Story by Rachael Osborne
Photos courtesy of Pearl Maicus

Santa and his helpers

In the small town of Wilmington, New York, nestled within the peaks of the Adirondacks, hide some very important people: a few bubbly elves, some magical reindeer, and a jolly man with a cherry red suit. This fairytale land, Santa’s Workshop, has managed to keep its charm for kids and adults alike as they continue to visit Santa at the one and only North Pole.

On July 1, 1949, Santa’s Workshop opened its doors to the curious public. Julian Reiss, along with Harold Fortune and Arto Monoco, creator of the now-defunct Land of Makebelieve, built this magical resort, in hopes of solidifying children’s dreams that indeed, there was a Santa Claus. As the first and oldest theme park of its kind, Santa’s Workshop still holds the same traditional values that it did on day one. The St. Nicholas Chapel, for example, home of the Nativity Pageant, tells “the story of the first Christmas and the real meaning of Santa Claus,” according to the North Pole’s official website. Complete with a baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, three wise men and some sheep, the Nativity Pageant tells the story of Jesus’ birth.

Mrs. Maicus with a tray full of candles for the workshop

As the North Pole gained popularity in Northern New York, business boomed. “In the 50s and 60s, the crowds were so big that it was not uncommon to have 5,000 people in a day during a holiday weekend in the summertime,” remembers Pearl Maicus, who worked as the North Pole’s candle maker in the 1950s. With the town population being a mere fifth of that size, this was a very impressive crowd. In fact, “attendance grew steadily until the single day record of over 14,000 on September 2, 1951,” states the North Pole’s website. Admission prices were kept to a minimum over the years, and “the prices of souvenirs were low enough,” recalls Maicus, “so that almost anyone could buy one. The Santa hats were very popular because they [Santa’s helpers] could put the children’s names on them.”

Mrs. Maicus sits by the infamous North Pole

The main attraction was, of course, Santa and his helpers at the North Pole. The actual North Pole is, in fact, like a huge popsicle. “Kids especially loved it in the summer because it was cold and wet,” says Maicus. The reindeer, which were also quite popular, were raised right on Whiteface Mountain. “No one had ever seen one before,” says Maicus. To this day, children can have a letter sent straight from Santa, since the US Post Office recognizes the North Pole with its very own ZIP code and postmark. “It’s very exciting for kids to receive a letter from Saint Nick,” proclaims Maicus. “Sometimes we’d send them to kids who didn’t believe. It was great fun!”

The Santa's Workshop toy catalogue from 1957

Since its opening days more than 50 years ago, rides have been added for bigger children. In 2003, park owner Bob Reiss added a kiddy roller coaster and an arcade. A small Ferris wheel was also added last summer—a running antique over 100 years old that was once in Coney Island. “I remember riding that same Ferris wheel when I was a little girl while visiting Coney Island,” recalls Mrs. Maicus excitedly, “It’s interesting that it has since made its way all the way to the North Pole.”

Elmer’s Wishing Well, a place where guests can throw their change in hopes that their wishes will come true, also signifies what the Reiss family strongly believe in: The money from Elmer’s Wishing Well is used to buy gifts for needy children. Sometimes, Santa, his helpers, and a sleigh full of reindeer visited local hospitals, sharing gifts with the children. “He [Julian] thought that all children should be able to enjoy Christmas,” recalls Maicus. And so today, the holiday tradition continues, with Bob carrying on the Christmas spirit that his father once initiated. At Santa’s Workshop, it's Christmas all year round.

Have you been to Santa's Workshop? Tell us about it!