Hello, I am looking to find one of the toadstools, either to but or get a mold of to make my own. Do you know where I can find one? I am in Boulder Creek Ca.

Thanks,
Heather Miller

Hi Heather! There is a mushroom at the Scotts Valley City Center in the park by the police station. Send us photos after you recreate yours!

Part of the new Santa’s Village web site has gone live for you to start getting a feel for where we’re heading with this historical site.

We really NEED more of your photos, movies, etc to add to the site’s collection. What have you got??? Contact us!

It’s been a little bit of time since we’ve posted any news for you. That’s because we’ve been busy at work in Santa’s Workshop resdesigning our website to bring you even more history and memories of the three Santa’s Village themed parks.

So, keep checking back in with us because we’re very close to sharing a whole new world of Santa’s Village with you!

Well good news for fans of Santa’s Village. There just might be a new Santa’s Village in the works. Our own Santa Phil dropped us an email with a photo and a capation for you.

Discussion are underway for a new Santa’s Village in Utica, Illinois. This new park would incorporate the look of the original three Santa’s Villages, including original rides, attractions, and shops.

>>> Last Santa’s Village < <<

Dundee, IL Santa, Phil Wentz, Will Surely Know If You’ve Been Good or Bad
By Lourinda Bray, Running Horse Studio
Special to The Carousel News & Trader

Once upon a time there were three small magical locations. Here a child and his or her family could visit Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, reindeer, Elves and Pixies most of the year round. Two of these magical parks were in sunny California of all places. One at Scotts Valley, near Santa Cruz; and another in Sky Forest, near Lake Arrowhead. The third was in Illinois at Dundee, near Chicago. They…
Read More >>

This is a re-post of an article from October:

Santa’s Village auction sells park rides, stirs memories

October 26, 2006
By GLORIA CARR STAFF WRITER
“It’s our most important piece, it was on our list,” said Joe Hook, the resort’s general manager. “It’s a staple in the area. It really fits into the environment we are trying to build.”

Hoop purchased the Snowball ride for $9,000 during an auction held Wednesday at the East Dundee amusement park. Grizzly Jack’s is negotiating with North Pole Corp. owner Hugh Wilson to use the name Santa’s Village at the resort, he said. The resort would like to re-create the amusement park, he said.

Negotiations are preliminary, but Wilson said he is excited about that possibility. He spent the day watching the auction, providing details about different rides. The day, he said, was “bittersweet.” He had to auction off the park’s 22 rides and other items per a court order to satisfy a debt to landlord Sterling Bay, a Chicago-based development company.

About 600 people passed through the gates for the last time Wednesday, some professionals seeking to bid on amusement parks, some former employees and some just reminiscing about childhood visits.

Barry Savage, of Savage Entertainment in Carpentersville, purchased a few small rides and games for the business. He grew up visiting Santa’s Village and rode the rides up for sale, he said. His wife, Theresa, and her family all worked at the park and ran the rides, he said. He estimated the Snowball ride would cost $400,000 to $500,000 brand new.

Typhoon sells to Ariz. firm

The Typhoon, a roller coaster, sold for $250,000 to the Ray Cammack Show, a Laveen, Ariz., carnival midway company. Guy Leavitt, president and CEO, estimated the roller coaster’s value at $1.5 million. The carnival has other roller coasters so the Typhoon will be a nice piece, he said.

Auctioneer David Norton said the Ray Cammack Show is the largest carnival in the world and is based in Arizona.

Bidding went back and forth for 10 minutes between the company and a representative for a Florida firm. Bids inched higher and higher in a seeming display of brinkmanship.

The Zamperla Dragon coaster brought in about $48,500, while Cinderella’s pumpkin coach fetched about $13,000. Norton billed it as “an icon of Dundee, Illinois.”

“Only one person will have the original Santa’s Village Pumpkin Coach,” he said. Bud Styer was the leading bidder but appeared doubtful at one point, looking over at his wife.

“Don’t look at her, look at me,” Norton said, drawing laughs from the crowd. Styer got the go-ahead and purchased the coach, along with a white horse statue.

What does one do with Cinderella’s pumpkin coach?

Styer plans to put it in his Lodi, Wis., miniature golf course located in the Smokey Hollow Campground.

So long Santa, snowmen

Park administrator Phillip Wenz said the three snowmen out front sold for $9,100 and the trademark Santa Claus sold for $7,400. He spent the day talking to people and seeing people who use to sit on his knee when he played Santa Claus.

“There was a pensiveness about the situation,” Wenz said. “This chapter of the park’s history came to a close. What the future holds, no one knows.”

Throughout the day, friends gathered to chat and share memories.

Mary Ann Mayer, of Woodridge, and her sister, Diane Paulini, use to come to Santa’s Village as children and later had brought their own children. Sometimes, there would be groups of 20 moms with children in tow, she said.

