Santa's Village
A welcome sign at Santa's Village
LocationJefferson, New Hampshire, New Hampshire, USA
Coordinates44°25′35″N 71°29′45″W / 44.42639°N 71.49583°W / 44.42639; -71.49583
StatusOperating
OpenedJune 21, 1953
OwnerSanta's Village, Inc.
ThemeChristmas
Operating seasonMay through December
Attractions
Total23
Roller coasters2
Water rides4 including Ho Ho H2O Water Park
Websitewww.santasvillage.com

Santa's Village is a Christmas-themed amusement park located in Jefferson, New Hampshire.

Most of the 23 rides have Christmas or winter-themed names, such as "Rudy's Rapid Transit Coaster"[lower-alpha 1] and "The Great Humbug Adventure". The rides are designed for families with children under age 13. There are also three theatres, two of which present live shows and a third that features a 3-D film called A Tinkerdoodle Christmas. Visitors can visit Santa's home, sit in his rocking chair, and have a picture taken with Santa.

History and attractions

In the heart of the White Mountains at Jefferson, NH is Santa's Village. The quaint, rustic houses of the village are a colorful sight nestled among the mountain pines. As you walk up the shaded road from the parking lot you are by Santa's Monkey Band in the music house. Their cheery, syncopated greeting welcomes you to the Village.

–The All-American Christmas Cookbook, 2008[1]

Santa's Village was the brainchild of Normand and Cecile Dubois who, in the early 1950s, wanted to create something novel to their region.[2] Seeing deer crossing the road sparked Norman's belief that the North Country in New Hampshire would serve well as Santa and his reindeers' home.[3] On Father's Day, in 1953, the family amusement park was opened for the first time to the general public.[2] In its first year, the park had pony rides and showcased Francis the Famous Mule in a mule performance. The amusement park staff frequently gave her oats from a whiskey bottle to wheedle her to move. The Duboises also invited Santa Claus to the park; he was accompanied by real reindeer and numerous elves. The park was later enlarged to include a "Santa Schoolhouse", a "Blacksmith Shop", "Santa's Workshop" and a chapel.[4] In 1955, the park was open from June to October.[5]

A child poses for a picture through the head of a gingerbread man

By 1969, the park also had playgrounds, restaurants, and a "Jingle Jamboree". The Dubois family added a dancing chicken and rabbit performance to the park's activities.[4] By 1974, the Dubois' son-in-law, Michael Gaynor, took over the park's management after the couple retired. The admission for people over four years old in 1974 was $3.[3] Peggy Newland of The Nashua Telegraph wrote in 2010 that "[b]y the 1980s, the park had grown to a 'real' amusement park".[4] The park was further expanded, with a "Yule Log Flume" that glided down a Christmas-themed river, carrying people around the park. Macaws performed in the park, roller-skating around the stage and balancing bikes on a tightrope.[4]

In 1986, Jack Barth of Spy wrote that Santa's Village has a "strange arrangement", in that to take pictures, people poke their heads out of a cake made of plaster.[6] The grandchildren of Normand and Cecile Dubois manage the park. They added a "Polar Theater" with 3D shows that include elves that dance and a tree that sings, as well as "Skyways Sleighs", which transport people through the sky to different parts of the park.[4]

Near the park's duck pond is a life-size Nativity scene. The park also has a wishing well, where children can make a wish and toss coins in. The money from the wishing well is given to marginalized children through the form of Christmas gifts.[1] In the first year of the village, more than $1000 from the well was used to buy gifts for marginalized children.[7]

Mick Foley wrote in his autobiography The Hardcore Diaries that he has a Christmas fixation and that "every good thing in my life somehow leads me back to Jefferson, New Hampshire, and the trip to Santa's Village my parents took me on when I was only three years old".[8] In his list of top ten amusement parks, Foley placed Santa's Village first, writing that "[w]hat it lacks in rides, it makes up for in personal nostalgia, a beautiful location, and the magic of Christmas in the summer".[9]

