Chicago Investor Finally Gains Control Of Fantasy Island

Fantasy Island has been closed since February of last year.  The rides were sold and the property was defaced.  But today, there was good news for the park.

According to WKBW, the CEO of an entertainment company called IB Parks and Entertainment has said that they have gained control of the former amusement park.  The best news is that they're looking to restore it as a park.  It's not going to be changed into a parking lot or a strip mall.  They're hoping to rejuvenate the park and "create an amazing family entertainment and tourist destination for people to enjoy for years to come."

The news came from Greg Staples who is the CEO of IB Parks and Entertainment.  He says that they've secured a lease that would allow them to run this park as they have their other parks.  They're actually hoping to have the water park open this year, and then have a full opening next spring (2022).

Their goal is to have a press release out by next week which would give us a better look into their timeline and info on how they plan to rebrand the park.

He mentioned to WKBW that parks like this are multigenerational and that they needed to be preserved.

"There is something special about a vintage amusement park. It's mult-generational." "There is something special about that that is dying in America that we are looking to help preserve. It's something that needs to be preserved as part of American history. "

It's funny...that's how I remember the park too.  When I was a kid, we went there for field trips all the time.  It was small enough that we could take off on our own and not have to worry about much.  Then after my kids were born, we would take them there because the kids' rides were perfect for them.  It was a laid back park for parents, but it was super fun for the kids.

I can't wait to see what this new group does with it.