Santa's Candy Castle facts for kids

Santa's Candy Castle, located in Santa Claus, Indiana, is a fun place to visit. It celebrates Christmas traditions and decorations. This special attraction brings holiday cheer to everyone who visits.

Discover Santa's Candy Castle

A Sweet Beginning in 1935

The castle first opened on December 22, 1935. It was originally supported by the Curtiss Candy Company. This company from Chicago made famous candy bars like Baby Ruth and Butterfinger. Artist Emil Straus designed the castle. It is a red-brick building. It looks like a real castle with a tall tower, a smaller turret, and a round room called a rotunda.

The Vision of Santa Claus Town

Milton Harris, an entrepreneur from Vincennes, had a big idea. He saw the potential in the unique name of Santa Claus, Indiana. The town's post office had even been featured in Robert Ripley’s famous Believe It or Not cartoon. Harris rented much of the land around the town. He also got support from major toy makers. Santa Claus Town officially began when Santa’s Candy Castle opened in 1935.

Fun at the Toy Village

In 1936, the Toy Village was added. It had several small fairytale buildings. Each building was unique. They were sponsored by important national toy companies. Inside these buildings, children could play with popular toys of that time.

Crafting Toys at Santa's Workshop

Santa's Workshop also opened in 1936. It had a real wood shop. Visitors could watch someone dressed as Santa Claus making wooden toys by hand. A wooden sleigh with Santa and reindeer was a popular toy made there.

Spreading Christmas Cheer by Mail

Santa Claus Town worked with stores to sell toys. They offered a special mail order service. Big stores like Marshall Field's would ship toys from Santa Claus Town. These toys had a special "Santa Claus Seal of Approval." They were also postmarked from the town's famous post office.

Lasting Impact on Santa Claus, Indiana

Santa Claus Town helped create the town's Chamber of Commerce. It also led to the town's first newspaper. The success of Santa Claus Town also inspired Carl Barrett. He built the town's famous Santa Claus statue. This statue still stands today. Santa Claus Town greatly influenced other Santa Claus-themed places across the United States.

A Modern Makeover and TV Spotlight

Santa's Candy Castle was restored and reopened on July 26, 2006. Santa's Workshop was also undergoing restoration. In December 2017, Santa's Candy Castle appeared on TV. It was featured on the Travel Channel's Man v. Food. Casey Webb hosted the episode.