Attractions

Name Manufacturer Model Opened Details
Antique Cars
Gould Manufacturing
Antique Cars
 Unknown Classic antique cars attraction. Includes "Kringle Car Wash" structure riders drive through.[10]
Bumper Cars Unknown Classic bumper cars attraction.[11]
The Chimney Drop
Spring Ride 5+5
 Unknown Small drop tower themed to a chimney.[12][13]
Christmas Ferris Wheel Unknown Classic Ferris Wheel with sixteen benches.[14]
The Great Humbug Adventure Unknown Interactive, multi-level dark ride where guests shoot at targets. Renovated for 2020 season by Sally Dark Rides with larger vehicles, new decor, and a new targeting and scoring system.[15][16]
Himalaya Unknown
Mini Himalaya
 Unknown Circular ride.[17]
Ho Ho H2O Unknown
Water Play Structure
 Unknown Water play structure with numerous waterslides and water features.[18]
Hot Shots Fire Brigade
Fire Brigade
 Unknown Rotating ride where guests shoot water at a faux fire.[19][20]
Jingle Bell Express Train
Miniature Railway
(S24 Iron Horse)
1969
 Miniature railway. The engine is named the "Jingle Bell Express".[21] Unit #43
JOY Ride Slides Unknown
2013
 Trio of waterslides.[22][23]
The Little Drummer Boy Unknown Unknown Small spinning ride with six drum-themed ride vehicles.[24]
Little Elf Flying School Unknown Unknown Rotating children's ride.[25] Originally was a helicopter ride. Was converted to sleighs.
Pixie Mix Unknown Unknown Unknown Small spinning flat ride.[26]
Poogee Penguin's Spin Out
Compact Spinning Coaster
(MX609 3 Loops)
2016
 Compact spinning roller coaster with penguin-themed ride vehicles.[27][28]
Red Hot Racers Unknown
Raft Slide
 Unknown Small racing raft slide.[29]
Reindeer Carousel Unknown Unknown Carousel with reindeer and sleigh ride vehicles.[30]
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Unknown Unknown Classic chairswing ride with the structure themed as a Christmas tree.[31]
Rudy's Rapid Transit
Roller Coaster
(Tivoli Large)
1988
 Steel roller coaster with a reindeer-themed train.[32] The ride previously operated at New England Playworld in Hudson, New Hampshire.[33] The park has announced that this ride will be retired in the fall of 2023.[34]
S.S. Peppermint Twist Unknown Spinning boat that rolls back-and-forth on a small track.[35]
The Skyway Sleigh Unknown Unknown Elevated monorail ride with sleigh-shaped ride vehicles.[36]
You Tubing Unknown Unknown Unknown Racing slide comparable to sledding down a hill.[37]
Yule Log Flume
1983
 Classic log flume attraction through the Yule Forest.[38]

Animal attractions

Reindeers rendezvous at reindeers' barn where kids can feed reindeers "cookies" (carrots - available from Santa's helper).

Notes

  1. ↑ Rudy's Rapid Transit Coaster is scheduled to be retired in the fall of 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Orcutt, Georgia; Margolies, John (2008). The All-American Christmas Cookbook: Family Favorites from Every State. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-8118-6144-1. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  2. 1 2 Butko, Brian; Butko, Sarah (2007). Roadside Attractions: Cool Cafés, Souvenir Stands, Route 66 Relics, & Other Road Trip Fun. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 59–60. ISBN 978-0-8117-0229-4. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  3. 1 2 Tree, Christina (1976-09-12). "White Mountains: Attractions that Lure". The Boston Globe.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Newland, Peggy (2010-12-12). "Wonders of the season abound at Santa's Village in Jefferson". The Nashua Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  5. ↑ Sidoti, Santa (1955-06-05). "In Santa's Village, It's Christmas Now". The Boston Globe.
  6. ↑ Barth, Jack (December 1986). "Santaland x 3 = Fun". Spy. Sussex Publishers: 18. ISSN 0890-1759. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Frances Ann (1956-06-10). "Santa's Village Has All the Fixings". The Boston Globe.
  8. ↑ Foley, Mick (2008). The Hardcore Diaries. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-4165-5678-7. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  9. ↑ Foley, Mick (2002). Foley Is Good: And the Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling. HarperCollins. p. 191. ISBN 0-06-103241-7. Retrieved 2011-03-16. santa's village jefferson.
  10. ↑ "Antique Cars - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  11. ↑ "Bumper Cars - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  12. ↑ "The Chimney Drop - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  13. ↑ "Spring Ride 5+5 | Moserrides". Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  14. ↑ "Christmas Ferris Wheel - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  15. ↑ "The Great Humbug Adventure - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  16. ↑ "The Great Humbug Adventure Dark Ride by Sally Dark Rides". www.sallydarkrides.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  17. ↑ "Himalaya - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  18. ↑ "Ho Ho H2O - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  19. ↑ "Hot Shots Fire Brigade - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  20. ↑ "Fire Brigade". Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Santa's Express Train - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  22. ↑ "JOY Ride Slides - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  23. ↑ "Santa's Village, Jefferson NH". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  24. ↑ "The Little Drummer Boy - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  25. ↑ "Little Elf Flying School - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  26. ↑ "Pixie Mix - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  27. ↑ "Poogee Penguin's Spin Out Coaster - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  28. ↑ "Poogee Penguin's Spin Out - Santa's Village (Jefferson, New Hampshire, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  29. ↑ "Red Hot Racers - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  30. ↑ "Reindeer Carousel - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  31. ↑ "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  32. ↑ "Rudy's Rapid Transit Coaster - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  33. ↑ "Rudy's Rapid Transit - Santa's Village (Jefferson, New Hampshire, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  34. ↑ Larson, Shannon (May 9, 2023). "Santa's Village in N.H. to retire roller coaster after 35 years". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  35. ↑ "S. S. Peppermint Twist - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  36. ↑ "The Skyway Sleigh - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  37. ↑ "You Tubing - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  38. ↑ "Yule Log Flume - Attraction". Santa's Village. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
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