Get Holly and Jolly at the Santa Claus House in Alaska
In the early 1950s, merchant Con Miller decided to build a trading post in North Pole, Alaska. Con had a history of dressing up as Santa Claus and visiting with children in the surrounding area during the Christmas season. While Con’s trading post was under construction, local legend states that a little boy recognized that Con doubled as Santa Claus and asked if Santa was building a house. Thus, the Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska came into being.
Photos by depositphotos.com
Located on St. Nicholas Drive, the Santa Claus House features year-round Christmas decor galore. Guests can meet (and feed!) Santa’s reindeer, shop for authentic silver bells, and stand in the shadow of a giant statue of Santa Claus hovering over a red sleigh. The Santa Claus House is also home to a Sweet Shop which serves warm drinks and sweet treats. If you have an out of season craving for hot chocolate with marshmallows and Christmas cookies in the month of June the Santa Claus House is an unmissable stop during your summer travels.
The Santa Claus House is most famous for its Christmas letter exchange. Children from all over the world routinely send mail to the Santa Claus House addressed to Santa. Santa and his tireless team of elves work overtime to ensure that every child gets a personalized letter in return. Santa even offers a letter package that includes a stuffed reindeer and a few sweatshirts and hats straight from the North Pole.
The Santa Claus House is open year-round for those who feel they need a Christmas fix in July. Visitors can bask in Santa’s splendor on the hottest day of July, or during a blizzard in December. Aunt Edna will never stop thanking you for the snow globe that you purchased for her during your trip to North Pole, Alaska.
Address:
101 Saint Nicholas Dr.
North Pole, Alaska, 99705
United States
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Santa Claus House, 101 St. Nicholas Drive, North Pole, Alaska, USA
- Coordinates
- 64.7547, -147.3431
- Access
- The operator lists the store, festive outdoor property displays and the nearly 50-foot “World’s Largest Santa.” The address is 101 St. Nicholas Drive, North Pole. Silver Bell Square and Antler Academy are separate adjacent experiences; check their own hours and terms.
- Admission
- The 2026 visitor page lists store hours and public displays but no general admission ticket. Purchases, Santa photos and adjacent experiences may have separate prices or terms.
- Time needed
- The operator publishes no standard visit length. A stop can include the shop and Sweet Shop, photo displays, outdoor property features and a photo with Santa when he is there; time varies with shopping and queues. The nearby Silver Bell Square is a separate adjacent experience. Check Santa’s current schedule before planning around a visit with him.
- Best season
- Open year-round. The operator changes store and Santa schedules by season; check its current calendar before planning a Santa visit.
- Opening hours
- Santa Claus House’s 2026 operator calendar: daily 10 a.m.–7 p.m. May 25–September 13; daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. September 14–December 31; closed Thanksgiving (November 26) and December 25–27. Santa’s appearance schedule is separate and changes during the year; the operator warns of short breaks and schedule changes. Silver Bell Square and Antler Academy have separate experiences and terms. Check the operator calendar before visiting.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-28
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-08
Location
Use the zoom buttons or pinch to zoom. Use arrow keys to pan when the map is focused.
Interactive map loads when in view.
Explorer Passport
Next badge: Trail Scout
Unlocked after exploring 5 different unusual places.
0 of 5 places explored
Discover more from Unusual Places
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
