Amusement Parks in the Chicago Area
With warmer weather approaching and hopefully the Covid-19 pandemic behind us, families looking for some adventure and fun can find many amusement park options in the Chicagoland area. This article explores a wide variety of amusement park options in the Chicago area and provides an overview of each.
Chicago Amusement Parks - Biggest Parks in the Chicago Area
Six Flags Great America - Gurnee, Illinois – 15+ roller coasters
Address: 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee, IL 60031
Phone # (847) 249-1776
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Photo Credit: Six Flags Great America |
This 304 Acre amusement park first opened on May 29, 1976. Since then the park has seen many changes over the years. The park is great for families as there are many options to choose from including Hurricane Harbor the water park affiliated with Six Flags Great America.
Originally opened by the Marriott Corporation as Marriott's Great America, Six Flags has owned and operated the park since 1984.
Six Flags opens for the season this Friday April 15th and is open on the weekends through May 15th then starts a limited weekday schedule till Memorial Day weekend when it will be open 7 days a week.
The park features at least 45 rides and attractions including live shows. There are water rides like Roaring Rapids that provide some relief on hot summer days, while rides like miniature airplanes, bumper cars, and a carousel are fun for the smaller adventurer (under 42-inch crowd).
It's open daily for the first half of August, before going back to weekends only once school starts (which is around August 22 for local suburban schools). Check out Six Flags Great America website for partner offers for savings at https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/partner-offers
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Six Flags Great America - Photo Credit: Greg Grudt/Mathew Imaging |
Santa's Village Azoosment & Water Park – East Dundee, IL - 2 roller coasters
Address: 601 Dundee Ave, East Dundee, IL 60118
Phone: (847) 426-6751
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| Santa's Village East Dundee, IL |
Smaller than Six Flags Great America but still lots of fun. Santa's Village Azoosment Park has a wide variety of options for families. Opening Day is May 8, 2022.
The theme park is located in East Dundee, Illinois and originally built by Glenn Holland. Glen Holland also built two other Santa's Villages - one located in San Bernardino County and the other in Santa Cruz County.
The them park includes several animal attractions, a new water park, roller coasters, and other theme park rides. Younger kids will enjoy the balloon ride, carousel, or riding in Kringle's Convoy in individual miniature semi-trucks.
Santa's Springs is the water park featuring water slides, a zero-depth pool, and an interactive water playground.
The park also includes a petting zoo and fish pond. You can see a wide variety of animals from Reindeer, barn yard animals, to wallabies and tortoises. Go to Santa's Village website for more info https://santasvillagedundee.com/
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| Santa's Village Azoosment & Water Park – East Dundee, IL |
Indiana Beach Boardwalk Resort – Monticello, IN
Address: 5224 E Indiana Beach Rd, Monticello, IN 47960
Phone: (574) 583-4141
Indiana Beach's opening day is April 30, 2022. This lakeside amusement park is about 2 hours south east of Chicago in Monticello, Indiana. The park has more than 40 rides, including six roller coasters. Developed by the Spackman family which owned it from 1926 to 2008, the park is now owned and operated by IB Parks & Entertainment.
The park includes its own water park with water slides, a lazy river, and a splash pad. The park has lodging options available—cabins, tent campgrounds, and RV camping sites are available.
Chicago Amusement Parks - Smaller Parks in Chicago Area
Pirates' Cove Children's Theme Park - Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Address: 901 Leicester Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: (847) 439-2683
Pirates' Cove is a great theme park for younger kids and preschoolers.
The park has Soaring Schooners pirate ship ride, miniature boats for kids to pedal, a safari train, Captain's Carousel, a Pirate's Plunge giant slide, and a climbing wall. Kids also enjoy playing on the Camelot's Castle Playground. There are also shows at the Swashbuckler Wharf Fun Stage.
Pirate’s Cove pre-season opening is Memorial Day weekend May 28 – May 30, 2022. Regular Season Hours, Open Daily June 4, 2022 - August 7, 2022
Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center - Burbank, Illinois
Address: 7759 S Harlem Ave, Burbank, IL 60459
Phone: (708) 598-8580
Located in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. The park has an 18-hole mini-golf course, go-karts, rides, and games.
The main roller coaster at the park is Miner Mike Coaster which is a runaway coal train ride. The junior roller coaster allows young children and their parents to enjoy the ride together
Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center – Joliet, Illinois
Address: 1423 N Broadway St, Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: (815) 722-7800
Haunted Trails in Joliet offers many rides and attractions including: Tornado Ride, Monster Hop free-fall ride, and the Bone Shaker spinning tea cup attraction.
The park also includes 3 Go-carting tracks, mini golf, laser tag, and a game room so there many options are available to choose from. The outdoor attractions are open, weather permitting, from May to September.
Enchanted Castle Family Entertainment Center – Lombard, Illinois
Address: 1103 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148 -
Phone: (630) 953-7860
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| Chicago: Enchanted Castle – Lombard, Illinois |
Enchanted Castle is loaded with indoor fun - 60,000 square feet of indoor space. The venue has indoor go karts, laser tag, bumper cars, rides, mini-bowling, miniature golf, a two-story playland plus 200 of the industry’s best games.
Final Thoughts
Chicago is a great city with several amusement parks in the area. The largest amusement parks in the Chicagoland area are Six Flags Great America, Santa's Village Azoosment park, and Indiana Beach. Smaller theme parks include Pirates' Cove in Elk Grove Village, Illinois and Enchanted Castle in Lombard, Illinois.
With warm weather comes the zest for adventure. With many options to choose from you will not be disappointed in any of the amusement parks covered in this article.
To check out other travel options and things to do check out the travel page.
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