Back in the 1940s, an eight-year-old girl told a Walt Disney artist, Arturo Monaco, what she believed Santa’s home and village looked like. Mr. Monaco turned her vision into blueprints for an actual village — the first was built in Lake Placid, NY, in the late 1940s, and the second was built in 1956 at North Pole, Colorado, at the foot of Pike’s Peak. The original village consisted of 12 alpine buildings including a home for Santa and Mrs. Claus, three workshops, a blacksmith shop, a gate house, a reindeer barn, a souvenir shop, a show house, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and a miniature chapel with nativity. Santa’s Workshop has grown through the years, but the pure enjoyment of the Christmas spirit has remained the same for the past 50 years. It’s a wonderful, magical place to take the whole family to celebrate the holidays.

Santa’s Workshop is a themed family amusement park where Christmas music and the smells of candy and popcorn fill the air. When you enter the park, Santa’s three llamas, Prime Time, Dutch and Papacho, are waiting to greet you. At the center of the park is the North Pole, an ice-covered pole that never melts, even during the summer. Surrounding the Pole are fantastic gift shops including the Boy’s Shop and the Girl’s Shop, each of which specializes in gifts that will delight boys and girls of all ages. While you stroll the streets, stop in at one of the many shows. You’ll laugh with Elmer the Elf and Chris Moose, and be amazed as the magician conjures illusions before your eyes. When you get hungry, stop at one of many locations to snack. The food at Santa’s Workshop is every kid’s dream — hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, chicken nuggets, popcorn, funnel cakes, ice cream and lots and lots of candy!

What would the North Pole be without some really great rides — most for children, but some for adults as well. There’s a Boat Ride, a Rocket Ride, a Candy-Cane Coaster, a Christmas Tree Ride and many more just for kids. For the whole family, hop aboard the Ferris Wheel, the Old-Fashioned Carousel or Santa’s Train, which will take you around the whole park.

The highlight of the park is a visit with Santa in his home. Don’t worry, Santa is always at home when the park is open, except for a half hour lunch break around 12:30 every day — a big guy like that has to eat to keep up his strength! The rest of the day, kids can climb up on Santa’s lap and whisper what they’d like for Christmas.

The park schedule and pricing is listed on their website. You’ll want to check dates each year to be sure the park is open. And be sure to call ahead to check on the weather because extreme fog or rain, accumulation of snow and an extreme drop in temperature will close the park. Because Santa’s Workshop is at the foot of Pike’s Peak and weather is unpredictable. The mountain seems to breed storms, especially in the afternoons, so come early. Dress in layers and bring a rain jacket during the summer months.

Santa’s Workshop
5050 Pikes Peak Hwy
Cascade, CO 80809
Phone: 719-684-9432