On Wednesday, Mayer carried her camera all day and shot pictures. Her children wanted her to bid on the firetruck. Her sister would have liked to bid on the Tilt-A-Whirl but figured it would be impractical because it would not fit in her car.

The two followed the crowd as each lot was auctioned off. Mayer said the atmosphere was like a funeral.

“It’s very sad I can’t bring my grandbaby here,” said Mayer, whose first grandchild is due in January. “I always thought someday I’ll bring my grandchildren here.”

‘Dad days,’ other memories

Michael Brown Sr. and son Michael Jr. arrived early in the day to walk the park. The younger Brown, of Naperville, is a production assistant with a company that produces documentaries.

His hobby is urban exploration and photography. Visiting Santa’s Village combined his hobby with his sentimental side, because his dad brought his brother and him to the park when they were children, he said.

“Those were ‘Dad days,’ ” a choked up Michael Brown Sr. said. His favorite ride was the Skyliner. The ski lifts were a ride that gave people an aerial view of the park, he said.

People hoping to bid on memorabilia were disappointed because individual items were not sold — everything was sold in larger lots. Lori Reedy, of Sleepy Hollow, just wanted to find anything that had “Polar Dome” written on it for her son, who once played for a team that practiced there. She and her family spent hours inside the skating rink.

“I just wanted to surprise him for Christmas; he has such fond memories of it,” she said. “I just wanted to get something he can have for the rest of his life.”

No more days at park

Some visitors had no idea the significance of the day. Three-year-old Gage Grunz never visited the park, but it played an important role in his life — his parents met and fell in love there.

Kristina and Rick Grunz flew with their son from Jacksonville, Fla., for the auction. The two met at the Racing Rapids water park. Kristina said there were many marriages among employees at the park.

“It’s amazing, we are getting to see so many people,” she said.

Kristina watched her son go down a tree house slide while she talked with her friend, Sara Nowak. The two both worked at the park and have been friends for 15 years. The two were in each other’s weddings. A walk down to the water park caused them to cry, Kristina said.

“We left our blood, sweat and tears here,” Sara said. “There will never be another day at Santa’s Village.”

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/112289,3_1_EL26_A1AUCTION_S1.article

A holly, yet no so jolly auction

BY JAMEEL NAQVI
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, October 26, 2006

Looking at the line Wednesday morning outside Santa’s Village, you might have thought the 47-year-old East Dundee landmark was finally open for business.

But with weeds overgrown through cracks in the blacktop and Santa’s workshop in need of a paint job, the theme park was in no condition to receive visitors.

Instead, dozens of people lined up to catch a last glimpse of the aging attractions that have entertained area children for almost half a century.

Wednesday, Michigan-based Norton Auctioneers rolled through the park on the back of a Ford pickup truck, auctioning off Santa’s Village - from cotton candy machines to the 62-foot-tall Typhoon roller coaster visible from the road.

It was the first time in several months that the general public has been allowed within the park gates. Santa’s Village never opened for its summer season this year after a group of East Dundee businessmen was unable to secure financing to buy the park.

Hugh Wilson, the park’s owner since 1978, said he auctioned off the park’s assets to pay about $170,000 in back taxes and rent. East Dundee is owed $83,000 in unpaid water bills and amusement taxes.

As Wilson watched the blazer-clad auctioneers sell off his park Wednesday, he expressed relief at settling his accounts and sadness at seeing the park go.

“It doesn’t feel very good,” Wilson said. “I would have much rather seen it be a park.”

Still, Wilson said he is proud of the contribution the park has made to the region since 1959.

“It gave so much of a good time to so many young kids,” he said.

The Chicago real estate company that owns the land Santa’s Village sits on, Sterling Bay Cos., said it is too early to determine the future of the property. The firm has allowed the possibility that the property could remain an amusement park and even a Christmas-themed park.

“All options are still open,” Sterling Bay principal Scott Goodman said Wednesday.

If Santa’s Village reopens, it will look nothing like the park more than 6 million people have visited over the years. Wednesday’s auction sold off all of the park’s signature attractions.

But Goodman said he thought many of the rides that were sold were obsolete and planned to replace them anyway - if a theme park re-opens.

Many of the items were sold at a bargain. The Typhoon, bought in 1998 for $1.5 million, went for just $250,000. The roller coaster fetched the highest price among items up for auction.

“I’m really disappointed with the price of the Typhoon,” Wilson said.

David Norton, president and CEO of Norton Auctioneers, said a majority of the rides sold for $30,000 to $80,000. He said his company does not release the total amount its auctions raise.

Visitors strolled through the unswept park grounds Wednesday, snapping pictures of the attractions. Many said they hoped to snag small items of sentimental value, but most auction viewers left empty-handed. Many of the smaller items were sold in bulk at prices and quantities too high for the casual buyer.

