Weird California - By Joe Parzanese
Santa Claus
2801 East Ventura Blvd,
Oxnard, California
93036
(Near North Rice Ave)
Santa Claus Watches Over 101
Old Postcard of Santa Claus Lane
Although, Santa Claus now resides in Oxnard, CA, for 52 years he lived at Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria along with his pal Frosty the Snowman and an entire Christmas themed street!
This eighteen foot tall Santa Claus found in Oxnard, CA just off of Highway 101 (take the Santa Clara exit if going North or the Rice Road exit if going South) use to be located on Santa Claus Lane just south of Santa Barbara in Carpinteria. The juice stand located on Santa Claus Lane was started by June and Patrick McKeon. With Santa Claus perched over their business, it evolved from nuts, fruit, olives, and dates into the Christmas themed attraction that it was for many many years. Santa resided in the chimney atop Santa's Candy Kitchen for fifty-two years.
However, wear and tear eventually made it unstable and hazardous to have it perched on top of the buildings there. It was taken down in March 2002. Luckily, it was saved by several citizens and transferred South to Oxnard in January 2003. It was repaired and repainted, and placed in its current spot in Oxnard, looking west over Highway 101. Approximately three hundred people attended his re-dedication at the new site.
Santa Claus behind the "S"
Santa Claus through the "C"
Santa's old home, Santa Claus Lane, has mostly been re-themed into sorta a New England style fishing village, the only reminder of the prior Christmas themed attractions being the name.
Photo courtesy of David @ Gorillas Don't Blog
Along with Santa, Frosty the Snowman stood at Santa Claus Lane, just a few building rooftops south of Santa. Additionally the village at one time had a train that kids could take rides on around the area. There was a toy store along with the candy store, and a restaurant named the Reindeer Room. To the right, you can see a picture circa 1960, courtesy of David at Gorillas Don't Blog, that shows both Santa and Frosty proudly watching over the street. Frosty's eyes supposedly lit up and his pipe may have had smoke waft out of it. He was taken down in the 1980s, acquired by Tom Merkel, and relocated out to Maricopa, CA to join Tom's extensive collection of cars in his Lost Highway Car Garden.
Today, Santa has acquired a few friends including a reindeer, a snowman with a surf board, and two flanking toy soldiers. His sleigh is off to the right behind him. Santa and his entourage hang out behind green gates, with the letters, "S", and "C" on the front.
Santa Claus also now has corporate sponsorship in order to assist in his maintenance costs, and received a brand new paint job as a result. He also wears shades in the summer to protect his eyes from the California Sun. In December a half marathon called "Santa to the Sea" takes place, with the course starting at Santa and making its way to the ocean. The race often has lots of runners dressed up in Christmas themed costumes.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Reindeer
Toy Soldier
Santa Claus
Snowman and Toy Soldier
Follow WeirdNV.com!
Closest Weird
Giant Chickens
(Marshall's Bodacious BBQ)
4.2 Miles Away
Ventura, California
California State University Channel Islands
6.8 Miles Away
Camarillo, California
Scary Dairy
6.9 Miles Away
Camarillo, California
Comments:
- Monica of Ventura, Ca on 2024-01-01 said:
- I learned to bartend for Hap and Ruth Shargess.
I worked in the Reindeer Room, and after it sold and turned into H and R Land and Cattle.
We had some of the best bands play, I had the nicest barflies ever, those were the days!
- Gail McCann of Paso Robles, CA on 2021-08-26 said:
- I lived in Carpenteria for a couple of years growing up while my dad attended
Brooks Institute of Photograpy. Santa Claus Village, as we used to call it, was one of my absolute best memories. I'm glad he found another home, but wish he could have stayed.
- Melinda of Napa, Ca on 2021-05-30 said:
- Here is the comment: Where can I get the recipe for the date shakes. I grew up in LA in the 50's and
60's and we stopped for date shakes on the way. Sometimes we just drove from North Hollywood to
Santa Clause Lane just for the shakes. If anyone has a recipe I'd love to hear from you
- roland elliott of groveland, ca on 2020-12-20 said:
- I was in Boot camp at Camp Roberts got first 72 hr pass and with others Hitched to SB to see relatives and ended up at S.Claus ca 2/53 with some others and we bought for ...35cents a gallon of S.C's wine that was terrible but did have after results,love the train.
