Right outside of Lake George, New York and the Lake Placid area lies Santa’s Workshop, in Wilmington, New York. Santa’s Workshop is a quaint theme park. The actual town that Santa’s Workshop is in is Wilmington, however it’s said to be the North Pole. My first exposure to this family friendly destination was in 1989. Last year, in December of 2023, my fellow adventurers and I headed there for one of their Yuletide Family Weekends.
Some history of Santa’s Workshop
Opened in 1949, Santa’s Workshop has served generations of Christmas Celebrants. The Workshop is both an amusement park and Christmas village. Many rides in operation have the charm of having been there for decades, and were retro/antique when I visited as a child in the 80’s. And, charm is probably one of the best ways to describe this theme park.
Our elf got involved
Cocoa, our elf left our little adventurer a letter one day with explicit instructions. The instructions we were given had us put coordinates into our GPS and head off for a special weekend to meet with Santa at the North Pole. So naturally, we went off into the great unknown with our little adventurer high on Christmas spirit. Like any time traveling between the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas, there was the matter of secretly kidnapping the elf and bringing him along on whatever adventures awaited.
This was of course just part of the glitz and glam of trying to make the weekend special and execute the buildup with panache. Our little adventurer had no issue when we asked him if he thought we should cut school and follow Cocoa’s directives. They were from Santa, after all.
In planning our Yuletide weekend, we decided to incorporate the elf. Don’t have an elf? No problem. I’m sure there are plenty of ways to make going on such a trip special. I will say though, don’t be like those parents that are out there who tell their kids, “An elf? Only the bad kids have elves.” Don’t practice? Don’t project!
The Yuletide Family Weekend
While Santa’s Workshop is a theme park best visited during the warmer months, it was the Yuletide weekend that brought us there for our family. What’s the Yuletide Family Weekend include, and what’s it all about?
You’d book your weekend through Santa’s Workshop and it’d include a stay at one of four participating lodging locations; Cadence Lodge, Hungry Trout, KOA-Holiday, and Wilderness Inn. Beyond a multi-night stay that you’d book through the Workshop, the Yuletide Family Weekend includes the following, as advertised on their website:
TRIM THE TREE PARTY – Santa’s helpers assist the children in creating their own ornaments to decorate the tree. The climax of the evening comes with the arrival of Santa’s official tree inspector, Rowdy the Rascal Reindeer. A merry time is had by all.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS – A celebration in the true family Christmas spirit. Santa’s helpers present a program of caroling, magic shows, story telling and merriment, followed by a scrumptious family style meal. A most festive time shared by the young and young at heart.
SURPRISE VISIT FROM SANTA – In the course of the weekend Santa himself, makes a visit to each of the host lodges. The host facilities were specially selected for their warm intimate atmosphere, where small groups or families can share themed cherished moments.
2 DAYS AT SANTA’S WORKSHOP – Visit with Santa in his very own home. Enjoy the steam train, Reindeer Carousel, Kiddie Bobsleds and the whirling Christmas Tree. Watch the beautiful and inspiring Nativity Pageant. Be entertained and amused by Frosty the Snowman, Rowdy the Reindeer, Miranda Mouse, Chris Moose and Santa’s many other friends, as they perform throughout the day with puppet shows and musical reviews.
SPECIAL ADDITIONAL FEATURES
* A welcome package loaded with treats and gifts await you in your room upon arrival.
* A treasured color photograph of your family visiting with Santa is included as a memento of your weekend.
* Each child will receive a present specifically selected for them by Santa.
Our arrival and lodging
On a Friday morning, after we got our strict instructions from Cocoa, our elf, we embarked on the five plus hour drive from the Garden State to Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole, New York. We were staying at Cadence Lodge, which was renovated in recent proximity to our stay. After checking in, we received keys to our motor lodge room.
The room was really nice. We had gotten a “double room,” one with two double beds. The entrance to the room had an inviting foyer and is designed to serve as a mudroom of sorts. There was a space to put footwear and hang garments up in that area.
Double beds were perfect for our group and they were sufficiently comfortable. The bedding and bed clothes were all in good condition.
The room was clean, overall. Carpeting had a close pile and was in good condition. The bathroom was not overly large, but was clean and everything functioned without issue.
On the two beds were gifts for us. On one bed, a “family” gift, which consisted of a miniature Christmas tree cornhole game, an ornament, and some instructions. The Other bed had a stuffy, a Santa hat with our little adventurer’s name on it, and some other items.
