Philip Wenz walked around Santa's Village on Tuesday, taking stockof the 22 rides -- including the Galleon and Typhoon roller coaster -- and sharing tidbits of the 46-year-old East Dundee landmark'shistory.
Santa's Village drew a large crowd exactly a year ago, its lastday of the 2005 summer season. Families took photographs, bought tonsof souvenirs and reminisced.
That day, Wenz said, was prophetic.
"It never got its swan song," said Wenz, who portrayed Santa Clausfor 20 years. "Basically, the eviction will be next Monday."
A Kane County judge evicted North Pole Corp. this week, ruling infavor of land owner Sterling Bay, a Chicago development company.North Pole Corp. owner Hugh Wilson agreed to sell off the assets topay Santa's Village's debts, estimated at more than $170,000.
COMPANY'S PLANS UNKNOWN
An October auction has been scheduled, Wenz said. The Galleon, aFerris wheel, merry-go-round, two roller coasters and the trademarkSnowball ride will all be auctioned off, he said. The originalbuildings, built in 1959, will remain. The auction will be open tothe public.
It now is up to Sterling Bay to decide what to do with theproperty, Village President Jerald Bartels said. The companyexpressed interest in keeping the park open, but he has not heard ofany real plans to do so.
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