McHenry resident Brenda Barr took the day off work in hopes of getting her hands on a horse from the merry-go-round. Barr visited Santa’s Village as a kid and brought her now-grown children to the park years later.

“It’s sad to see it go this way,” Barr said.

Winnetka resident Barb Nelson also hoped for an animal from the carousel. Her business, Carousel Classics, sells antique carousel memorabilia. Nelson was disappointed when she discovered the carousel would be auctioned off as a complete ride.

“My backyard isn’t big enough for the entire unit,” she said.

Barrington resident Chris Welky first came to Santa’s Village as a 5-year-old 45 years ago. When his daughter was younger, he brought her to the park six or seven times a year. Welky stood atop the Tilt-a-Whirl as it was sold to the highest bidder.

“All the little kid parks are gone,” Welky said. “What’s going to entertain the little kids?”

As the auction began, Steve Pernice visited the Polar Dome Ice Arena, where he played hockey for the Hoffman High School Hawks 25 years ago.

“This was my home,” Pernice said. “This is where I first played ice hockey.”

Pernice said he had hoped Santa’s Village could continue but didn’t think it had much of a chance.

“It was something to maybe drop a coin in a wish fountain for, but that’s all it was,” he said.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=242891

By Deidre Bello
Special to the Tribune
Published October 26, 2006

Carnival operators and curiosity seekers toured Santa’s Village on Wednesday as the contents of the East Dundee theme park were auctioned.

David Norton of Norton Auctioneers in Michigan rode through the park in the back of pickup, teasing the crowd and trying to get the best price for things that included roller-coasters, cash registers, aluminum animals and Zambonis used to resurface the ice at the Polar Dome.

By early afternoon, about 600 people had walked through the park and 350 had registered to bid.

Among the bidders were Ted Von Bank and Ken Wilcox, partners in Carnival Thrillz in Duluth, Minn., an indoor theme park they said they have operated for four years.

Demographics and innovation are two keys to success in the business, the men said. They paid $28,000 for Santa’s Village’s SS Frog Hopper ride and $46,000 for the Wisdom Dragon Coaster.

“You just have to run a great operation,” Wilcox said. “That’s part of the reason we bought these rides, to add something new.”

Sterling Bay Cos. of Chicago owns the 40-acre Santa’s Village property at Illinois Highways 25 and 72 and has discussed redevelopment with East Dundee officials.

Although many people were at the auction to do business, some just came for a last look at the park, which closed in summer because of financial difficulties.

In August a Kane County circuit judge ordered North Pole Corp., the park’s operator, to pay $171,000 in back rent, which prompted the liquidation sale.

Sue Headley, owner of Big H Amusements at the Randy’s Vegetables farm on Randall Road in Elgin, said it was unfortunate that Santa’s Village had fallen into disrepair in recent years.

“It’s a nostalgic thing in the area,” Headley said.

John Contreras, 35, said he had worked for seven years as groundskeeper at the park. He was with two of his four children, saying his goodbye to Santa’s Village.

“It makes me feel good to just walk around,” Contreras said. “It’s still beautiful to me, even though it’s run-down.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northwest/chi-0610260173oct26,1,7190594.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorthwest-hed

For those of you that missed the auction in October, Santa’s Village Theme Park in Dundee, Illinois will be holding a Yard Sale in the parking lot of the property on Saturday November 11, 2006 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.

No access to the Park’s grounds will be permitted. In last month’s auction items were sold in very large lots.

This sale will be more traditional. Items in the sale will include numerous “signature” signs from the park, electronics and office equipment; three large static display pieces – the alligator and hippo from the “Magic Pond” and the 1/3 scale elephant from the “Antique Car Ride” and numerous logo merchandise, 8 X 10 black & white photographs, nostalgic post cards and promotional materials.

Phillip L. Wenz

All 23 Rides Will Be Part Of Auction

(CBS) EAST DUNDEE, Ill. Why settle for a trampoline or a swing set in your backyard when you can have your very own amusement park ride? The now-defunct Santa’s Village is making that possible.

The owners of Santa’s Village in East Dundee are auctioning it off piece by piece. Everything must go, including all 23 rides.

They will all be sold to the highest bidder on Wednesday. Participating in the auction costs $10.

The owner of the park says he needs the cash to pay overdue rent and taxes.

Santa’s Village owner Hugh Wilson turned the park over to prospective buyers Steve Hopp and Doug Francis in the spring. They later announced plans to revamp Santa’s Village and keep it open, but Wilson and the Village of East Dundee say the pair never found financial backing.

In August, a Kane County court gave possession of the park to the Sterling Bay Corporation, which owns the 40-acre property, awarding the company more than $170,000 in past due rent.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_297093543.html