| Land of the Giants |
| SANTAS |
| Santa (gone) Amherst, NH |
Santa Westford, MA |
Santa Pennywick Tree Farms Vassar, MI |
Santa Kalamazoo, MI |
Santa Unger, WV |
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The Amherst Santa was photographed in 2003 when he stood in front of Creative Auto Body. When they closed, he was moved down the road to an antiques dealer. His whereabouts are now unknown. He was one of about five or six Santas that were produced by a boatbuilder in NH that owns a mold. One of these is now owned by a family in Westford, MA that displays him in front of their house during the Christmas holidays. [photo thanks Tim Vincent]
The Vassar Santa is at Pennywick Tree Farms, a Christmas tree farm. For more, see this website. The Kalamazoo Santa is installed near Bronson Park each year for the Christmas holiday season. [photos thanks Mark Comstock] The Unger Santa was originally owned by Marshal Moody and was in front of their building in Dallas, TX since at least the 1980s. He was placed in storage when the display/decorating store relocated. He was created by Jack Bridges who also made Dallas' Big Tex. In 2006, he was sold to a private collector in Unger where he is displayed with other giant statues. For more, see this page. [photo thanks David Carlson] |
| Bronner's Christmas Wonderland Frankenmuth, MI |
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| The Frankenmuth Santa is one of several owned by Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. All of their Santas wear green mitts. Bronner's has at least three at their sprawling tourist attraction (the "largest Christmas store in the world") and two others that accompany billboards on nearby northbound I-75. There is also a giant Snowman at their store (and another that I somehow missed). For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. |
| Santa Bath, OH |
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The Bath Santa has been part of the Hesseman family for 18 years. The story handed down to the Hessemans is that there were 13 of these Santas made in the 1940s and brought over from Germany. That date seems a little early to me. Although fiberglass was invented in the late 1800s, I believe mass-production of fiberglass figures didn't begin until the early 1960s. This Santa looks identical to those shown above.
The Bath Santa was at a building supply store until 1984. When they closed, he was sold to a restaurant where he stood from 1984-1986. Both of these businesses were in Akron, OH. The Hesseman famly celebrates the Christmas season by installing this Santa on their front lawn each year. He is assembled from three pieces (head, upper torso, and below-the-belt torso) that are bolted together. He is stored in a barn the rest of the year. [photos/info thanks to Jonathan Hesseman] |
| Santa Mendon, MA |
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| This Mendon Santa was the restoration project of Casey Vandervalk. This Santa had been on the roof of a building in Woonsocket, RI since at least the early 1970s. The statue had been owned by Tinsel Town which went out of business around 2004. The building owner sold the Santa to Casey in 2006. During the restoration in 2006, the rotten wood inside the statue was replaced. In 2007, the paint was stripped and the fiberglass was repaired (bottom photo). The completed statue (last photo) is on display year-round at the Vandervalk Tree Farm. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photos/info thanks Casey Vandervalk] |
| Santa Oxnard, CA |
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The Oxnard Santa was originally located at Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria, CA. The Santa-themed roadside attraction started out as a juice stand in 1948, right next to Highway 101. The complex included Santa's Kitchen, Santa's Trading Post, Santa's Toyland, and a miniature train ride. The Santa statue was installed on the roof of Santa's Candy Kitchen in 1950. His 22' tall upper torso was made from wood, chicken wire and cement and projected from a faux chimney. There was also a giant snowman named Frosty and a reindeer, their existence/whereabouts now unknown.
In 2003, the owners decided to redesign the site as a fishing village themed shopping center. Santa was rescued and relocated to Oxnard. The statue was restored and a protective fence built around him. He alternates eyewear with Daylight Savings Time, wearing clear lenses in winter and sunglasses in summer. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Santa Lynwood, CA |
Santa Fresno, CA |
Santa Evansville, IN |
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The Lynwood Santa stands on the roof of Pageantry Awards which has been here since 1968. This Santa may have been previously installed at the nearby Dooley's Hardware which is now gone. For more, see their website.
The Fresno Santa stands near the roof of the Valley Novelty Company, a party store. I believe he is there year-round as this photo was taken in April. For more, see this website. The Evansville Santa stands in front of the Busler Truck Stop. He's at least 30' tall and has been here for many years. For more, see this website. |
| Santa Santa Claus, IN |
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| This Santa was installed in 1935. He is 22' tall and was dedicated when a theme park was built (now gone, not to be confused with Holiday World which now dominates the town). |
| Seated Santa Santa Claus, IN |
Standing Santa Santa Claus, IN |
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| These two Santas are located in front of Santa's Lodge which is open year-round. These Santas were installed here in 1995 and it is unknown where they were before that. For more, see their website. |
| Frosty's Fun Center Santa Claus, IN |
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| Frosty's Fun Center is adjacent to Santa's Lodge. It has a mini golf course with this 9' tall snowman which doubles as a fountain. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
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More Giant Santas:
North Pole, AK: 1, 2 Cromwell, CT Cumming, GA Helen, GA Valparaiso, IN Shreveport, LA [gone] Mason, MI Pigeon Forge, TN For Santa theme parks around the country, see this section. |
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