Old Chicago

Art & landmarks
In Bolingbrook, Illinois
0.7 mi from Route 66

Old Chicago was an indoor amusement park combined with a shopping mall in Bolingbrook, near Joliet, IL, less than a mile off the old Route 66 corridor. It opened in 1975, shut its rides in 1980 and was demolished in 1986, so there is nothing left to visit. Its short, colorful life still makes a good story for anyone driving through the southwest suburbs who remembers the 1970s.

What is Old Chicago?

The complex put rides and shops under one enormous roof. Promoters billed it as the first indoor amusement park in the world, built so crowds could come in any season and any weather. Inside were three roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and a mall themed on the turn of the century, its look recalling Louis Sullivan's buildings, including his work for Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

History of Old Chicago

More than 15,000 people came on opening day, June 17, 1975. Within six months, construction cost overruns had pushed the business into trouble. A rival park in the northern suburbs, now Six Flags Great America, drew visitors away, and with no big anchor stores the mall never won steady local shoppers. By 1978 it was closing two days a week. In early 1980 the rides shut down and were sold. No new use was found for the building, and it came down in the spring of 1986.

Visiting Old Chicago: tips

There is no site to tour. If you are nearby, the Isle a la Cache Museum is about 2.7 miles away and Lemont's historic downtown about 3.7 miles off.

Practical info

Hours: Closed permanently
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Old Chicago

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Rich & Creamy
Joliet, IL · 9.5 mi from Old Chicago
A Joliet ice cream stand on old Route 66 with the Blues Brothers dancing on its roof.