Written by Andrew Hind
For many, Christmas is all about time-honoured traditions. Nibbling on favorite cookies that are only made one season of the year. Cuddling up to watch a holiday classic. Heirloom ornaments that remind you of special yuletide memories. Visiting family. We find comfort and warmth in such things.
Santa’s Village is similarly built upon traditions, some of them dating back to the park’s founding in 1955. So, even as the last few years have seen a welcome wave of new rides and attractions added to the park’s list of attractions (three in 2024 alone), there nonetheless remain numerous nods to the park’s past.
Each one represents a trip down memory lane, a tangible link to generations of merriment.
Wishing Well
Immediately upon entering the park, to the left, is a wishing well that dates to the park’s opening. For seventy years, coins have been tossed in and wishes made. In a magical setting populated by elves and – at least originally – fairy tale characters come to life it was easy to imagine that dreams really can come true. And, in a sense they did. Every holiday season park management would collect the coins and use the proceeds to buy Christmas presents for underprivileged children.
Chapel
Perched on a hillside overlooking the park, a quaint chapel – complete with steeple and bell – also dates to opening day. Within this quiet retreat you find a nativity scene reverently displayed, with hymns and carols playing softly in the background. Here you are reminded of the true spirit of Christmas as conveyed in the phrase, “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.” The bell has a history all its own. It originally hung in Bracebridge’s first schoolhouse, calling children to class each morning. After collecting dust in a basement, the bell was donated to Santa’s Village.
Santa’s Cabin
For many, then as now, the highlight of a day spent at Santa’s Village is a visit with the Jolly Old Elf himself. His summer home, a log cabin, remains on the same spot as it always has and – save for the addition through which we enter – has changed little over the years. Watch for the stone fireplace inside; the rocks were collected from farms along Golden Beach Road.
Santa’s Cottage In The 1960’s
Antique Merry Go Round
In the late 1950s and early ‘60s Nelson Goltz, a former mayor of Bracebridge, served as general manager of Santa’s Village. He recognized something was missing from the park as originally created: rides. There were none. Goltz lucked out with a trio of second-hand rides, all of which had previously been showcased in Toyland at Eaton’s Department Store in Toronto.
One was an elfin-sized Ferris Wheel, standing only 12 feet tall, now long gone. Another was the Candy Cane Express, the fan-favorite train that was replaced only this year. Goltz’s final addition, a whimsical merry-go-round, still entertains little ones to this day, despite the recent introduction of a larger and more lavish merry-go-round.
For more information head to https://www.santasvillage.ca/
Fascinated by Muskoka’s history? Check out Andrew’s latest book, “Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2”. Hobnob with spectres from the gilded age of Muskoka’s resorts at Bigwin Inn. Investigate who resides within the shadowy confines of the Walker Cabin. Explore the Spence Inn, the last coaching stop on the Nipissing Road and a remnant of a ghost town. Meet the ghostly inhabits of Bracebridge’s iconic Woodchester Villa. You can purchase “Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2” on Amazon.
