Kiddieland started out as a small venture of Arthur Fritz, a local builder and contractor. In 1929, he purchased six ponies and offered rides to local children. Miniature gasoline-powered cars were added a few years later after Fritz learned that they were being given away to children by a Chicago newspaper as a subscription promotion. By the 1930s, Fritz was calling his collection of amusements Kiddieland; the attractions were primarily sized and geared towards younger children. In 1940, Fritz added the German
Carousel, two miniature
steam locomotives, the Little Auto Ride, the Roto Whip and a
Ferris wheel. The Roto Whip and Ferris wheel would remain as rides until the park's closing. The park saw its first major expansion in the 1950s with the addition of the Little Dipper and the
merry-go-round. Fritz's adult children also became more involved in the park at this time. The 1960s saw
bumper cars replace the original pony ride, as well as the unexpected death of Fritz in 1967. The park transferred ownership in 1977, as three of Fritz's grandchildren took over the park and its operation. The park continued its expansion over the next several decades and installed several major attractions, including a
Log flume, a
swinging pirate ship, a long
water coaster, and numerous other attractions.
Closure A dispute developed between Shirley and Glenn Rynes, who owned the land that Kiddieland occupied, and Ronald Rynes, Jr. and Cathy and Tom Norini, who owned the amusement park itself. The landowners sued the park owners in 2004, claiming that the park had an improper insurance policy and that fireworks were prohibited in the lease. The case was thrown out in a
Cook County court and later in an
appeals court. The landowners declined to extend the lease on the land in early 2009. In late June 2010, nine months after the park closed to the public, it was announced that Kiddieland would be demolished. A
Costco store now occupies the land. In 2012, a section of Melrose Park's 1st Avenue was honorarily named Kiddieland Amusement Park Road. == Image gallery ==