- Mr. Michael of Camarillo, CA on 2020-12-13 said:
- Fun fact- Santa has been wearing a giant mask since the Spring to stay safe from COVID.
- Janet Dyar of Abbeville, LA on 2019-12-17 said:
- I grew up on Rancho Sespe near Fillmore. We would go to Santa Claus Lane, have dinner and then head back to Ventura to Candy Cane Lane.
- Louie of Wilson, WA on 2019-10-25 said:
- My family used to stop in and eat at Santa's Kitchen all through the fifties and sixties. One day I stopped in (I think in 1970) and met the owner, Happy, who I had known when he was running the cafe on the Oxnard Airport. He told me stories about the Oxnard Airport that explained some trouble my mom ran into there. I wonder what ever happened to Happy, and to John Parker the manager of the airport who over a period of several years had 3 different secretaries arrested for stealing large sums of money from his safe. According to Happy, John was later killed by his son in a hunting accident.
- Dan Claffey of Bellingham, Washington on 2019-06-04 said:
- After obtaining a work permit in 1962, I worked for Ken Provost and his wife in the Santa Claus Date Shop. The shop also served as an official post office substation where we had a postmark that read Santa Claus. Counter was located in the corner with the popcorn machine which had its own service window to the exterior. The post office stamp made for busy times at Christmas of that year. Ken special was home cooked peanut brittle while his wife made the date cake loaves. We three young "soda jerks" whipped up the date shakes at the front counter. Exciting whenever Fess Parker would stop in with his family (he was still famous as "Davy Crockett" of TV fame. Penny and Lindy, cheerleaders at Carp HS worked at stores to either side of the Date Shop. Used to ride from westside SB to Santa Claus daily on my Schwinn Continental ten-speed bicycle. Going over the backside of Ortega Hill in Summerland was always the pedal challenge on those rides.
- Rokhsan Wiley of Tarzana, California on 2019-01-15 said:
- I stopped there once in 1988 or so and had a date shake. Does anyone have the recipe? Haven’t found any date shake as good since!
- Cyn of Carefree, AZ on 2017-12-08 said:
- @Anonymous, Valerie is well and living in the Coachella Valley. Linda is a friend of mine. She lives in La Quinta. Ruth passed away from pneumonia after hip surgery due to a fall around October 2007. She was 93.
- Deanna Provost of Martin, South Dakota on 2017-11-30 said:
- I just learned that my Grandfather, Ken Provost was the original owner of the Date Shop! That is so wonderful! I wished I had gotten the chance to visit the shop, but was not born then! I have heard alot of good things about this shop!
- Ronald White of Cantonment, Florida on 2017-09-16 said:
- One lady comentated about valarie the owners daughter of santa claus villiage, im from fillmore calif and had stopped there many times driving back and frorth from vandenberg. I remember correctly Valarie live in Grove Oklahoma and i talked to here a number of times at a music store there that here huysband or boyfriend ran. Small world that i ran into here then i even rembember her dad. met valarie around 1990s I live in Grove for 17 years and met her a number of time. stopped at santa claus a few times with my children while i lived in ventura, ca.
- Anonymous of OTTAWA, ONTARIO CANADA on 2017-07-08 said:
- I had the best DATE shake I had ever tasted in 1967 on a visit with my family to Ventura, CA Sorry its not there any more.
- Jeff Smyth of Tacoma, Washington on 2016-05-13 said:
- In the 1970's my dad used to have a big truck which he hauled fertilizer to the nurseries in Santa Barbara and areas all over southern California. Whenever I would go with him to Santa Barbara this would be our stop on the way back home. The little individual pies were the best ever. We always looked forward to stopping there and having dinner and a pie. Just like everything else, dads truck is long gone, dad has since passed and Santa Claus lane also has gone. I will always remember riding with dad in Ol Dude and those fantastic times. Thank you.
- Debbie Starr of Ogden , Utah on 2016-02-26 said:
- THIS IS A BLAST FROM THE PAST. Not only did I live a few blocks away from Santa Claus Lane in a trailer park on Carpinteria Avenue. I could see Santa from my steps of my trailer.
