Table Of Content
- Park Map
- voted "best holiday experience for children" by az foothills magazine
- Writing Cultural Mythologies & Urban Legends With Colin Dickey
- Santa's Hours
- The Best Travel Options from Anchorage to Denali
- SANTA’S HOUSE & NORTH POLE – SANTA’S VILLAGE
- A trading post in the North Pole where children send letters.

However, part of Dahl and Gaske's vision eventually did take shape at a local trading post, which became one of several places that claimed to be Santa Claus' home during the 20th century. With its proximity to both the highway and Fairbanks, the Davis' homestead soon attracted neighbors, who bought parcels from the couple for a small fee. By the mid-1950s, the homestead had also attracted the attention of the Dahl and Gaske Development Company, who purchased the land—nearly in its entirety—in February 1952. Dahl and Gaske sold some of the homestead as lots and turned others into a used car shop and grocery store. If they could change the homestead's name to North Pole, they reasoned, toy manufacturers would flock from far and wide for the sake of being able to print the moniker on their merchandise.
Park Map
Like the New York destination, Santa Land attracted tourists by the thousands. By 1984, the theme park expanded to include other holidays, changing its name from Santa Land to Holiday World. He teamed up with the artist Arto Monaco—who would eventually help design Disneyland in California—to create a physical version of Santa's workshop on 25 wooded acres around Lake Placid. Santa's Workshop in North Pole, New York, became one of America's first theme parks, and its novel depiction of Santa's magical workshop brought visitors by the thousands.
voted "best holiday experience for children" by az foothills magazine
Brown, for his part, sees himself as safeguarding the legend of Santa Claus—the house refuses to have a Twitter account, for example, in case it might dilute Santa's magic. "We are very protective of the magic of Christmas and allowing kids to have that for as long as they can have it," Brown says. "Just like Santa is the embodiment of joy and goodwill, we think of ourselves as one of the embodiments of the spirit of Santa." Santa's home later moved 225 miles south to Rovaniemi, thanks to an American visitor. During World War II, Germans burned Rovaniemi to the ground, leaving Lapland's capital city in ruins. From those ashes, Rovaniemi rebuilt itself according to design plans that dictated its streets spread like reindeer antlers through the city.
Writing Cultural Mythologies & Urban Legends With Colin Dickey
"It rapidly shifted from being a general store and focused really quickly on the tourism market," explains Paul Brown, who today runs the Santa Claus House along with his wife Carissa, the Millers' granddaughter. "A lot of the military people that would come up here would want to buy something from North Pole and send it back, signed by Santa, to their families." Like the Davises, Con and Nellie Miller weren't seeking Santa when they moved to Fairbanks. Con was a former military man looking for opportunity in post-World War II Alaska, whose spacious interior promised the potential for growth and development. He became a merchant, traveling to Alaska's interior villages to buy and trade furs and other goods. A shrewd businessman, he bought much of his product from stores going out of business, which is how he came to own a full Santa suit.
In this post, we will direct you on how to visit the Santa Claus house in North Pole Alaska, we will also include the Santa Claus house hours. We will include all the fun things to do in North Pole Alaska, especially at the Santa Claus house. This tradition extends beyond the letters sent out; Santa Claus House also honors the age-old custom of Santa responding to letters from children worldwide.
Santa's Hours
Santa met his best friend, Arrow the dog, when he crash-landed in the NorthWoods hundreds of years ago. Arrow helped Santa find his magic key that was stolen by Jack Frost. Santa set up his workshop in the NorthWoods, and eventually crafted his very own place where people could come visit him.
The Best Travel Options from Anchorage to Denali
When he died, Nicholas' bones remained in Myra (now Demre), the coastal city where he had served as bishop. Pilgrims flocked to Myra by the thousands to visit his remains, which became the town's main attraction. At a time when the relics of saints could bring major power and prestige, the bones became so popular that they inspired jealousy.
Santa Claus Really Lives In The North Pole? Nah! 4 Homes Of Santa Claus From Around The World - Curly Tales
Santa Claus Really Lives In The North Pole? Nah! 4 Homes Of Santa Claus From Around The World.
Posted: Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
SANTA’S HOUSE & NORTH POLE – SANTA’S VILLAGE
The Santa Claus House is where Santa lives…..and also a gift shop, sweet shop, and where you can meet Santa. If you are visiting in the summer don’t worry Christmas is still alive with a summer festival. Arts and crafts, vintage cars, food vendors, and a parade are a few other magical things to look forward to in the summer. Only a few years later, the Millers had cobbled together enough money to built a trading post just outside of Fairbanks.

