This town features the only post office in the world with the Santa Claus name, sure to impress little fans of Father Christmas. The town initially proposed the name Santa Fe to the U.S. Postal Service before that was rejected and they settled on Santa Claus in the 1800s. The town even has a statue of Santa Claus, erected in 1935 in honor of children.
Today, the charming population-2,000 town takes advantage of its Christmas-themed name to serve as a prime Christmas vacation destination.
Christmas Attractions in Santa Claus
There are several Christmas-related attractions in Santa Claus Indiana, including:
- Santa's Candy Castle, a centerpiece holiday attraction here. Free to enter, it was America's first themed attraction when it opened in 1935. It was just renovated and reopened.
- Santa Claus Post Office, the perfect place to mail your holiday cards. Visitors get a Christmas-themed Santa Claus Indiana post office postmark. This is also the spot where thousands of letters to Santa Claus are sent.
- Frosty's Fun Center, a Christmas themed miniature golf course and arcade. The course features a nine-foot Frosty melting into a running water stream.
Christmas Events in Santa Claus
The Christmas festivities in Santa Caus, Indiana are a treat for children, and include Christmas at the Castle, the Rockport Christmas Festival, Christmas Festival of Lights, Nightmare Before Christmas golf tournament, a live nativity along a nearby town's Main Street and a holiday horseback open house.
Where to Stay in Santa Claus
For the true Christmas experience, the best choice is Santa's Lodge. It features Christmas decorations year-round, you can dine at St. Nick's or visit the on-site Frosty's Fun Center. They also feature special Christmas events at the lodge.
Getting to Santa Claus
Santa Claus, Indiana is located in southern Indiana. It's an hour from Louisville, three hours from Indianapolis, Lexington, Nashville, Cincinnati and Saint Louis, and six hours from Chicago. The tourism office site features directions from several major cities.
Also read: Christmas Vacation Ideas | Chicago Christmas Market | Christmas Cruises | Indoor Water Parks in Winter | Flying with Christmas Presents | Christmas Gifts Banned in Carry-On Luggage
Kelby Carr - Kelby Hartson Carr is an Asheville, N.C. mother of three, a seasoned travel writer, and has extensive experience traveling with children. ...
