own parking lots.
Racing Rapids Water Park: 1983 to 2006
The water park, Racing Rapids, was located next to the north side of Santa's Village. When it opened, it was one of the first water parks in the Midwest and the biggest in Illinois. It closed along with the main park in 2006. The water park reopened fully in 2021 under the new name Santa Springs.
| Ride | Year opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Twister Tube Slide | A slide where two people ride together in a tube. | |
| Slidewinder's Slides | Slides where one person rides down without a tube. | |
| Bumper Boats | Boats you can drive and bump into others in a pool with a fountain. | |
| Lazy River | A continuous 450-foot-long, 42-inch-deep pool where you can float. | |
| Go-Karts | Small racing cars you can drive on a track. |
Park Closure: 2006
The park faced challenges, including a new roller coaster that wasn't very successful. Also, less attention was paid to keeping the park looking nice, and fewer visitors came. This led the company to decide to sell the park. The sale didn't go as planned, and with many delays, the park had to close its doors.
In August 2006, the park announced it would close permanently. Most of the rides and other items were sold at an auction in October 2006.
Reopening and New Beginnings: 2011
A paintball park called Paintball Explosion opened on half of the original Santa's Village site on April 30, 2011. Paintball Explosion turned the old Polar Dome ice rink into an indoor paintball field. They also built six outdoor fields using many of the park's existing structures.
Azoosmentpark opened on May 27, 2011, on the other half of the original Santa's Village property. This new park features various attractions and rides, along with exhibits of exotic animals.
According to the park's website, it brought in two rides from the now-closed Kiddieland Amusement Park. These rides are the Midge-O-Racers and the Kiddie Whip Ride. Some of the original Santa's Village rides have also been fixed up and are working again. In 2013, several new additions arrived, including a roller coaster.
Exciting Rides and Attractions
Roller Coasters for Thrills
| Ride | Manufacturer | Model | Year opened | Details | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Cyclone Roller Coaster | Interpark | Super Cyclon | 2017 | A roller coaster with lots of twists and turns. | |
| Wacky Worm | Fajume | Wacky Worm | 2015 | A fun, family-friendly roller coaster shaped like a worm. It moved here from another park in Florida. | |
| Farmer's Fling | SBF Rides | SBF Visa | 2021 | A family roller coaster with four cars. The front two cars look like pigs, and the back two cars look like cows. |
Other Fun Rides and Animal Attractions
| Ride | Manufacturer | Model | Year opened | Details | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaskan Railway | Train | 2015 | This train ride replaced Reindeer Ridge. It travels through areas where you can see animal exhibits. | ||
| Azoosment Country Carousel | Carousel | A classic merry-go-round ride. | |||
| Balloon Race | Zamperla | Balloon Race | 1992 | Riders sit in gondolas that look like hot air balloons and spin around. | |
| Blizzard | SBF Visa Group | Frisbee | 2021 | A ride that swings back and forth like a pendulum. | |
| Ding 'em Dodge 'em Bumper Cars | Bumper Cars | Drive and bump into other cars in a fun arena. | |||
| Kiddieland Midge-O-Racers | Eyerly Aircraft Company | 2011 | A carousel ride that used to be at Kiddieland Amusement Park. | ||
| Kiddieland Space Invasion | A ride that takes you on a journey through space. | ||||
| KiddieLand's Roto-Whip | Roto-Whip | 2011 | A spinning ride that used to be at Kiddieland Amusement Park. | ||
| Kringle's Convoy | 1988 | A convoy ride where you drive small vehicles. | |||
| Little Boat Ride | A gentle boat ride for younger visitors. | ||||
| Mega Velocity | Eli Bridge Company | Scrambler | 2016 | A ride with multiple arms that spin in different directions, creating a dizzying effect. | |
| Mighty Mate | A fun ride for kids. | ||||
| Miner's Run | Pedal Cars | 2011 | Ride pedal cars along a track. | ||
