Reader Contributions
Over the years I have had countless emails about Old Chicago from people who have fond memories of the park. A few of these have wanted to contribute to my Old Chicago section, not just with their memories, but with photos and memorabilia from the park. It's taken some time, but this page is the beginning of my reader contributions archive.
We have our first Old Chicago fan art. Timmothy Cumings sent me the following song about Old Chicago. Click on the link below to download a zipped up MP3 of Old Chicago Drive. Copyright 2003 Timothy Cummings Music
Recently I was sent a DVD of some old home movies of Old Chicago. Click here to see Old Chicago in living color and motion.
The first email I received from someone wanting to contribute to the site was from a gentleman who worked at Old Chicago as a security guard. He sent me this cool Old Chicago patch.
What was really cool was that he also sent me his Old Chicago security patch which is something just anyone couldn't get their hands on.
I'm certain there are thousands of similar photos like this one as everyone who visited Old Chicago had to go and climb on top of the lions out front. This photo is from Valerie who is second from left in this photo. I'm not certain but I hear that Old Chicago's lions live on at some car dealership in the Chicago area. If anyone has any information on their whereabouts I'd love to know where they are so please email me.
Trey Smith sent me this interesting folder from Old Chicago.
Trey's father was the manager of Old Chicago and this is the packet of information that the park would send to schools to encourage field trips.
The folder is full of lesson plans for students from pre-school through high school.
Although most of the lesson plans are geared towards math and physics in higher grades there are a few pages in here geared to other subjects.
According to the pamphlet letting kids run around Old Chicago's Fun Factory was the perfect setting to work on "motor coordination, developmental and movement education and language development". An interesting note is that the Eagles Nest climbing nets pictured above reach forty feet above the floor. Just looking at it there's no way a park would have something like this today's litigious society as with no railings or side nets it'd be pretty easy for someone to take a tumble onto the floor below. Yeah the floor was padded but not enough for a tumble of forty feet.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these pages. If you have a photo, video or some memorabilia (or photo of) please email me as I'd love to add it here.
All pictures on this site have been taken by my wife Carrie or myself. Please do not use without permission but ask and chances are I'll give it to you. This many people have visited this page since March 2007:
Copyright 1999-2008 Paul B. Drabek |