My mom worked at the Bakery, and would bring me with all the time to help. We made some amazing Baked Goods there. Napoleons were one of my favorites. Of course we made things with dates, and I always got a date shake on my break.. So many memories there of riding in the train with Santa Claus, and hanging out in the toy store, candy store, and eating ice cream..
I also remember a big gorilla in one of the stores.
The only names I can remember are Hap and Ruth, and I think they had 2 daughters.. one was Valerie I think. I also remember Aunt Marion she was so sweet, and I think she was the one working with my mom in the bakery...I was like 11 when this all took place. I lived in the trailer park until 1975 , and went to Carpinteria HS for 3 yrs.
Santa Claus Lane was just an amazing place to go play, and work...I loved the smell of the bakery, and Santa's Kitchen. We ate at the Reindeer Room all the time, and on my mom and my birthday they would make us Prime Rib for birthday dinner.my favorite..
I am glad that Santa is still standing but, I wish he was standing in Carpinteria somewhere...
I wish I could remember more, however, I am going to talk to my mom, and see what she remembers, if anything..
- H. Ainsworth of Santa Barbara California, Calilfornia on 2015-12-21 said:
- My father and his brother built the large Santa Claus on Santa Claus lane, Carpinteria, CA. Here is the story about this structure and place: Santa Claus Lane was owned by Eugene Auger. He had two children, Penelope Auger and Loda Jean Auger. He created Santa Claus Lane in the years 1945-1950 in an effort to create a theme-like playland like Disneyland. He would welcome people with a hearty “Welcome to Santa Clause. Ho, Ho, Ho!” and then each person would get a sucker. One time a child wanted to get another sucker after the first one. He cried and cried and Mr. Auger said, “You only get one, kid.”
Santa Claus playland had a alligator pond and a little train that went around the small park. One time Mr. Auger accidentally fell into the pond and the alligators jumped out and ran away because they got scared. Never were they seen again.
Pat McKeon, a big fat handyman, was hired by Auger to design the giant Santa Claus to be placed at the top of the main store so that people driving down Highway 101 could immediately see the playland and stop there. McKeon hired two teenage brothers, Gene and Leonard Ainsworth to build the supersized Santa Clause. They worked on the Santa Claus for four years and then placed it at the top of the main store and he sat there for more than 50 years.
Santa Claus was taken down in the 1990s, thus ending the dream of Santa Claus playland.
- Anonymous on 2015-11-28 said:
- Whatever happened to Valerie daughter of the owners of Santa Claus village near Carpenteria? In 1958/59 I lived in Santa Barbara and Valerie and I were good friends and used to drive to Santa Claus and sit and drink cokes.
- Rick of Santa Barbara, California on 2015-09-04 said:
- The rooftop structure was scheduled for demolition because the then-current owner wanted to change the theme of the restaurant - even change the name of Santa Claus Lane - for new commercial development. The Pearl Chase Society, Santa Barbara's main historic preservation organization, mounted a public campaign and funds to relocate Santa to Nyeland Acres near Oxnard. It was quite a spectacle that day as the huge flatbed truck moved slowly down the freeway. Now Santa is a focal point for that community with events at Christmas and throughout the year.
- Bea Noyes of Salem , OR on 2015-07-28 said:
- I worked at Santa Claus Lane Date Shoppe and Toyland from 1983 to 1985. I remember the Reindeer Room too! Good times :-)
- Debra Jane Seltzer of Ventura, CA on 2015-03-15 said:
- Frosty is alive and well in Maricopa, CA at Tom Merkel's Cuyama Car Garden.
- Scot of Columbus, Ohio on 2014-12-11 said:
- Remember stopping there as a kid in the early 80's. Finally found this site. Never knew the name of the place. Last time I was there the train was no longer working. Walked along back to see it and saw what appeared to be some sort of castle/house. Does anyone know what that was. Was behind the building. Still remember stopping there and paying money to use the bathroom. Thanks
- Scot of Columbus, Ohio on 2014-12-11 said:
- Would love to see people's pics and also of train. Thanks
- joanne of Danville , Ca on 2014-11-21 said:
- We lived in Ventura as kids and loved to go there. My dad loved the date shakes and we loved the toy store and the candy shop..loved the train too. I was lucky enough to take my children there before it was dismantled.. makes me sad but glad to know Santa has a new home.. Next time I am in the area, I will look for him.. my Granddaughter did not get to see SantaClaus...sad that nothing ever stays the same..
