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Published Nov/Dec 2006

A town named after Santa Claus in southern Indiana gets into the holiday spirit with festivities, lights and more.
By Ruth Chin

inding a town named Santa Claus on the Indiana map might conjure up visions of a fantasyland with a jolly man dressed in a red suit. But this little town located in southern Indiana’s Spencer County off Interstate 64 at Indiana Highway 162 is real.

On Christmas Eve in 1852, families gathered after church services to decide upon a name for their settlement, according to local legend. When sleigh bells were heard outside, a girl cried out, “Santa Claus!” The name stuck.

Santa Claus and Spencer County–with attractions like Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari theme park and Abraham Lincoln sites (he lived in the county for 14 years)–is an entertaining family getaway anytime of year. But during Christmastime, the holiday spirit is as thick as grandma’s eggnog and the spread of special events as tantalizing as a platter of Christmas cookies. It’s a delicious holiday destination.

A fashionable address

This Indiana town has the only post office in the world with the Santa Claus name, so it’s no surprise that this place is busy during the holidays. There are five postal employees, but at Christmas time, part-time workers, clerks from nearby post offices and volunteers band together to process mail and answer letters. It’s a tradition that goes back more than 90 years.

In 1914, local postmaster Jim Martin noticed letters from children addressed to Santa coming to the post office. Not to disappoint the children, he replied to their letters with assurance that Santa would come to their houses.

Jim Yellig later volunteered to write letters, with the help of a friend, Roy Fenn. During World War I, Yellig was drafted to portray Santa Claus in the Navy because he hailed from the town named for the jolly elf. He worked as Santa at Santa Claus Land (which later became Holiday World), and even wrote a book, “How to be a Good Santa Claus.”

Yellig’s daughter, Patricia Koch, serves on the board of Santa Elves, Inc., a non-profit organization that answers about 10,000 letters to Santa each holiday, with the help of many local volunteers.

But there’s more to Santa Claus, Ind., than letters during the holidays. This little town also knows how to have a good time, starting with Christmas at the Castle on Nov. 24, running through Dec. 23.

Holiday events

Santa’s Candy Castle on state Highway 245 opened in 1935. Since then, Santa has visited with children, passed out sweets– including gourmet candy canes–and presented his Good Book for wee ones to sign.

On Dec. 9 and 10, holiday events continue with a pancake breakfast with Santa, craft show, a holiday parade and Festival of Lights, held at Christmas Lake Village. Holiday concerts are held at Santa’s Lodge (91 W. Christmas Blvd.) and chestnuts roast over a bonfire (Dec. 9) at Santa’s castle.

Nearby Rockport holds its holiday events Dec. 2 and 3, offering a pancake breakfast, crafts, a parade and concert. Visitors won’t miss Rockport; just follow the star mounted 150 feet on a bluff overlooking town.

Other activities in the area include finding the perfect fir at one of two tree farms, free horseback rides at Ramey Riding Stables in Rockport–even a two-man golf scramble at Christmas Lake Golf Course.
Make yourself at home

There are several options for an overnight stay in town, but for a healthy dose of the holidays, consider Santa’s Lodge. Year-round holiday décor and hand-hewn ceiling timbers taken from an 1880s barn that was on the site give the hotel its distinctive charm. During the Christmas season, packages include evening cookies, bedtime stories with Santa for little guests and breakfast with the old elf the following morning.

Doesn’t this guy ever sleep? Not during the holidays, and not with so much going on in and around Santa Claus, Ind. Indeed, you will find it hard keeping up with the jolly old soul.

Ruth Chin is a contributor from Muncie, Ind.


Above: One of the highlights of the city’s Chistmas Festival is an appearance by Santa himself.

Below: Many of the streets in Santa Claus have festive names. The town was named on Christmas Eve in 1852. Spencer County Visitors Bureau photos


Before You Go
For more information, contact the Spencer County Visitors Bureau, 1-888-444-9252, www.legendaryplaces.org.

Stop by your nearest AAA service office for maps, reservations, TripTiks and TourBook guides. View a list of offices.

Order free information through the Reader Service Card online. Click on Reader Resources.

Picture Postmark

Beginning Dec. 1, the Santa Claus post office will again offer its picture postmark for holiday mail cancellations. Each year, the postmark is designed by a local student. This year’s winner was Natalie Gogel of Mariah Hill, Ind.

Postmaster Marian Balbach offered these tips for people seeking the cancellation stamp on cards and packages.

• Allow at least a 2-inch-by-4-inch space in the stamp area for the postmark.

• Have correct postage applied to items for mailing prior to bringing them to the post office.

• To mail Christmas cards to the post office, package items–with postage in place–in a sturdy envelope or box and mail to: Postmaster, Santa Claus Station, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998. Be sure to request the special postmark. There is no charge for the picture postmark, but there is a 50-postmark limit per person, per day.

The postmark is available through Dec. 24. Balbach said the post office gets 500,000 pieces of mail during the Christmas season. Normal volume is closer to 13,000 pieces per month. •

“We do more than that each day during the Christmas season,” she said.
The picture postmark designed for 2006 by student Natalie Gogel for the Santa Claus post office. Spencer County Visitors’ Bureau photo

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