News: Auction marks the end for Santa's Village

Posted at 5:08 PM EDT (2108 GMT)

Oct. 26th, 2006 -- An auction yesterday marked the end of the Santa's Village amusement park in Dundee, IL. The park opened in 1959, but was forced to close after the owner wanted to retire and was unable to find a buyer.

The park's 22 rides were auctioned off to various parks and carnivals, with the Typhoon roller coaster being the biggest piece. Typhoon, which cost $1.5 million when it was built in 1998, sold for $250,000 and will go to a carnival near Phoenix. Other items were more nostalgic, including ice skates, a 12-foot-tall Santa Claus, and even bolts.

The future of the 40-acre site is in doubt. It is owned by a Chicago development company, but the company's plans are unknown.

See the Chicago Sun-Times for more.