It seems smaller than I remember. Last I heard it was closed in '06. I had no idea it was reopened. I was an occasional visitor there in the '70's with my final visit no later than maybe 1979/80. By then I was already outgrowing the place and was much more interested in Marriott's Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. In my youth Santa's Village boasted "three worlds" with one area called Coney Island. I think each "world" had a theme with some rides. I recall a giant Christmas Tree that allowed people to ride inside the ornaments. It was a gentle ride that just went in a circle...kinda like a carousel with the ornaments moving up and down at various heights. I also recall a Toboggan-style coaster that was there in the '70's for a few years as well, which was a favorite of mine because it was quite unique. As much as I can appreciate the park's revival, the original park was bigger and a bit better. To be honest, Santa's Village was never my favorite park as a child.... I preferred Kiddieland in Melrose Park Illinois, which was closed and demolished after 2009, sadly ending 80 years of operation. From my perspective it was wayyyy better than Santa's Village, in fact Kiddieland's famous wooden rollercoaster, The Little Dipper, was dismantled and rebuilt/restored, including its famous boarding area, at Six Flags Great America where it operates today. It's now a 74 year-old roller coaster which makes it the oldest operating rollercoaster in Illinois. I think for most Chicagoans who were either the younger Baby Boomers born in the early '60s through Generation X, Kiddieland was the preferred place to go. However, it is very nice to see Santa's Village making a comeback, which is an opportunity Kiddieland will never have. Seeing the snowball ride again certainly brought back a memory or two and it's a cheaper option than Six Flags Great America if one has very young children.

It's really cool of you too make a video of our park. I'm a ride operator and ride mechanic at Santa's Village and this made me feel good about working here. Within the next few years the park will expand into the paintball area again as paintball explosions time is almost up on the property

As one who worked at Santa's Village back in the day, the Paintball area was the Coney Island area of the park. It included a bumper car racetrack, was the original location of the fire truck ride, along with a Swiss Tobaggan, English Rotor, and a Tilt-a-Whirl. There was also a ski lift type ride that was a round trip circuit over this section. The hillside area was the picnic grounds back in the day, where families could bring in their own food and eat at one of many, many picnic tables. It was also where the large groups would be based for the day, with the Fraternal Order of Police of the Chicago Area having their very large picnic each year. The original waterpark was a bit more standard back in the day, with a dual fairly decent sized slide as the centerpiece. Even as I worked there in the early 1980s the park had already begun its slow decline. Buildings and rides showed chipped paint and morale was odd as we had to pretty much beg for customers' service awards to keep in good standing. Problem bring that each customer upon entry received two and so if you weren't stationed for the day near the entrance those service awards could be very hard to come by. Still, it was a fun place to work. The movie Adventureland often seems eerily familiar complete with wild drunken parties at rich employees families' homes. Still a few good friends from my time there.

I agree as a kid who was born in 1959. This place was so amazing. I loved the north pole; and the live deer! It was charming

This review is great and really captures the essence of this park. It's been years since I've been here for operations (my kids are older now), but we were here multiple times from 2009 - 2012. Heck, my sister-in-law worked in the old ice area when she was in high school. It's great that this park was able to reopen, and your video does a great job of highlighting what the park is all about.

I remember taking my nephew here in the 80s and my kids in the 90s. It closed for a time but obviously reopened. I can't wait to take my grandkids! Thank u for posting this video!

I appreciate you made up for the Christmas music with this review 😉

for anyone who is curious about the future of the park: i don’t work there myself, but my mom has for almost 8 years now. i also am considering working there as “the princess” when i’m 16 in just a couple years. point is, i know a good amount about this place, lol. anyway, when the park reopened, they didn’t have many rides and attractions yet, however, each year they have at least one new ride. the question isn’t “will they add a ride,” it’s “what ride will they add?” as of now, my mom says that she’s heard of the current small water park possibly getting another slide, possibly getting a lazy river, and also a log ride. according to her, as far as she knows they already have materials for a log ride, just haven’t found a good spot to put it yet. she has also heard that they are planning to get a new coaster eventually. however, since santa’s village added back their water park, i think that’s what their focus is for now! santa’s village is becoming a thing again! (and for the better, this time.) the new owner jason is definitely changing this place for the better 🥳 edit: one more thing i forgot to mention! there is also talk of sv buying back the paintball arena! we’ll see what the future brings

I remember around the time this park closed how many of the reports were how trashy the park was with Typhoon being the cherry on top. With the new incarnation, despite seemingly having a limited budget, it looks like they've poured a lot of thought and care into what they have.

