Santa's Village (Jefferson, New Hampshire) facts for kids
A welcome sign at Santa's Village
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| Location | Jefferson, New Hampshire, USA |
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| Coordinates | 44°25′35″N 71°29′45″W / 44.42639°N 71.49583°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1953 |
| Theme | Christmas |
| Operating season | May through December |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 23 |
| Roller coasters | 2 |
| Water rides | 4 including HoHo H2O Water Park |
| Website | Santa's Village |
Santa's Village is a fun Christmas-themed amusement park in Jefferson, New Hampshire, United States. It's a place where the magic of Christmas comes alive all year round!
The park has 23 exciting rides, many with festive names like "Rudy's Rapid Transit Coaster" and "The Great Humbug Adventure". These rides are perfect for families, especially those with younger children. You can also enjoy three different theaters. Two of them feature live shows, while the third plays a cool 3-D movie called "A Tinkerdoodle Christmas". Don't forget to visit Santa's cozy home, sit in his rocking chair, and even take a picture with Santa himself!
Contents
Discovering Santa's Village: A Magical History
Santa's Village was created by Normand and Cecile Dubois. In the early 1950s, they wanted to build something special in their area. Normand saw deer crossing the road and thought the North Country in New Hampshire would be a perfect home for Santa and his reindeer.
How Santa's Village Began
The park first opened its gates on Father's Day in 1953. In its first year, visitors could enjoy pony rides. There was even a famous mule named Francis who performed tricks! The Dubois family also invited Santa Claus to the park, who arrived with real reindeer and many elves.
Over time, the park grew bigger. They added a "Santa Schoolhouse," a "Blacksmith Shop," "Santa's Workshop," and even a small chapel. By 1955, Santa's Village was open from June to October.
Growing and Adding New Fun
By 1969, the park had playgrounds, restaurants, and a "Jingle Jamboree." The Dubois family even added a dancing chicken and rabbit show! In 1974, the Dubois' son-in-law, Michael Gaynor, took over running the park after the founders retired. In 1974, admission for people over four years old was $3.
The park kept expanding. A popular ride called the "Yule Log Flume" was added, where people float down a Christmas-themed river. Macaws also performed amazing tricks, like roller-skating and balancing bikes on a tightrope!
In 1986, Jack Barth from Spy magazine mentioned a unique photo spot at Santa's Village. People could poke their heads through a plaster cake to take funny pictures. Today, the grandchildren of Normand and Cecile Dubois manage the park. They have added new attractions like the "Polar Theater," which shows 3D movies with dancing elves and a singing tree. The "Skyways Sleighs" also transport guests through the air to different parts of the park.
Giving Back to the Community
Near the park's duck pond, you can find a life-size Nativity scene. There's also a wishing well where children can toss coins and make a wish. All the money collected from the wishing well is used to buy Christmas gifts for children in need. In the very first year of the Village, over $1000 from the well helped buy gifts for these children.
In 2015, the admission price was US$30 per person. Seniors over 62 paid $28, and children aged 4 and under could enter for free.
A Special Place for Many
Mick Foley, a famous wrestler, wrote in his book The Hardcore Diaries about his love for Christmas. He said 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." He even ranked Santa's Village as his number one amusement park! He explained that while it might not have the most rides, it makes up for it with personal memories, a beautiful location, and the special feeling of Christmas, even in summer.
Exciting Rides and Attractions
Santa's Village offers a variety of rides and attractions for everyone to enjoy. Here are some of the highlights:
| Name | Manufacturer | Model | Opened | Details |
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| Antique Cars |
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Unknown | Drive classic antique cars through a "Kringle Car Wash" structure. |
| Bumper Cars |
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Unknown | A classic bumper cars ride for crashing and laughing. |
| Chimney Drop, The |
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Unknown | A small drop tower designed to look like a chimney. |
| Christmas Ferris Wheel |
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Unknown | A classic Ferris Wheel with sixteen benches for great views. |
| The Great Humbug Adventure |
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Unknown | An interactive ride where you shoot at targets. It was updated in 2020 with new features. |
| Himalaya | Unknown |
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Unknown | A circular ride that spins and goes up and down. |
| Ho Ho H20 | Unknown |
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Unknown | A fun water play area with many waterslides and water features. |
| Hot Shots Fire Brigade |
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Unknown | A spinning ride where you spray water at a pretend fire. |
| JOY Ride Slides | Unknown |
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A set of three exciting waterslides. |
| The Little Drummer Boy | Unknown |
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Unknown | A small spinning ride with six drum-shaped vehicles. |
| Little Elf Flying School |
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Unknown | Unknown | A rotating children's ride, originally helicopters, now sleighs. |
| Pixie Mix | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | A small, flat spinning ride. |
| Poogee Penguin's Spin Out |
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A compact roller coaster with spinning cars shaped like penguins. |
| Red Hot Racers | Unknown |
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Unknown | A small racing slide where you ride on a raft. |
| Reindeer Carousel | Unknown |
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Unknown | A classic carousel with reindeer and sleigh ride vehicles. |
| Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree | Unknown |
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Unknown | A classic chair swing ride, with the center shaped like a Christmas tree. |
| Rudy's Rapid Transit |
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A steel roller coaster with a train designed like reindeer. |
| S.S. Peppermint Twist |
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Unknown | A spinning boat that rocks back and forth on a small track. |
| Jingelbell Express Train |
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A miniature train ride, the engine is called the "Jingle Bell Express". |
| The Skyway Sleigh |
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Unknown | Unknown | An elevated monorail ride with sleigh-shaped cars. |
| You Tubing | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | A racing slide similar to sledding down a snowy hill. |
| Yule Log Flume |
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A classic log flume ride that takes you through the Yule Forest. |
- Santa's Village at the Roller Coaster DataBase