- Teresa of Paso Robles, CA on 2013-12-14 said:
- If I recall the snowman blew down during a big wind storm.
- Rob of Atascadero, California on 2013-11-22 said:
- My grandfather built the snowman (twice! The first one was destroyed in a windstorm). He and my grandmother, Bob and Maxa Roberts, owned and ran both the Frosty beneath the snowman as well as the small attached hotel. Their son, Steve, (deceased) worked in the Frosty, as well as driving the train. I "worked" at the petting zoo on the lane for a bit, taking charge of the baby llama, Pepsi. I remember the toy store run by Wanda, the pottery store right next to the hotel, and the Reindeer restaurant. Great times and a great place to spend summers.
- linda of Santa Barbara CA, CA on 2013-11-10 said:
- I remember working at a restaurant in 1979 or 1980 that was once the Reindeer Room only they had changed it to a BBQ steak restaurant. My memory is failing me but I thought it was called the H&R Cattle Co. H standing for Hap and R standing for Ruth. I cannot find any reference to this restaurant. Is there anyone out there that remembers this place??? Please let me know, thanks
- Anonymous on 2013-11-04 said:
- I think there is a town of North Pole somewhere along the Dempster Highway in Alaska.
- lorraine of portland , or on 2013-10-23 said:
- I used to live in carpenteria.and remember thst dearly.there wad a resturant that also served hotcake with santa stamped butter.I also have fond.memories of the wagon well.is..that still there.with an ajouned..I think 2.or 4 lane bowling alley.those were the days !
- Tom Broad of Chatsworth, California on 2013-10-13 said:
- Grew up in Venice, California my dad, who was a WWII veteran, loved to drive both north and south along the coast. Many trips to Santa Claus and my sister and I would never fail to get a ride on the train. Does anyone know what happened to the train?
- Bonny Shuman of Denver, CO on 2013-05-03 said:
- I used to play at the piano bar in the Reindeer Room. I loved that place and loved working for Hap and Ruth.
- Steven Milroy of Visalia, CA on 2013-01-16 said:
- My Dad, John Milroy, flipped burgers, after returning from WWII, at the Snowman Cafe" that was owned by Bob and Maxa Roberts. My mother, Bonita Auger, was the daughter of Eugene T. Auger who lived in the last house on the North end.
- Jay of Port Townsend,, WA on 2012-10-02 said:
- My wife and I used to work at the polo fields in Carpenteria in the early 1970's. We often started our morning after exercising the horses with breakfast at Santa's Kitchen. Best eggs benedict, to die for.
- Kevin Hogg of Southend-on-Sea, , England on 2012-08-21 said:
- I was priviliged to experience living in San Luis Obispo. On visits to and from LA the sight of Santa Claus and the occassional stop are one of many happy memories!
- MARLENE of palm springs, Ca on 2012-08-03 said:
- This was one of my favorite places
in my life. I use to buy a cookie
cutter everytime I was there. Use
to get the Texas sheet cake, made
fabulously. But....even the rest
rooms are memorable. They were
terrible !! But they even add a
touch of nostalgia to my memory
of the wonderful stops there. I
was nearly traumatized when I
drove through there and Santa
wasn't there. Loved the Lane so much.
- Nick Hoffman of Petaluma, CA on 2012-07-03 said:
- Grew up in Moorpark, CA and had family in Lompoc, so the family made many many road trips always stopping at Santa Claus Lane. Fond memories of riding the train, shakes, and toys. Also remember looking at all the lobsters that lived under Frosty's protection at the end of the lane. By the way, it's still a lovely place to stop if you are driving by, fun food places and a great ocean view.
- Michelle Wilson of Santa Barbara, CA on 2012-03-22 said:
- Does anyone know what became of the carousel that was in the back?
