Santa Claus House and Giant Santa
The house and its surrounding area are filled with holiday treasures. The gift shop is a 10,000-square-foot space that features themed Christmas trees, hand-quilted pictures, and photos with polar bears.
Visitors can also get a letter from Santa in numerous languages. The most popular offering is a letter with a deed to one square inch of the North Pole. In addition to a photo of Santa, the letter contains a note of encouragement and a Santa Claus dollar.
The Santa Claus House and Giant Santa in North Pole, Alaska, is a family-owned business operated by the Miller family. The house was first built as a trading post in 1952. It served as the North Pole's post office for nearly 20 years.
During this time, Con Miller, a former military man, came to Alaska and began dressing as Santa Claus. He was the first Santa the kids in the village had ever seen. As the store grew, it became a popular gathering place. The Miller family began settling permanently in Alaska in 1952.
Con Miller purchased the Big Santa from the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce in 1978. The statue was in poor condition when it arrived in North Pole.