A trading post in the North Pole where children send letters.
Step inside Santa's home with a virtual tour that unveils the magic of Christmas - Elite Agent
Step inside Santa's home with a virtual tour that unveils the magic of Christmas.
Posted: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Santa used the ear-like mountains, the radio host explained, to eavesdrop on the children of the world and decide if they were being naughty or nice. Like the North Pole of Nast’s creation, however, Korvatunturi was real in theory but not necessarily to be visited. Whether it’s the height of summer or the depths of winter, the magic of Christmas is always alive at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska. This unique destination offers a festive experience that captivates visitors of all ages, no matter when you visit.
Like Saint Nicholas' relics proved centuries ago, you don't need a flesh-and-blood Santa Claus to turn a small town into a tourist destination. For North Pole, Alaska, and Rovaniemi, Finland, Santa Claus creates an economy where there are few natural attractions. But the hometowns seem to embody more than just a kitschy grab for dollars.
The house itself is a simple experience—a gift shop, Brown emphasizes, rather than an amusement park. But it does have what Brown calls "attraction elements"—a group of live reindeer outside of the shop, for instance, and the world's tallest Santa, which towers nearly 50 feet over the entrance. The house is also, as far as Brown sees it, the original home of Santa's letter, which the house has been producing since it opened its doors in 1952. They receive missives from nearly every country in the world—even North Korea and Iran, says Brown—and hundreds of thousands of requests each year for letters from Santa. The summer months are Santa Clause House's busiest for visitors, a consequence of Alaska's tourism seasons.
Located next to the Santa Claus House is the Antler Academy of Flying and Reindeer Games. There is a seating area where you can eat and talk with other people who come to visit Santa. With Agnes and Chris, you're not just reading another travel blog; you're tapping into a treasure trove of insider tips, curated itineraries, and invaluable insights to make your Alaskan journey truly unforgettable. Con Miller, who served as the North Pole’s mayor for 19 years, and his family continually expanded the store. They added a new wing and erected a giant Santa statue in 1983, which, despite needing repairs, became a defining feature of the Santa Claus House. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip.
Check out Santa’s mail box to send in your list, or write a sweet thank-you note for the gifts you received last year. Just outside Santa’s front door, feel the icy North Pole and watch it glow with the Northern lights. This pole marks Santa’s Village at SkyPark as part of the magical North Pole. Our small piece of this special arctic place was transported here to spread Christmas joy to all the boys and girls of Southern California year-round. A variety of photo opportunities are available including the World's Largest Santa, standing nearly fifty feet tall, just outside our doors. And, be sure to have your picture taken in our photo sleigh.Don't forget to visit with Santa's Reindeer Team while you're here.
That's because the real-estate database now includes Santa's house in the North Pole, complete with photos and a breakdown of its features. Considering his celebrity status, Santa Claus enjoys an apparently modest lifestyle in a 2,500-square-foot old-growth timber cabin—"a toy-lover's paradise nestled on 25 idyllic acres," according to the listing. Inside the vintage log house, which was erected in 1822, you'll find three bedrooms and two baths. No inch of space is wasted in the cozy residence, which has plenty of room for a fully functional toy workshop accessed through an "Elves Only" door. What of the other places that claim Santa lives within their borders?
There are parades and fundraisers like “Jingle in July” or “Cruising with Santa.” Even if there’s not a special event happening during your visit, there’s always plenty going on. Have your photo taken with Santa, or take pictures beside the 50-foot tall Santa statue. You’ll also find holiday murals that cover the building, a giant sled, and even a short walking path through the woods. The most popular offering, though, is the Letter from Santa, a tradition that’s been around since 1952. Every Christmas, the Santa Claus House receives hundreds of thousands of letters from children around the world.
As you step inside, you’re greeted by sparkling lights, festive decor, and an array of Christmas ornaments and decorations. It’s a place where you can write letters to Santa, browse through a vast collection of unique gifts and souvenirs, and even meet Santa Claus himself. Ideal for families and children, it also captivates adults, reminding them of the joy and wonder of Christmas. The Santa Claus House is a Christmas-themed retail store in North Pole, Alaska. Around that same time, the business was relocated coincidental with the relocation of the Richardson Highway through North Pole. Santa Claus House is known for the world's largest Santa statue and its "Letters from Santa".