- P Schoonmaker of Sherman Oaks, California on 2012-01-25 said:
- I was hoping to swing by Santa Claus Lane on our weekend getaway this weekend to Ventura. I was so sad to hear that it's all gone. I have wonderful memories as a young girl stopping by as we drove up the coast. I bought a rabbit fur purse back in the 70's as a teenager. LOVED it. And I remember sharing a HUGE freshly baked cookie with my little brother then too. As a kid, what a fun place to stop on a long road trip. I miss it already but find it kind of funny to know that Santa has retired to the beach community of Oxnard now. :)
- Carp local of Buckeye, Arizona on 2012-01-07 said:
- Sorry to inform you lady of Eureka but Santa Clause lane is not a town. The truth is the only town to be named after the jolly Saint Nick is back east and Santa Clause lane is in Carpinteria Ca. I rode the train often and loved to eat breakfast there! Growing up in Carp. Allowed me the privledge of visiting the candy store many times and enjoying the company of both Frosty and Santa. Nice to see that Santa is still around but I sure do miss him and his ocean side home.
- Robert T Escareno of Hesperia, CA on 2011-11-22 said:
- i would like to find some of the staff that worked at the resturant for Hap and Ruth..
- Merritt McKeon of Laguna hills, CA on 2011-10-23 said:
- I first posted here in 2007 and when I googled Danny McKeon Carpenteria I came back to the site! There were two Danny's - on cousin Danny, Pat's son, and one who posted, one of our many second cousins from Utah and California. How great to read I am not alone in my fond memories of angelic scents like divinity and fudge! There was so much love in those businesses - really from the lady who ran the toy shop to the folks with the cafe, every person doing Christmas year round recognized the underlying principle that to every child who wondered "is Santa real" then this little spot off the highway kind of proved it. So there was this element of believing it must be true and the expression of year round faith in the Santa myth - expressed with cookies, candy, specially cool toys, and date shakes - it was really a part of that fun. One great memory was Aunt Mereon letting me and cousin Jeanelle go into the candy shop to make any kind of ice cream sundae we wanted, no questions asked. For a six year old with eyes bigger than my stomach, it was a culinary epiphany. Chocolate and pineapple sauce with ice cream and other toppings really was not as good as vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. But it was so fun to get to build my own Sunday behind a counter and eat it in the dark with my giggling cousin.
- Daniel McKeon of Orem, Utah on 2011-09-28 said:
- I remember many wonderful and exciting visits from whittier,California to Santa Barbara to visit our family (My Father Jack B.McKeons first cousins) at "Santa Claus Lane". Our lovely Aunt Mereon was a saint and was always so kind and loving to see us and was the best baker,cook and candymaker. Uncle Pat was always happy and joyful to see us and gave us kids unlimited rides on the small scale train,which ran in and out of the building he had constructed. It was so fun and exciting as a child.I loved going there.
- Robert Coutch of Greenville , South Carolina on 2011-09-23 said:
- Santa was built by Kenneth Vaugn with the assistance of his daughter Joyce who carried endless buckets of plaster up a ladder. Joyce lives in Ridgeville Indiana and is having her 80th birthday on October 1, 2011. Kenneth was a sign maker and graphic artist. He liked to travel and would approach business owners with propositions to make signs to fund his travels all over the United States. It is great to see Santa has been restored. Thank you.
- Laura of Oxnard, CA on 2011-08-28 said:
- @ Anonymous-YES this is progress because thanks to those Oxnard residents, he is alive and well. Glasses and all. I grew up in Carpinteria and now live in Oxnard and I love to tell people how he was in the town I grew up in and how lucky I am that he is now in the town I live in.
- Teresa of Virginia on 2011-07-08 said:
- I grew up in southern California and remember Santa Claus Lane well. I have a vague recollection of the snowman as well a Reindeer Room Lounge. I remember making a couple of spontaneous road trips with friends from LA to SC Lane just to get a date shake! I took my kids to Candy Kitchen a few years ago before everything was dismantled...it saddens me to think that when I used to make the drive from UCSB to LA, it was just something I took for granted..I'm happy that Santa was saved!
- Barbara of Santa Barbara, ca on 2011-06-20 said:
- Yes i remember back my dad drove the train for the kids to ride i belive it was 25 cent to ride the train.
