Old Chicago
Old Chicago was a combination shopping mall and indoor amusement park that existed in the southwest Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, Illinois, from 1975 until 1980.
A theme park inside Du Page Township
Check the season before you go
Most theme parks this far north close for the winter. Check the park’s calendar for opening days. When to go ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 16°, with about 33" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Du Page Township
Old Chicago is inside Du Page Township, which has 23 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Aug, Sep and Oct
May, June, August, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 64–83°. When to go ↓
Established in 1975
Old Chicago dates from 1975. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Du Page Township. Green months are the mild ones.
Old Chicago
Old Chicago was a combination shopping mall and indoor amusement park that existed in the southwest Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, Illinois, from 1975 until 1980. It was billed as "The world's first indoor amusement park", and it was intended to draw visitors all year round, rain or shine. It opened to great fanfare and over 15,000 visitors on June 17, 1975, with an enormous building that housed major rides, such as three roller coasters and a Ferris wheel, as well as a turn-of-the-century-themed shopping mall with design reminiscent of the architecture of Louis Sullivan, such as his work for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. However, only six months after opening, the complex ran into financial troubles due to construction cost overruns.
- Type
- Theme park
- Owner
- Robert Brindle
- Established
- 1975
- Wikipedia readers
- 14K a year
Where to stay near Old Chicago
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Du Page Township (23) and Bolingbrook (15).
- 1Soldier Field
- 2Wrigley Field
- 3Barack Obama Presidential Center
- 4Rate Field
- 5United Center
- 6Art Institute of Chicago
- 7Allstate Arena
- 8Field Museum of Natural History
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Old Chicago | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Du Page Township | in town | — | 23 23 hotels | 88,043 | $296K | — |
| Bolingbrook | in town | — | 15 14 hotels · 1 campground | 74,803 | $315K | B |
| Chicago | 23 mi northeast | 35 min | 382 320 hotels · 20 motels · 20 inns & B&Bs · 9 lodges & cabins · 8 hostels · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 2,731,585 | $334K | D |
| Naperville | 7 mi northwest | 10 min | 25 20 hotels · 3 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 153,114 | $540K | B+ |
| Lisle Township | 7 mi north | 10 min | 24 20 hotels · 3 motels · 1 campground | 119,740 | $429K | — |
| York Township | 14 mi north | 20 min | 52 45 hotels · 2 motels · 3 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 128,137 | $397K | — |
| Joliet | 12 mi south | 20 min | 40 35 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 152,241 | $266K | C |
| Downers Grove Township | 7 mi northeast | 10 min | 22 19 hotels · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins | 149,599 | $455K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Old Chicago
Other well-known places within 29 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw127 mi Stadium & arenaSoldier Field
Big draw228 mi Stadium & arenaWrigley Field
Big draw326 mi MuseumBarack Obama Presidential Center
Big draw425 mi Stadium & arenaRate Field
Big draw525 mi Stadium & arenaUnited Center
Big draw627 mi MuseumArt Institute of Chicago1.5M visitors a year
724 mi Stadium & arenaAllstate Arena
827 mi MuseumField Museum of Natural History1.4M visitors a yearPhoto credits
Soldier Field: Photo by Joon Han Contact: [email protected], CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wrigley Field: Ryan Dickey, CC BY 2.0 · Barack Obama Presidential Center: AlphaBeta135, CC0 · Rate Field: User Enoch Lai on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · United Center: User:JeremyA, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Art Institute of Chicago: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0 · Allstate Arena: Nkon21, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Field Museum of Natural History: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Visiting Old Chicago
Is Old Chicago open in winter?
Most theme parks this far north close for the winter. Check the park’s calendar for opening days.
Is Old Chicago in Du Page Township?
Yes. It’s inside Du Page Township, IL.
When is the best time to visit Old Chicago?
May, June, August, September and October, with highs of 64–83°.
What is the closest airport to Old Chicago?
Chicago Midway (MDW), about 18 miles away.
Where should I stay near Old Chicago?
Chicago (23 mi, 382 places to stay), Du Page Township (in town, 23 places to stay) and Naperville (7 mi, 25 places to stay).
Tips from people in Du Page Township
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Du Page Township’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.