The weekend’s events
The schedule of events for the weekend we attended the Yuletide Family Weekend started that Friday night with the tree trimming party. Staying at Cadence Lodge meant that we would be attending dinner and events at the park’s onsite restaurant, Northern Lights Restaurant. Visitors who were staying at the Hungry Trout had their dinner and events at their onsite restaurant. A decorative candle – for us to take home – was at our designated table, with our name on it.
The Northern Lights Restaurant was antiquated and quaint. Walking in actually gave an inrush of memories of being a kid in the 80’s, perhaps the last time the location got a real renovation. Remember, this was a Yuletide weekend in 2023 and we’re not exactly sure if they’ve changed much, if anything, at the property since our visit.
Green carpeting and wood paneling gave the place an old school country club vibe.
Trim the Tree party
The party consisted of the following on the agenda:
- “Shorty” – Carols and sing-alongs
- “The Wizard of the North” – Magic
- “Get Acquainted” family style dinner
- “Trim the Tree” – Ornament making
- “Rowdy Reindeer” – Tree inspector
- “The 12 Days of Christmas”
- Carols and sing-alongs
Our little adventurer had fun during the evening’s events. Between the singing and ornament making, the activities kept him engaged. All of the employees had a ton of zeal and energy. They, 100%, made the events.
Saturday morning
On Saturday morning, we had breakfast at the Northern Lights Restaurant. From there, we were admitted into the theme park for the day.
While in the park, we watched a magic show presented by “Tommy Jingles.” Jingles did his show in the back of the Jack Jingle Theater Museum. This show was nice and intimate. Again, the employees who put their hearts into what they do make the experience, and Jingles was on point.
We spent a good amount of time touring the different buildings and checking everything out. We did not go on the rides that day.
In the Yuletide Theater, we caught a show that featured Frosty the Snowman, Rowdy the Reindeer, Miranda Mouse, and Chris Moose – all mascots and characters prevalent in the park. The show was a little underwhelming for 2024. The score and soundtrack sounded like it was played via a cassette tape, and was recorded prior to my last visit in 1989.
The kids all seemed to enjoy the show, but depending on your family’s taste or level of quality in family entertainment, you might feel underwhelmed too.
We tooled around the park for several hours and then decided to take a small siesta back at our room and then do some touring of the area.
Saturday evening, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”
Saturday night was another evening with a somewhat set agenda in the Northern Lights Restaurant.
- “Shorty” – Carols and sing-alongs
- Santa’s arrival
- Dinner
- Carols and sing-alongs
- Santa returns with gifts for Children
There was supposed to be a ventriloquist, Tom Joyce, however he did not come and there was no explanation why.
Santa’s arrival was pretty epic. The staff members really do a great job hyping this up with the help of guests. Each child and family got an opportunity to visit with Santa during the evening.
The Santa that they had was also a pretty good “real beard” Santa and the kids really seemed to enjoy his presence. Before the evening ended, Santa gave out presents to each kid – somehow the staff miscalculated and were short one gift, but they quickly came up with a solution. My advice would be to stock several extra gifts to have on standby in the case of such events.
Sunday
In the morning, we again had breakfast at the restaurant. From there we headed into the village to get our pictures with Santa. The village opened early for guests of the Yuletide Weekend, and they were able to see Santa prior to the park getting too crowded. To note, there was a decent line of guests waiting to meet Santa later in the day.
We did participate in riding some of the rides on Sunday. The rides are very-much-so toddler aged rides and maybe young child aged rides, at best. Many of them are vintage, and that’s really appealing, for sure, however this is not a park for thrill seekers.
The property
The property is a nice size and has several outbuildings. Naturally, in 1989, I remembered the village being huge, like a real village. But, it’s not quite as gigantic as I remembered.
Pretty much every element in the park needed some sort of maintenance and could afford to be painted. Overall, the property needed – at least at the time of our visit – some serious TLC.
The post office
On the property is an actual post office, The North Pole, N.Y. office. There you can send mail. The park will even send out your annual Christmas cards, postmarking them from The North Pole, N.Y.
World of Christmas shop
The World of Christmas shop is a nice little spot where you can get some shopping done and anything Christmas related.
Santa’s Reindeer Barn
This was probably one of my favorite locations to visit on the property. In the barn, guests get a chance to see several of Santa’s reindeer. Naturally Rudolph was there.
Hanging from the wall of the barn was some of the tack used to gear up the team in order to pull Santa’s sleigh.
The North Pole
It wouldn’t be a trip to the North Pole unless you got to see the North Pole. A permafrost frozen ice pillar is on the property to let little travelers know that they are in fact at the North Pole.
