Shop tell you Drop with Santa
North Pole, Alaska (pop. 1600) One of Alaska’s most unique communities is North Pole, 14 miles/22.5 km southeast of Fairbanks. It is best known as the home of Santa Claus’ House but has a large number of businesses that cater to the traveling public.
Restaurants, motel, campgrounds, supermarket and a shopping center are conveniently located near the Richardson Highway.
History
This area was first homesteaded in 1944 by a farmer named Davis, but did not gain much recognition until 1953 when North Pole was incorporated as a town.
An enterprising merchant named Con Miller moved his store from Fairbanks and began a tradition that is still going on today. Miller had already developed a reputation for playing Santa Claus to the Native children in the Alaskan Villages, and so he named his new trading post Santa Claus House.
Information/Emergency
North Pole Visitor Information Center, mile 348.7/km 561.2 (1504.7) Open June through August.
North Pole Library, 301 Snowman Lane, 907-488-6101. Internet access is available on a scheduled basis (limit 1 hour per person per day), call for an appointment.
Emergency only 911: State Troopers 452-2114, North Pole Police 907-488-6902, Fire 907-488-2232.
Tesoro 2Go - gas and oil products, 3392 Badger Rd., 907-488-4599.
Shopping
Santa Claus House features a great toy department as well as a traditional well-stocked gift shop. The Santa Claus House exterior, which includes a giant Santa, is a favorite photo subject.
For many years, The Miller family, owners of Santa Claus House, devoted much of their time to creating a real Christmas for the less fortunate children in isolated areas of Alaska. By answering letters from children all over the world, they have made the “home of Santa Claus” a reality.
Camping
SantaLand RV Park Close to shopping, post office, and next door to Santa Claus House, North Pole's most famous attraction. City water, free private shower rooms, laundromat, pull-throughs, full-and partial-hook-ups, cable TV. Tent sites.
Modem friendly. Vehicle wash. Shuttle bus, state wide tour reservations. Seniors discount, Good Sam Park.
Editor's note: This is a very clean and well maintained campground. Terrific showers, laundromat and friendly staff. Make sure you see Santa's reindeer. 907 488-9123, PO Box 55317, 125 St. Nicholas Drive, North Pole, AK 99705; 907-488-9123 or toll free 1-888-488-9123.
Service.
It's "Santa's Snowmobile" at Santa Claus House, North Pole, AK!
North Pole, Alaska
The slogan of the town of North Pole, Alaska is "Where the Spirit of Christmas Lives Year Round." It is the northernmost Santa-themed tourist attraction, and therein lies its flaw.
The joke with Santa Lands in the lower 48 is that they are plain silly -- akin to a Wild West Town in New Jersey, or a miniature China in Texas. Look, kids -- Santa sweating in 90 degree heat! Ho! Ho! Ho!
A North Pole in Alaska suffers from diminished comedy opportunities in its wan polar light. What's the fun of an artificially iced North "Pole" in a place where the winter temperature slides to 70 degrees below zero?
Yet North Pole, Alaska has the edge on all those other North Poles and Christmas Lands when it comes to kid cred. The town receives mountains of mail from all over the world, answered by a "Santa," or SASEs at least postmarked from the North Pole (Zip code is 99705)
For those that make the trip in person, there are worthy sights: a 42- ft. fiberglass Santa Claus statue stands on Richardson Hwy, and other Christmas items decorate the town.
(North Pole: 14 miles east of Fairbanks. Santa Claus House: 101 Saint Nicholas Drive.)
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