It was a special time. I wish i had keep those pictures,
- Joan of Southern California on 2011-06-10 said:
- The white 'Taj Mahal' house behind the old Santa's Kitchen is still there.
I remember the snowman well. It was made of sheet metal pieces riveted together and painted white. Must admit he was a bit creepy, and looked nothing like Santa. I liked him all the same and was sad when he was removed.
Sadder still when Santa was taken away, and the whole character of Santa Claus Lane lost forever. But I'm happy to hear that Santa is alive and well, and living the good life in Oxnard.
- Betty of Santa Barbara, Ca on 2011-04-20 said:
- Yes, the owners were Hap and Ruth. The other daughter (besides Linda) is named Valerie.
- Kster of Wash, D.C., D.C. on 2011-04-15 said:
- Yup. Waitressed at Santa Claus' Kitchen in the early 80s. Ruth(less) and Hap(hazard) (grin & bear it) husband & wife owners. Daughter Linda bottled her salad dressings & sold @ the restaurant. Wow. Memories of some strange / weird patrons speaking of weirdCA. Found your site after looking up Carpenteria & wondering whatever happened to Santa Claus Lane. Now I know a bit more...
- Catherine Stachowiak of Oxnard, CA on 2010-12-03 said:
- My family used to drive past what we called, "Santa Claus Lane," heading up north from the San Fernando Valley (LA County) when I was a little girl (during the 60s.) I always wanted to go there but my parents would never stop. So about 20 years ago I decided to drive up there with my own daughters. There were several coin operated rides, a candy shop and toy store we would enjoy for an afternoon every December. Once we even ran into a dude dressed like Santa. So my children were really excited. I was sad to see the Santa Statue disappeared on my way to Santa Barbara one day. But I was really happy to see Santa relocated right near my Bible College hear in Oxnard, where I live. I would have been sad to see him gone forever, although we still miss Santa's Lane. The man who saved him and fixed him up built him a nice little garden area with the help of some boy scouts and other neighbors. It's really a sweet story and not ghetto at all. And though many have complained about his sunglasses, apparently they come off for some part of the year leaving his original style glasses. The new owners also spiffed him up. Now they want people to use the location for charities to give gifts and stuff. So I like him in Oxnard (Nyland Acres.) I hope he is here to stay.
- Ann of Carpinteria, CA on 2010-11-10 said:
- Frosty did reside atop the buildings on Santa Claus Lane in Carpenteria and was removed in the late 1980s or early 90s. It was there when I moved here in 1985!
- Conilee Richardson of Livermore, CA on 2010-10-29 said:
- I loved Santa Claus Lane. My mom would take my sister and I there on our way to Sears in Ventura to buy school cloths. There was a snowman, and I loved riding on the train. I was about 7 years old first time I went. I wish it were still there. My daughter goes to college in Santa Barbara and I wish she could visit it. I've told her all about it many times!!! Sad to know it is gone.
- Anonymous of Carpinteria, CA on 2010-10-15 said:
- Frosty, too, once stood on top of a restaurant / snack shop at Santa Claus Lane. Long time residents like myself can remember the charm that both Santa & Frosty added to Santa Claus Lane (Santa also gave rides to children on his train that ran along a small track!) What happened to Frosty I am not sure of but it is so sad to see Santa in another town along side the freeway now wearing ghetto glasses (& this is progress...?)
- Anthony Prevosto of Orange, California on 2010-05-21 said:
- I have fond memories of staying there with my Aunt Mereon Provost in the back of the shop there was a house connected to the shop we use to visit her this was after my Uncle Ken provost Passed away in the 60's use to hear the train roll by all the time because it was right behind the house. I use to love the date shakes and oatmeal cookies she use to make there also remember the peanut brittle was so good!!! I miss my Aunt she the nicest person you could meet. I also remember collecting the glass electric pole insulators the they would just discard there. Also next door use to love the giant stuffed gorilla and dinosaur that was in the toy store next to the shop.
- Tina of Carpinteria, California on 2010-03-11 said:
- There was a snowman at one time but it was removed many years before Santa. There also used to be a train that would take kids for a ride around the site.