Jack Jingle Theater Museum
Walking into the Jack Jingle Theater Museum, guests are greeted by memorabilia from Santa’s Workshop through the years. If you’re a sucker for nostalgia, this is a neat area where you can look around and see the property during its heyday and in years past.
Saint Nicholas’ Chapel
The Saint Nicholas Chapel is a small little building dedicated to none other than Saint Nick. The small revenant building, off the beaten path, houses a bronze plaque that has the story of Saint Nicholas on it.
Santa’s Candy Maker
The Santa’s Candy Maker location was a nice little sweets shop. There were a pile of location made treats on hand as well as some commercially made candy products. Want a sweet treat? Santa’s Candy Maker is worth a visit.
Santa’s Hat Maker
Inside of Santa’s Hat Maker, guests can get their custom Santa’s Workshop Christmas hats.
Santa’s Toyshop
The toyshop is a play and display area. One side there’s a spot for coloring and activities. There’s also a nice indoor slide that kids can climb up to and then slide down. On the other side of the toyshop is a mock-up of a shop laden with some semi-antiquated animatronics. Not everything worked or worked smoothly, but it was a cool location none-the-less.
Santa’s House
In Santa’s House is where guests get a chance to have a special one-on-one with the big guy. This is where families would line up to get their pictures taken to have a special keepsake memento.
The rides
As noted earlier, the rides are not necessarily thrill rides. These will keep toddlers and younger children entertained. However, if you have a kid that’s used to rides at Six Flags locations, Busch Gardens, Cedar Fair parks, Universal, Disney, etc., they might not find these rides to be very exciting.
Our little adventurer did ride several of the rides with a fellow guest he befriended and seemed to enjoy himself. At the time of our visit, he was six, and already was going on inverted roller coasters…mostly he seemed interested in the rides to ride them with his new friend.
The rides included:
- Candy Cane Lane Express
- Santa’s Bobsleds
- Santa’s Sleigh Coaster
- Christmas Tree Ride
- Ferris Wheel
- Christmas Carousel
Our experience
The weekend’s events were fun. At times maybe a little hokey. The food was not terrible, but considering the steep price we paid for the weekend, the quality was below what I expected. The property, as noted earlier, is in great need of maintenance and a few hundred gallons of paint.
The staff that were working there were dedicated and super nice. These were great, salt-of-the-Earth people. They were also probably a bit on the overworked side, as there did not seem to be enough workers to go around.
I’m not exactly sure what my eldest roommate said the final bill was for our adventure. I do remember discussing how incredibly expensive it was. Considering our experience, I would say this was an overpriced adventure. I do know if we wanted to take the same amount of money we spent on this long weekend trip and had applied it to some sort of other family entertainment destination, we would have gotten much more bang for our buck at say a Great Wolf Lodge or something of the like.
However, this particular Christmas experience was special, so don’t get me wrong.
Were we aged out?
Our little adventurer was six at the time of our visit and was already on the cusp of aging out of this kind of a series of events. Not because of his age per se, but his skepticism. When we were at the different events, we were worried that he would become keen to the illusion of the Christmas mythology of Santa and all the magic. This was specifically because of the rather low production value of what was delivered.
Our fears did not come to fruition – that we know of – and our little adventurer did not offer up any further skepticism and spoke fondly about the weekend. In particular, he was impressed that Cocoa the elf was able to secure us such an exclusive invite to see Santa at the North Pole, and was on board with keeping this invite secret from his friends.
If I had to give some advice, I’d say Santa’s Workshop and the Yuletide Weekend are for younger kids. If your kid is on the bubble of not believing in Santa, this experience might be what makes or breaks the magic. In our particular situation, a year later, our adventurer tells us, “I’m on two lists. I’m on the believer list and I’m on the good list.” At seven, with his past skepticism, it’s hard to tell if he’s playing us and being coy, or if he still believes in the magic.
I do want to go on the record now, I’m a believer and mostly on the nice list, if you’re listening, Santa.
The final verdict
There’s some points here that might make it seem like this location is a total bust, but it is not. Not by a long shot.
I look back, a year later, and I remember the experience with absolute fondness and I think my little adventurer does too. Looking at pictures, I see a happy kid. Was the weekend experience overpriced? In my opinion, yes. But that does not change that the event did deliver enough for me to say a good time was had by all and we built good memories.
Can I recommend this location and experience? Yes, if it seems like it would work for your family and travel companions, and as long as you’re aware of the price versus quality disproportionality.
Santa’s Workshop is located at: 324 Whiteface Memorial Highway, Wilmington, NY 12997
