Santa's Village Theme Park

Welcome to the Carpentersville Memories Santa’s Village Page. Our goal is to bring back some fun memories of growing up in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

We bring back Memories you didn’t know you had

Support the site - Make a Donation

How much fun did you have at Santa’s Village?

Santa’s Village Theme Park

Glen Holland had no real Christmas when he was a child. As an adult, he created a place that was all about Christmas. In his home state of California, he opened two Santa’s Village locations, the first one in 1955; the second one is 1957 (both closed now).

He then went on to find a third place in the Midwest. He chose a small town outside Chicago that we easily accessible via the tollway. He had a deal with Max McGraw Wildlife to obtain land for the park (for 50 years). This happened in 1958. The official opening was on the weekend of Memorial Day in 1959. Initially the park (just like the California parks) were open 364 days a year. That only lasted a few years, as the Chicago area’s weather was brutal.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus, along with the elves, greeted visitors. The 1960’s brought change. This included a park expansion, the snowball ride, and the Polar Dome ice arena.

In 1965 Glenn sold to Durell Everding (of Adventureland). He made changes. He made the park more family friendly by adding rides for older children. He also shortened the park season to run only from May through September. The ice arena was open October through April.

Over the years, some rides and attractions came and went. Racing Rapids was a waterpark that was added for a time. Santa Village also went by Three Worlds of Fun. Park ownership came and went, too. One time the court threw out the owners. This closed the park for a few years.

The new (and current owners) renamed the park Santa’s Village Azoosment Park. The park currently has a zoo area, water park area, and rides for all ages.

Santa’s Village Video Page

4 Santa’s Village Post Cards PDF

1968 Polar Dome Ice Skating PDF

1958 Santa’s Village Opening PDF

Late 1950’s Santa’s Village Booklet PDF

Santa and Deer Post Card Front PDF

Santa and Deer Post Card Back PDF

Santa and Elves Post Card Front PDF

Santa and Elves Post Card Back PDF

Santa Post Card Front PDF

Santa Post Card Back PDF

Train Post Card Front PDF

Train Post Card Back PDF

We are always trying to add to the content of our website. If you have any images to share please contact us.

Click on the images below to open them in the image viewer

Images from Santa’s Village

1968 Sue Rokusek working at the Mad Hatter

Candy Cane Express

Carol Patrick Van Ness

Pamala Pederson Early 1960’s (1)

Pamala Pederson Early 1960’s (2)

Pamela Pederson Early 1960’s (1)

Pamela Pederson Early 1960’s (2)

Santa – Lisa Taillon Donation

Santa’s Village (1)

Santa’s Village (2)

Santa’s Village (3)

Santa’s Village (4)

Dawn Allison Santa’s Village

Santa’s Village (5)

Santa’s Village (6)

Santa’s Village (7)

Santa’s Village (8)

Santas Village 1959

Santa’s Village 1959

Santas Village 1983 Amy Foley (1)

Santas Village 1983 Amy Foley (2)

Santa’s Village 1990 (1)

Santa’s Village 1990 (2)

Santa’s Village 1990 (3)

Santa’s Village 1990 (4)

Santa’s Village 1990 (5)

Santa’s Village 1990 (6)

Santa’s Village 1990 (7)

Santa’s Village 1990 (8)

Santa’s Village 1990 (9)

Santa’s Village 1990 (10)

Santa’s Village 1990 (11)

Santa’s Village 1990 (12)

Santa’s Village 1990 (13)

Santa’s Village 1990 (14)

Santa’s Village 2011 (1)

Santa’s Village 2011 (2)

Santa’s Village 2011 (3)

Santa’s Village 2011 (4)

Santas Village Ad 1975

Santas Village Aerial View July 1966

Santa’s Village and Racing Rapids Flyer (1)

Santa’s Village and Racing Rapids Flyer (2)

Santa’s Village Bumper Sticker

Santa’s Village Fire Department

Santa’s Village Flyer (1)

Santa’s Village Flyer (2)

Santa’s Village Flyer (3)

Santa’s Village Flyer (4)

Santa’s Village Pixie Sue Hausl Michels

Shirley Albrecht 1968 Santas Village The Karschnik Kids

The Three Worlds of Santa’s Village Ashtray

The Three Worlds of Santa’s Village Patch

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (1)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (2)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (3)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (4)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (5)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (6)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (7)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (8)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (9)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (10)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (11)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (12)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (13)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (14)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (15)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (16)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (17)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (18)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (19)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (20)