- Zen Perez of Santa Barbara, California on 2010-02-16 said:
- I too remember fondly driving by Santa Claus Lane and seeing Santa, he snowman along with Santa's sleigh and reindeer. Never got the chance to visit, but while obsessing over the snowman and reindeer I did find out that the snowman was bought and taken to New Cuyama, CA and rests at a car garden. I'm still curious to find out what happened to the sleigh and the reindeer. I was fortune enough to find pictures of what I remember at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History. They did a great job of documenting our memories. Kudos to the Museum!
- Mary Ann Lawrence of Eureka, California on 2009-12-25 said:
- My husband and I were just watching a show on television that said that the only town in the world called Santa Claus was back east somewhere. I went, 'nope' and researched and came up with your site proving that I was not insane. I travelled past it many times as a child and remember the snowman, as well. I hope that someone can find a picture of it. It was there between 1973 and 1975, at least. Merry Christmas, everyone.
- Steve Lane of Winter Haven , Florida on 2009-11-19 said:
- I remember the smell of the ginger bread cookies and especially that wonderful train already mentioned. It went around back of the buildings and you could smell that metallic ocean smell and the granite rocks of beside the real train tracks. This was also the first place I ever saw pay toilets, but given its location it was the only place to stop for the kids to go if you were going from Ventura to Santa Barbara.
- Sheli McDonald of Santa Barbara, Ca on 2009-11-12 said:
- Ok, so I'm not crazy, b/c I remember their being a Snowman too. I've searched for a picture showing both Santa & Snowman but can't find one.
My grandparents use to pick me up in Santa Barbara on the way back down to Camarillo and we always stoped off to ride the train and have a burger. Great Memories!
- Jim Davis of La Palma, California on 2009-10-14 said:
- I was in my teens back in the mid to late 50's, and my parents would often drive to what was then called Santa Clause (now Carpenteria). The gift shop was my favorite place to visit while my parents rented a room at the Motel at the south end of the street. We would often peer over the fence at a house that resembled the Taj Mahal which had partially crumbled into the ocean. My wife and I stopped there last year and I couldn't believe what I saw. The 'Taj Mahal' house was completely gone and what was left of the Motel, shops and restaurants were unrecognizable plus the huge Santa on the roof was gone. we went past there on our way home but I just couldn't bear to stop again. I guess you really can't go back.
- Robert T. Escareno of Apple Valley, California on 2009-02-22 said:
- I remember Santa's Kitchen, I worked there with my Dad back in thelate 70's I was a busboy and my dad was a Waiter. During that time Hap and his wife owned it and operated it. They had to daughters that worked there. Linda was one of his daghters name dont remember the other. I was aroung 15 and they wanted to make me a waiter.
- Ken Wilcox of Bellingham, WA on 2009-01-02 said:
- Yes, there was a Snowman atop a burger and ice cream cafe south of the Date Shop. I think it was called, well, the Snowman. I remember running around with my buddy Stevie who I think was the owner's son. My grandmother, Dee, owned and operated Santa's Trading Post. I obviously loved the place, living there as a kid in 1959-60.
- Merritt McKeon of Laguna Hills, California on 2008-10-15 said:
- My Uncle Pat McKeon and his wife June started Santa Claus with my dad Richard, Uncle Gilbert, and my Aunts Mereon Provost and Kathryn Lind.
None of them were from Ohio but all the McKeons involved were born in Milford Utah.
A fascinating (to me!) Legal case, McKeon vs. Santa Claus, is available on my website.
www.merrittfamilylaw.com in the download section.
As far as I know I am the only attorney whose uncle sued Santa Claus and won.
My aunts and uncles and dad are making divinity candy in heaven now but I did want to correct the record.
- Haela Wall of Ventura, CA. on 2007-11-12 said:
- Yes frosty used to be up there too and there was an awesome train that went around the village. I will try to find pics. I loved this place and miss it ALOT.
Outside Links:
Outside References:
- Roadside Giants (2005) by Butko, Brian and Sarah, p: 35
- New Roadside America (1992) by Wilkins, Mike; Smith, Ken; Kirby, Doug, p: 256
First Created: 2007-11-12
Last Edited: 2017-12-24
