Santa Claus, CA --- It's happened. Think of the trips up or down the 101
Freeway and remember seeing the sign for Santa Claus, CA? How many of
you wave at the friendly Santa that sits off the highway on Santa Claus
Lane, glad to see his cherubic friendly face yet again. A reminder of
a childhood, a reminder of the days when these large giant icons used
to grace the vernacular landscape.
Santa Claus during better times Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The origins of this property dates back to 1948 when the location began an orange juice strand. Eventually the stand was renamed Santa Claus and the location expanded to several other shops including a toy store and candy store. The homey feel of the new Santa Claus themed shopping village attracted visitors from all over who were looking to grab a date shake, homemade pie, or ride in a Santa Claus themed train. Plus unlike other Christmas themed areas, Santa Claus was open year round!
Time does fly by however and soon with the advent of the 1970s and 80s, some folks saw the themed land as tacky and contrasting with the beautiful beach front nearby. Santa's friend, a plaster snowman, was lost in a windstorm in the late 1990s which left Santa standing alone.
Santa is now sitting in the back area waiting for a
new home Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Well, some say nothing is forever. In 2000, a structural engineer inspected the building that Santa sat atop of and declared it unsafe. That was the beginning of the end, In Santa's case, the end of almost
60 years came during a weekend in early March, 2002 when the owner of
the historic property had this classic treasure removed. The Santa roadside icon has not been destroyed yet as the owner's have
granted time for him to find a new home. If you're interested, please
contact the Modern Committee
of the Los Angeles Conservancy, or send me a note and I will attempt
to make the appropriate contacts for you.
Many thanks to Laura J. Funkhouser and David Sorensen for information
on Santa.
Santa Claus in the Chimney Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE 12/04 : Santa Claus has been saved and now overlooks
Hwy 101 from a vacant lot. Many thanks to architectural historian Edward Cella for this information. 12-04
The Santa Claus shopping village Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Remember the Santa Claus that used to wave at motorists
as they sped by on US101 in Santa Claus, CA near Carpinteria? After efforts
by preservationists and residents from the local communities that cared,
Santa was saved from a sure to be embarrassing fate (see Apache Tears in
Tucson) and is now intact at a site nearby.
Santa Claus is relocated about 20 miles south of it's original location,
and he has been treated with an extreme makeover. He's looking real good
and can be seen at the 101 freeway and Rice Rd. in Oxnard. Many thanks
to Roy Hooper for this update.
Santa Claus and Friends
Oxnard, CA Photo courtesy Roy Hooper
And what came of old Santa village? Well it is now a New England fishing village though the Santa Claus Lane name still survives.
Santa Claus, CA --- It's happened. Think of the trips up or down the 101
Freeway and remember seeing the sign for Santa Claus, CA? How many of
you wave at the friendly Santa that sits off the highway on Santa Claus
Lane, glad to see his cherubic friendly face yet again. A reminder of
a childhood, a reminder of the days when these large giant icons used
to grace the vernacular landscape. 
Many thanks to Laura J. Funkhouser and David Sorensen for information
on Santa. 