Santa’s Village Images from 1960 (21)

1961 December Huge Stocking (1)

1961 December Huge Stocking (2)

1960s Santa’s Village Ad

Santa’s Village Pin

Images from Santa’s Village Added in 2022

Santa’s Village Pennant 1960’s

Gerber Photo – Santa’s Village North Pole

North Pole at Santa’s Village

Melissa Gingrich Images from Santa’s Village 1970’s

Melissa Gingrich Santa’s Village 1970’s (1)

Melissa Gingrich Santa’s Village 1970’s (2)

Melissa Gingrich Santa’s Village 1970’s (3)

Melissa Gingrich Santa’s Village 1970’s (4)

Melissa Gingrich Santa’s Village 1970’s (5)

Images from View-Master A1353

View-Master 1 Santa and Friends

View-Master 7 Santas Village and Polar Dome

View-Master 2 Cinderella’s Coach

View-Master 3 Chapel of the Little Shepherd

View-Master 4 Pony Carts

View-Master 5 Pixie Story Time

View-Master 6 Treehouse Slide

Images from Enchanted Fairyland Booklet

Santa’s Village Booklet (1)

Santa’s Village Booklet (2)

Santa’s Village Booklet (3)

Santa’s Village Booklet (4)

Santa’s Village Booklet (5)

Santa’s Village Booklet (6)

Santa’s Village Booklet (7)

Santa’s Village Booklet (8)

Santa’s Village Booklet (9)

Santa’s Village Booklet (10)

Images from the Polar Dome

1963 January – Polor Dome (1)

1963 January – Polor Dome (2)

HIST SV_domeoverhead

An aerial view of the 87-foot tall Polar Dome on the day it was inflated. It was a 4,000-seat arena with an full ice rink. HISTORY. Jan. 10, 1963

1963 Polar Dome

1968 Polar Dome Skating

1972 April Roller Derby at the Polar Dome

Annamaria Masi Polar Dome 1969

Polar Dome (1)

Polar Dome (2)

Polar Dome Santas Village – Charlotte Ohara Meschewski (1)

Polar Dome Santas Village – Charlotte Ohara Meschewski (2)

Santas Village 1966

HIST SV_skaters

Coeds from Butler University rehearse for an upcoming production of “Cinderella On Ice” at the Polar Dome. July 10, 1968

1963 Santa’s Village Polar Dome

Mark Zimmerman Polar Dome Hockey Images

Wildcats

1973-74 Dundee Demons Midget Team

1972-73 Dundee Demons Bantam Team

1972-73 Demons Seniors

Santa’s Village Classic Images

HIST SV_slide

A Paul Bunyan-sized slide that starts from a treehouse delights a small fry at Santa’s Village. Aug. 16, 1959

HIST SV_reindeerfeed

Arsitodemus von Hoffman, nicknamed Risto, feeds the full-grown reindeer Blitzen. Dec. 18, 1960

HIST SV_kidstrain

Engineer Von Hoffman pulls the whistle cord of a tiny locomotive hauling a trainload of children through Santa’s Village.

HIST SV_goat

A small boy feeds and even smaller dwarf Scialiam goat a bottle of milk. June 30, 1961

HIST SV_sleighride

Santa’s reindeer drag a wagonload of his friends. Sept. 20, 1962

HIST SV_carriage

Ponies pull Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage. Sept. 20, 1962

HIST SV_chicken

This chicken does the twist in one of the famous acts at Santa’s Village. Oct. 22, 1962

HIST SV_office

Santa’s Village President Glenn Holland sits with the coin-operated animals of the village’s animal theater. Sept 7, 1962

HIST SV_northpole

Kids play ring around the Arctic circle, cooling their fingers on the artifically chilled North Pole. Dec. 18, 1960

HIST SV_santatrain

Sanat takes some children on a train ride. Dec. 12, 1965

HIST SV_santapole

Santa stands at the North Pole with some of his trusty reindeer. Dec. 6, 1965

HIST SV_boat

A family enjoys the new Swanee River paddle boats at Santa’s Village. July 24, 1966

HIST SV_car

The Antique Auto Ride is enjoyed by passengers of all ages. July 3, 1967

HIST SV_sprial

A family looks forward to trying out some of the rides at Santa’s Village. July 27, 1971

HIST SV_sadsantakid

Some little boys become awed and find it hard to get buddy buddy with Santa. This one knows what he wants for Christmas, but he’s not telling. Dec. 18, 1960