Old Chicago
Bolingbrook, Illinois
The Old Chicago Fairgrounds
Page Three




The Monster of the Midway was the last ride to be added to Old Chicago.



It's a little hard to see in this photo but the Monster of the Midway was a "Scrambler" type ride that was enclosed.  Lighting effects and loud music was added to give the ride a then unique experience.  What's kind of neat is decades later Six Flags Over Georgia did the same thing with their "Shake Rattle & Roll" ride.



The Fun Factory was added to Old Chicago in 1977.  Surveys found that Old Chicago did well with teenagers and adults but needed more for kids and the Fun Factory did just that. 



The Eagle's Nest was a great thing to climb all over when I was a kid.



The Jelly Belly Bouncer was your standard "moon bounce" attraction where you get to run, roll and most importantly jump on a huge balloon.  I loved these as a kid.  Sadly they don't let adults into these as I know I'd still have fun on it.



While the Jelly Belly Bouncer is running on a big balloon the Polliwog Pond was a huge waterbed that you could jump on and not get yelled at by your parents..



If you're going to have a kids play area you've got to have a slide.  



Most of the play structures in the Fun Factory were upstairs while the rides were downstairs.  I don't remember what the Spider's Den was so if you remember please email me so I can describe it here.

 

I do remember the "Ups N Downs as it was basically a climbing structure that once you put your weight on it would rotate making it easier or harder on you to get to the top.

That's all that I have of the Old Chicago Fairgrounds.  If you have any photos, videos, memories or if I have anything that needs to be corrected please email me as I never want to stop adding to this section on Old Chicago.  My goal is to make it so that the memory of Old Chicago lives on.



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Paul B. Drabek