Trading his reindeer for a zipline, Santa made a grand entrance to a special 60 year celebration in Bracebridge.
First opened in 1955, the Santa’s Village amusement park was created by Bracebridge residents hoping to draw people into town, instead of bypassing it on the newly built Highway 11.
“Somebody had visited North Pole, N.Y. in Lake Placid and dreamed up the idea to say we could do something similar in Bracebridge and the nice little hook we had is that Bracebridge is on the 45th parallel, half way between the north pole and the equator, a really nice way to say Santa's summer home," says Jamie Hopkins, general manager at Santa’s Village.
Phillip Murphy, board president for the village, was 16 at the time it opened. His father encouraged him to purchase two shares in the park, and he's been involved ever since.
"My father was a great advocate of Santa's Village, so he would be very, very proud and I'm proud as well."
An estimated 6.5 million people have visited the park since opening day. While, it has added new features over the years, like the Elf Sky Challenge Adventure Park, Santa's Village has stayed true to its roots, keeping many original buildings and one of the first rides, like the merry-go-round.
"Everything about Christmas and Santa is tradition, so we feel that is an important value to maintain," says Hopkins.
That’s the reason adults, who once visited as children, now return with their own kids. However, tradition isn't just for visitors. Five generations of the Goodfellow family have worked here.
"My grandma ran the gate house and she let us in, the price of admission was a quarter," says Jim Goodfellow. "I just like all the people coming, everyone looks happy."
If you ask Santa, it's the visitors who make this place magical.
"This park would be nothing without my children. I would have no fun unless they came and partied with us."