I went there when I was young. I was heart broken when I heard it closed. I'm so glad it's up and running again. Even though it's not as big as it used to be, It's heart warming to see it running again

Great! I have family with a lot of extended family's as well! This would be a great late after/early evening get away! I'll keep this one in mind! I remember back in the 70's when it WAS Santa's Village and enjoyed myself!

I’ve never heard of this park! I enjoyed the video!

thanks for visiting! i work as a ride op there and it's an amazing experience. :)

When this place was built it was actually part of the Glen Holland chain, being a sister park to the 2 in California. Of the 2 in California one is a mountain bike park and ropes course (original park closed 1998, buildings still standing), the other was demolished in the mid 2010s after sitting abandoned since the 70s, although ACE did a documentary series on lost parks in the area which includes footage of the park before it was demolished (the one that peaked my interest in this chain of parks, as when I go to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk I always pass the sign for "Santa's Village Rd" on rt 17 and remembered hearing about the chain a while back from either Expedition Theme Park or Defunctland. You can often find reminants like I did at Fairyland if the site is not literal concrete for parking and new buildings so I'm making a point to visit next weekend).

been going to this park since i was a kid and im taking my baby cousin there this weekend so excited to pass down the fun!

I love Christmas a lot I think this park looks really nice in this video

Im going tomorrow!! I cant wait!!!!!!

Park Atmosphere is honestly what I look for most and this park looks like it has a lot of charm so if I ever come to the Midwest I would love to visit.

My home park I never though you would do a video on this park!

I live in the Western Suburbs and I loved This park growing up. I was very happy seeing it reopen again. xTreme elevation is one of the most intense thrill rides I’ve ever been on, it is much better and more forceful than the worlds tallest one. I think this one of those parks that would be great getting a small gravity group woodie, like Quassy or storyland

Sounds like this park is more exciting than I pictured.

The front entrance looks really cool

Six Flags Great America is my home park but my dad says he used to go here as a kid, only 2 coasters but great for kids!

thanks for this!

These are important to continue..children need them. And in this day with cell phones, families need this solid real place to excape technology

Went there a few years ago and plan on taking my son there for his 5th birthday in a few days. I don't like the rides, but the kids love them and have a blast. I think it's the perfect little amusement park for kids under 10 or 12 or who don't like bigger rides

I miss the pre 2006 park 😥 I have too many childhood memories there

I feel so lucky to live near this place!!

Back in the day they also used to have a “North Pole” a pole basically painted white and refrigerated so that it felt cold to the touch

I love Santa's village me and my cousin love the rollercoaster

Omg my favorite as a kid

I went there three times in 2014, 2016 and this year.

I think it’s just marvelous the park is trying to expand into another demographic! I think a trouble they’ll have though is that some older kids may feel childish going to a place called Santa’s Village. If they continue down this road in the future, I almost wonder if they’ll change their name to something more like Holiday Park or something like that. In 2022, they are reopening the log flume from the old Kiddieland. After that, I would love to see them open up a Gravity Group woodie and an action river for the water park.

May I use clips and audio from this video and some of your others for a YTP?

You should do a retro on York's Wild Animal Kingdom since they closed last year.

My dad was a ride op there when he was much younger. He told me back then it wasn't a great park and dissuaded me from going. Now I think I have to

They randomly took out Xtreme Elevation a few weeks ago. Wonder what it’ll get replaced with. It’s been closed a while so I’m not surprised.

Xtreme elavation was closed when I went today which sucks

They removed alot of stuff I don't know why (went yesterday)

Looks like a decent little park and yes...glad you mentioned it...I HATE parks playing the same generic pop radio or worse...soundtracks...

There drop tower and inverting frisbee are for sale, there probly not getting enough ridership

There was a mechanical horse and buggy track once as a kid

This was the place when i was a kid.

Their wacky worm should have a rain deer themed train

The old Santa's village is a little better.they had a sky ride,typhoon,a mini ferris wheel and a parachute drop

3:51 that is nuke town from call of duty the blue and yellow house between a buss and a truck

I went like 1 month ago and I went on the drop omg so scary I came of so shaky I couldn’t walk

Can we take our own food? Or more like leave the food in the car, go out eat and come back in?

Completely out of context but the video from the log flume was taken the day I was born lmao

Santa’s springs is the best

Those tea cups spin so fast

They need to add some Jesus themed rides here because Christmas is about the birth of Jesus not Santa Claus and presents. The same goes for the one in New Hampshire

Call me the grinch, no. literally. i hate christmas

They had a ski lift I remember back in the 80's

Code tonight yet.i