'The best job in the world'

This is a story not only about a new book that has been written about the Three Worlds of Santa's Village theme park -- but its author, Phillip Wenz.

One can't be written without the other, because both have played an important role in the northern Fox Valley history in the last 40 years.

The park came along before Wenz. It was born in 1959. He came along three years later. And when he was 4 years old, the bond was created.

That was when Wenz first visited Santa Claus at the now-closed East Dundee park. And, for many years, he actually wore the white beard and red suit, and was the park's unofficial patriarch.

Even though Santa's Village closed in 2006, the bond continues. And since the 38-acre vacant property can't talk or write, Wenz took up the task.

He's been jotting down memories and gathering photographs for his book, "Images of America: Santa's Village."

"For years, I have been keeping notes and a journal of happenings at the park," he said.

"It was like putting together a puzzle. There's so many things that happened there."

Twenty million people rode the rides, ate hot dogs and popcorn and fell in love with the park on Route 25. There were also more than 10,000 employees, many of whom were teenagers who fell in and out of love, and started their working careers there.

"Three movies were filmed there," Wenz said. "People got married in the Chapel of the Little Shepherd and on the ice of the Polar Dome and 'Wide World of Sports' filmed the National Speed Skating Championship there."

And all the while, Wenz's white-gloved hand waved to the crowd and soaked in more images and memories.

"I had the best job in the world." he said. "I played Santa Claus."

Not only did he portray him, but he held classes so other people could portray Santa with the same zeal.

Santa's Village in East Dundee was the third in a chain of similar parks. The other two, in California, have also closed.

When the northern Kane County park opened, it was the largest amusement park of its kind in the Midwest. At first, it was open year-round.

But people didn't like spinning around in winter's cold, so, after a few years it closed until the warm months arrived.

Debbie Rupnick was one of the teenagers who found her first job at Santa's Village. She worked on a couple of rides, and is quite excited about the Monday release of the book.

"I'll buy it and look through it closely to see if there's a picture of me in it," she said. "It will be fun to look at."

It also will bring back a lot of memories for her and other Dundee Township-area residents who worked and played there.

The property now is not much to look at. The rides were sold at auction and weeds grow in the parking lot.

But don't say goodbye to the park just yet.

"Oh, the final chapter on Santa's Village has not been written," Wenz said. "We're pursuing some opportunities." But he would not say whether he himself plans to buy the property.

Wenz will sign copies of his book (published by Arcadia Publishing), at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee.