Santa’s Land
There are few places in America where vintage theme parks still exist in all their glory. Santa's Land in Cherokee is one of them.
Santa's Land is not a place to write off as gimmicky or hokey. The park's attractions come from a timeless era, truly tailored to children and not the latest commercial trend.
The grounds are clean and well-kept, the rides are safe, and the staff is friendly. A trip to the small park will live on as a cherished family adventure in your kid's mind for years.
Santa's Land is ideal for kids 7 and under, but has enough to keep the interest of older children as well. There's a fairly large Ferris wheel and the famous Rudicoaster, a small rollercoaster with a couple of stomach-dropping hills and fast spiral curves.
Parents are welcome to ride on most rides with kids, with the exception of tiny boats and small cars that parents simply can't fit in.
You get a lot for your ticket price at Santa's Land. Kids can ride the rides over and over, as many times as they want, all day long. When they want a break, there's the Candy Mountain playground, a small zoo, and an old-fashioned magic show that's not to be missed.
The magic show is held on a small stage at Jingle Bell Theater, an intimate setting where children can sit feet from the stage, waiting in anticipation for the black curtain to be drawn, a sense of wonder properly piqued by the glittering, hand-scrolled sign above the stage.
Décor park-wide is fabulous, with a vintage air reminiscent of Coney Island days gone by. Unlike some overly-commercialized theme parks, where kids are blasted with sensory overload, Santa's Land genuine feel comes through in the details.
Trash cans aren't cheap plastic — instead they are colorful clown characters made of metal, their mouths the opening to throw the trash. Signs aren't plastic either, but instead real wood lettering, hand-cut and hand-painted.
The grounds are also natural and shady. The amusement park is tucked into a canopy of tall trees with landscaped paths.
Every turn holds a new surprise, whether it is a giant kangaroo for kids to climb on or life-sized igloos to crawl through. There are little diorama houses scattered through the park, where kids look through windows at scenes for tiny elves, penguins on ice and other North Pole themes.
Parents will appreciate the caliber of staff at Santa's Land. They aren't your stereotypical carnival ride operators. Many are grandparents, working at Santa's Land for a little extra income and because they genuinely delight in seeing children have fun. The staff doesn't rush kids through or hurry them on and off rides. They smile at the children, talk to them, and make sure they are having a memorable experience.
Make sure to come early and plan on spending the day.
Take a North Pole excursion
Hours: Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week through Oct. 31. Reopens in May. Location: U.S. 19 east of Cherokee, heading toward Maggie Valley. Cost: $19 for adults and kids 2 and over. Under 2 gets in free. Outside food and drink are OK. www.santaslandnc.com or 828.497.9191.
