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All the United States Vermont Putney Santa's Land

Santa's Land

A classic roadside attraction on Vermont's historic Route 5.

Putney, Vermont

Added By
RoadTripNewEngland
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CAPTION
  Road Trip New England
The entrance to Santa’s Land in Putney, Vermont   RoadtripNE
  RoadtripNE
  RoadtripNE
  RoadtripNE
Old photo from the park   Public Domain
Old photo from the park   Public Domain
Santa’s Land Circa Summer 1977   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Santa’s Land Circa Summer 1977   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Circa Summer 1977 Family Trip   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Circa Summer 1977 Family Trip   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Circa Summer 1977 Family Trip   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Santa’s land Circa 1972   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Santa’s land Circa 1972   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
The sled house was totally repaired to its original leaning condition.   Ray Boas
Santa Restoration Time!   Ray Boas
Fences, and other repairs underway everywhere.   Ray Boas
  Ray Boas
New Owner, David with Santa’s as they ready for some new paint!   Ray Boas
  daniellehadley / Atlas Obscura User
  daniellehadley / Atlas Obscura User
  daniellehadley / Atlas Obscura User
  daniellehadley / Atlas Obscura User
Humpty is dead!   taloisi / Atlas Obscura User
bridge   taloisi / Atlas Obscura User
Gift shop. We took souvenirs as there are still items there   Jstemps / Atlas Obscura User
near zero vandalism   taloisi / Atlas Obscura User
this is the extent of “vandalism” at the park (adult language)   taloisi / Atlas Obscura User
pond   taloisi / Atlas Obscura User
some letters never made it north…   taloisi / Atlas Obscura User
hi santa!   taloisi / Atlas Obscura User
  Jstemps / Atlas Obscura User
  daniellehadley / Atlas Obscura User
Circa Summer 1977 Family Trip   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  daniellehadley / Atlas Obscura User
Circa Summer 1977 Family Trip   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Circa 1980....Yes, there were animals at Santa’s Land back in the day   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Santa’s Land Circa 1972   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Santa’s land Circa 1972   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Santa’s Land Circa Summer 1977   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Jack Poppele's life was long intertwined with Christmas.

In 1922, Poppele began broadcasting from a homemade station in Newark, known as WOR. It was one of the nation’s first radio stations and operating it alone, Poppele became known as the “one-man radio station.” Broadcasting on Christmas Day in 1922, Poppele became the first person to broadcast on Christmas Day.

After his career in radio, Jack Poppele went on to open Santa's Land, a popular roadside attraction on Vermont's historic Route 5. The Christmas themed "storyland" like park, was a gift shop complete with toys, ornaments, and Santa figures year round. Opened in 1957 and it ran for over 50 years. Sadly, Santa's Land closed its doors for good on December 18th, 2011.

It is unclear if the Ding Dong School House, Santa's Land Arcade, the Candy Can Cupboard, or the Igloo Pancake house - a giant foam igloo - will reopen anytime soon.

Update: 2017: A man from Connecticut has shown serious interest in purchasing and restoring this much-loved amusement park. He stated that he would not be having a Petting Zoo (citing costs, care year round), also no immediate plans for opening the Igloo Pancake House or serving food. An article in the Brattleboro Reformer also stated that it would be open on weekends during the summer months and possibly for a few winter weekends. Locals are relieved to have the restoration, as the property had been abandoned and unkempt since it's closing in 2014 due to the former owner filing bankruptcy. Looks like Santa will back in town! 

UPDATE September 2017: Santa's Land is re-opening on weekends, beginning in November and December 2017! The new owner David has been hard at work restoring the park.

Related Tags

Abandoned Abandoned Amusement Parks Roadside Attractions Abandoned Santa Parks Santa Claus Collections

Know Before You Go

Can be viewed from the road, but visitors are not allowed on the property until they re-open for their 60th Anniversary in November 2017.

Community Contributors

Added By

RoadTripNewEngland

Edited By

mlaugin, radioactivegurl2, daniellehadley, taloisi...

  • mlaugin
  • radioactivegurl2
  • daniellehadley
  • taloisi
  • Jstemps
  • ccesare
  • onemoremile1

Published

December 24, 2011

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Sources
  • https://shunpikingwithray.com/2013/07/29/santas-land-putney-vermont-29-july-2013/#jp-carousel-6863
  • https://www.reformer.com/stories/18-dead-animals-found-at-santas-land,356870
  • https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2014/09/04/police-seize-nearly-20-animals-from-vts-santas-land-park-in-cruelty-case/amp
Santa's Land
635 Bellows Falls Road
Putney, Vermont, 05346
United States
43.010384, -72.469615
Get Directions

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