FROM THE ARCHIVES - Old Chicago Amusement Park

Send us Fan MailIt was an innovative idea in its day - a 200 store indoor shopping center 35 miles outside of Chicago with a 31-ride amusement park in the middle. Unfortunately, once you throw in costly delays, waning attendance, lackluster store selection, competition, and a trapeze death, that's when trouble starts.This is the story of Old Chicago, billed at the time as the "world's first enclosed combination theme park and shopping center," which in five years went from the next big thing to bust.ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN MAY, 2020. This version contains some changes.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAmazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):BOOKS:History Lover's Guide to Chicago, A by Greg Borzohttps://amzn.to/3w8fcQFFodor's Chicago (Full Color Travel Guide)https://amzn.to/3P6Mmc0CHICAGO ITEMS (PERFECT FOR GIFT GIVING):Greenline Goods Whiskey Glasses - 10 Oz Tumbler Gift Set for Chicago lovers, Etched with Chicago Map | Old Fashioned Rocks Glass - Set of 2https://amzn.to/3FrjSFrChicago Map Coasters by O3 Design Studio, Set Of 4, Sapele Wooden Coaster With City Map, Handmadehttps://amzn.to/3vNyDiNChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com):https://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks  AT gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/ Like, subscribe, and kindly review. Much appreciated!Support the show