Rudolph and Ruins: Photographs of Abandoned Santa Parks

Park Albanoel in Brazil (photograph by Paul Keller)

Whether the early displays of holiday cheer fill your heart with anticipation for the coming winter months, or dread and irritation for another long, bombastic season of endless carols and swarming lights, there’s no denying that the Christmas spirit is again taking its hold.

Some places have tried to capture this fleeting joy year-round with “santa parks” where there are always prancing reindeers and busy elves. Yet even this attempt at capturing holiday joy as a sort of amusement park has its expiration date, and like a pine tree tossed to the curb with its tinsel and garland still tousled around its branches, these santa parks have been abandoned and left to ruin. 

CIDADE ALBANOEL
Brazil

photograph by Paul Keller

photograph by Paul Keller

photograph by Paul Keller

photograph by Paul Keller

photograph by Paul Keller

SANTA CLAUS LAND
Golden Valley, Arizona

photograph by Todd Huffman

photograph by Todd Huffman

photograph by Todd Huffman

photograph by mlhradio/Flickr user

photograph by mlhradio/Flickr user

photograph by David Cohen

photograph by Roadsidepictures/Flickr user

photograph by mlhradio/Flickr user

SANTA’S VILLAGE
Lake Arrowhead, California

photograph by Sandi Hemmerlein/Avoiding Regret

photograph by Sandi Hemmerlein/Avoiding Regret

via Atlas Obscura, User Submitted

SANTA’S LAND
Putney, Vermont

photograph by RoadTripNE

photograph by RoadTripNE

photograph by RoadTripNE

SANTA’S WORKSHOP
Negaunee, Michigan

photograph by Ed Fisher

SANTA’S VILLAGE
East Dundee, Illinois

photograph by TheKarenD/Flickr user