Within weeks of the opening over 700 dailies in the U.S. and Canada carried photos and feature articles. Pathe Newsreel showed the workshop to 30 million theater viewers. Visitors began to flock to the "new" North Pole. From an opening day crowd of 212, attendance grew steadily until the single day record of over 14,000 was recorded on September 2, 1951.
On December 16, 1953, The U.S. Postal Service recognized the great interest in North Pole, NY, and awarded it "Rural Postal Station" status. The same year Santa and his reindeer team traveled to the nation's capital to participate in the Pageant for Peace. Earlier the same year they were seen in New York City's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The Nativity Pageant, the story of the first Christmas, was first introduced in 1954. Presented on a flower decked hillside, it has become a daily remembrance of the true meaning of Christmas. There is also a small Chapel located on the grounds.
This was a particularly tough recreation to accomplish. The actual park only has four rides, a Christmas carousel with deer instead of horses, a miniature railroad, the Candycane Express, a kiddie helicopter ride called the Christmas Tree ride, and a Kiddie Bobsleds, a rocket ride. Some small compromises were neccesary to bring this park to life. I added a mini golf, and incorporated several roller coasters throughout the park. As usual, I have added several rides hidden inside the large structures, including a ghost ride.
I hope you all will enjoy this recreation, or perhaps more accurately, reimagineering of this little park that has thrilled and delighted children of all ages for over fifty years!
Santa enjoys a quick round of golf as much as the next guy! Join him at Santa's Putting Green;
The Candyland themed mini golf is a huge hit with the peeps. In the distance, you can see the Log Roller, one of the junior coasters in this family friendly park.
One of the most popular rides in the park is "Oh, Tannebaum", a circle swing ride. Wait a minute, is that Donder riding?
Here is one of the many food buildings scattered throughout the park;
The Candycane Express can be seen in the background.
Here's a close up of the Log Roller, a kiddie coaster;
Happy Holidays!