| Pirate's Revenge | Swinging Ship | 2023 | A large ship that swings back and forth like a pirate ship on the high seas. It replaced the Viking Sea Dragon. | ||
| Pony Go Round | Carousel (Live Ponies) | A carousel ride with real ponies. | |||
| Route 66 Cruisers | Arrow Development | Antique Cars | Drive antique-style cars on a track. | ||
| Santa's Tree House Slide | 1959 | A fun slide that starts from a tree house. It was formerly known as Tree House Slide. | |||
| Snowball Ride | A spinning ride that makes you feel like you're in a snowball. | ||||
| Star Jets | Riders control the height of their jet as it spins around. | ||||
| SVFD Engine No. 4 | The fourth version of a fire engine ride where riders use working hoses to put out a "fire." | ||||
| Tilt-A-Whirl | Sellner Manufacturing | Tilt-A-Whirl | 2011 | A classic spinning ride that tilts and whirls in unpredictable ways. It moved here from another park. | |
| Tri-Nado | HUSS | Troika | 2015 | A fast-spinning ride with three arms that lift and lower. It moved here from another park. | |
| Deer Feeding Area | An area where you can feed deer. | ||||
| Exotic Animal Show | A show featuring amazing exotic animals. | ||||
| Horse Sleigh Ride | 1959 | A ride that makes you feel like you're on a sleigh. It was formerly known as Candy Cane Sleigh. | |||
| Kiddie Ferris Wheel | 2011 | A small Ferris wheel perfect for younger kids. It moved here from another park. | |||
| Kidbuck$ Gameshow | An interactive game show where kids can win tokens for the arcade. It used to be called Santa's Snowstorm Game Show. | ||||
| Koi Pond | A peaceful pond filled with colorful Koi fish. It was formerly known as Silver Slipper Pond and Magic Pond. | ||||
| Balster's Sheer Magic Show | 2011 | A magic show with amazing tricks. It was formerly known as Christmas Magic Review. | |||
| Petting Zoo | 2011 | An area where you can pet and interact with friendly farm animals. It was formerly known as Reindeer Barn and Old McDonald's Farm. | |||
| Santa's House | 1959 | The special place where you can meet Santa and take pictures with him. | |||
| Scales and Tails | 2011 | An exhibit featuring animals with scales and tails, like reptiles. It was formerly known as Mill Wheel Workshop. |
Other Places to Explore
| Venue | Year opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aviary | 1959 | A place where you can see many different kinds of birds. It was formerly known as Christmas Around the World Post Office. |
| Birthday Party | Areas available for hosting birthday parties. | |
| Face Painting & Tattoo | 2011 | Talented artists can paint fun designs on your face or give you a temporary airbrushed tattoo. |
| Frozen North Pole | 1959 | A frozen pole of ice located near Santa's House. It was originally in the North Pole Plaza. |
| Main Stage | A stage for live performances and shows. | |
| Midway Games | Fun games where you can win prizes. |
Places to Eat and Drink
| Venue | Year opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | A place where you can enjoy your own food. It was formerly known as Reindeer Glen Picnic Grove. | |
| Arctic Circle Ice Cream Shop | 2011 | A shop selling delicious ice cream treats. It was formerly known as Mrs. Claus's Candy Kitchen. |
| Picnic Pavilion | A covered area for picnics and group gatherings. | |
| Ginger Bread Cafe | 2011 | A cafe serving food and drinks. It was formerly known as The Gingerbread House. |
| Reindeer Ridge / Beer Garden | A place to relax and enjoy refreshments. It was formerly known as Wee Puppet Theater/Hoffbrau House. |
Former Attractions: A Look Back
| Ride | Year Opened | Year Closed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Room | 1967 | A lounge area inside the Polar Dome. | |
| Amphicar | A special car that could drive on land and go into the pond. | ||
| Antique Cars | 1962 | 2006 | A ride with old-fashioned cars. |
| Astro-liner | A rocket ship ride that simulated a space mission. | ||
| Bumble Bee ride | A ride shaped like a bumble bee. | ||
| Bumper Cars | Had two types of Bumper Cars. In the 1970s, it looked like a racetrack and was called the Dundee Zizzler 500 Raceway. | ||
| Burro Ride | 1959 | Children could ride on a real burro through the forest. | |
| Candy Cane Coaster | 1964 | 1966 | A roller coaster. |
| Candy Cane Slide | A circular slide. | ||
| Cannon Ball | 1986 | A roller coaster that was replaced by the Dragon Coaster. | |
| Chapel of the Little Shepard | 1959 | A small chapel with exhibits about children's bible stories. | |
| Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach | 1959 | A life-size coach pulled by miniature white ponies. | |
| Christmas Around the World Post Office | 1959 | A large building with exhibits about Christmas traditions worldwide, a souvenir shop, and restrooms. | |
| The Christmas Tree ride | 1959 | 1992 | A giant spinning ride where guests rode in Christmas ornament-shaped cars. It was replaced by the Balloon Ride. |
| Circus Wagon | A trolley ride. | ||
| The Doll House | 1959 | A shop selling dolls from around the world. | |
| The Easter Bunny's Hut | 1959 | A large egg-shaped house where kids could take pictures with the Easter Bunny. | |
| Dragon Coaster | 1986 | 2006 | A roller coaster. Also known as Dracor, the Dragon Coaster. |
| Dragon Coaster | 2011 | 10/30/2016 | A family roller coaster. |
| English Rotor | A spinning rotor ride. | ||
| Fire Truck Ride | 197? | 2006 | A trolley pulled by a fire truck, where riders used hoses to put out "fires." |
| Fire Chief | 2006 | A Crazy Bus ride. | |
| Frog Hopper | 2006 | A drop tower ride. | |
| Galaxi | 1987 | 1996 | A roller coaster. |
| Galleon | 2006 | A pirate ship ride. | |
| Gas powered tractors | 1959 | Small tractors that children could drive. | |
| Giant Slide | A large slide. | ||
| Gingerbread House | 1959 | A working bakery that made gingerbread cookies and other baked goods. | |
| Great Wheel | 1995 | 2006 | A Ferris Wheel. |
| Hampton Ride | 2006 | ||
| The Himalaya | 2006 | A fast-spinning ride with hills and valleys. | |
| Igloo | 1959 | A small concrete igloo that sold ice cream. | |
| Kiddie Kars | 2006 | Small cars for kids to drive. | |
| Jack in the Box | 1959 | A snow cone stand shaped like a jack-in-the-box. | |
| Lil' Stinger | 2006 | ||
| The Magic Train | 1959 | 1961 | A small train ride around a fairy tale area. |
| Merry-Go-Round | 1966 | 2006 | A classic carousel. |
| Mill Wheel Workshop | 1959 | A shop that sold handmade and manufactured toys. | |
| Mrs. Claus’ Candy Kitchen | 1959 | A candy shop that sold chocolates and hard candies. | |
| Old Engine 99 | 1964 | 1966 | |
| Paddle Boats | Boats you could paddle in the pond. | ||
| Pixie Pantry | 1959 | The park's largest eating place, serving cafeteria-style meals. | |
| Pixie Press | Trained animals working a printing press. | ||
| Polar Dome | 1963 | 2006 | An ice skating rink. |
| Pony Carts | 1966 | 1987 | Replaced by the Convoy Ride. |
| Reindeer Barn | 1959 | A barn where Santa's reindeer lived. | |
| Rock Spin 'N Roll | 2006 | ||
| Rollo Plane | A spinning ride that flips riders upside down. | ||
| Santa's Express | 1962 | 2006 | A train ride. |
| Santa's Gift Shop | 1959 | One of the largest shops in the park, selling toys and gifts. | |
| Skyliner | 2006 | A chair lift ride. | |
| Snowball Express | 1985 | A roller coaster. | |
| Snowball Ride | 1962 | 2006 | A teacup ride. |
| Space Ships | 2006 | ||
| Storybook House | 1959 | A small shop selling children's books and souvenirs. | |
| Swiss Toboggan | 1971 | A roller coaster. | |
| Tarantula | A spider-themed ride. | ||
| The Toy Soldier | 1959 | A "duck pond game" with toy boats. | |
| Typhoon | 1997 | 2006 | A roller coaster. |
| Wee Puppet Theatre | 1959 | An indoor theater with daily puppet shows. | |
| Wipeout | 1992 | 2006 | A spinning ride. |
| Wishing Well | 1959 | A small outdoor area where people could relax and make wishes. | |
| Woodanimals | 1959 | Large wooden animal sculptures for children to climb on. | |
| Worlds Largest Christmas Stocking | 1959 | A very large stocking that was raffled off. | |
| The Yo-yo | 1990 | 2006 | A swing ride. |
|- |Xtreme Elevation |2015 |2023 |A drop tower ride. |}
Santa's Village in Pop Culture
- In the movie The Christmas Chronicles 2, Santa might be talking about this amusement park. He mentions it when he introduces the main characters to the real Santa's Village.
