Defunctland: The Mystery of the Abandoned Santa Claus Theme Parks

[@timothymclean]

11:30: I can not think of a more embarrassing way for a Santa Claus theme park could fail than forgetting that winter exists.

[@PrezVeto]

Presumably they thought snow would really add to the atmosphere, but underestimated how much it would interfere with operations and profitability.

[@girlscanbedrummers5804]

Kinda sad, since he meant well. 🙁

[@eonwagoneer]

Well it's still open so it's pretty dumb to say it was a monumental failure. It Is actually open around Xmas for drive through light shows

[@JeremiahTBullfrog]

While Lake Arrowhead is in southern CA, it certainly has winter weather so I'm not sure that was the problem.

[@JamieElli]

It's interesting because the concept can obviously work in places with winter (Indiana and New York)

[@e.keough2975]

That menu for the Christmas Tree Inn is wild. "Reindeer and Chicken soup" "Mary's little lamb chops" I love the idea of eating childhood icons

[@dakilangcornedbeef]

@@thecarebearsandcecfan2002 👁️👄👁️

[@AlbinoAxolotl1993]

Gotta introduce the kids to gallows humor some how.

[@hereniho]

@@thecarebearsandcecfan2002 👁👄👁

[@robbys5236]

I really like Glen Holland here. He didn't make a theme park to cash in on any fads going on at the time. He just wanted to give his sister and other children out there a chance to escape reality and have happiness and adventure in their lives. I can really respect that. :)

[@MrWolfSnack]

It was a time in America where if you wanted to do something, you woke up out of bed and did it. Now you can't do shit without needing permits "regulations" money, or offending someone.

[@sumlem]

@@MrWolfSnack you would hope that regulation of theme parks would ensure the safety of children and their families

[@MrWolfSnack]

@@sumlem What I said didn't apply to theme parks. It applies to building anything anymore. There has never been any project again like the Hoover Dam, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate bridge. Any time some big project is proposed that can change the country it's shot down by 100+ different complainers. It's the same reason why Japan has a high speed rail line and we do not. People complaining about hurrdurr my land losing 10 feet of space on a 500 acre property, people complaining about noise, the electrical lines, blablabla this blablabla that.

[@blunderabluez]

@@MrWolfSnack Well you certainly don’t want someone to build on the property of a Native American reservation without violating the consent of said landowners. There are benefits and drawbacks to our sensitivity around American construction. On top of that, Japan also has a completely different industrial and socio-political climate than us

[@callmefox630]

@@MrWolfSnack Yknow South Korea here used to have that type of lax construction/property laws about everything, and usually lead to literal hundreds of people getting buried alive or some bridge collapsing because construction companies skimmed on material. There's a fine line between unnessesary bureaucracy and regulated safety, America is still nowhere close to first. A reminder that every safety regulation law is written in blood.

[@IxionGames]

Had to stop just one minute in to comment. We need to give props to Defunctland for having such interesting and creative intros that change constantly. I am grateful that I get to watch cool things

[@randysalas1166]

IxionGames i was literally about to comment the same thing his videos are so unique and interesting to watch

[@flubberbuddy6487]

Bruh same. Like i dont comment often but gawd damn this intro is great.

[@elizabethashley42]

This guy does THE ABSOLUTE MOST and I'm so impressed every single time a new video comes out with its brand new theme and intro.

[@vianjelos]

The intros are my favorite parts..especailly when they have unique intro songs.

[@cmeow]

furry

[@neo_corgski4618]

That intro is so well structured like "I went down that reindeer hole faster than you can say eggnog" is like the best thing I've heard for a long time

[@andrewreegs6319]

It could also potentially mean something not so advertiser friendly, if you know what I mean ;).

[@neo_corgski4618]

@@andrewreegs6319 Hmm that ain't eggnog haha

[@houyo]

'Called herself the biggest real estate owner in California because she weighed over 300 pounds.' Now that is a business woman who knows how to turn lemons into lemonade.

[@StafkiGTN]

She gets the lemon juice out by sitting on it.

[@griffinzink698]

She was ahead of her time

[@DetectiveCam]

Nah she grew lemons and didn’t have a choice

[@houyo]

@@DetectiveCam When all you got is lemon seeds what else you gonna grow? XD

[@ethansloan]

Dude, your production values are so high. KZbin is filled with video essays, some comedic, some dramatic, all looking less professional than yours. Each new video you create is like it's own little movie. You obviously love what you do, and we appreciate you for it. Happy Holidays, Kevin. And have a happy new year!

[@Sammakko7]

Ethan Sloan incorrect.

[@PongoXBongo]

@Zachary Rugar If you're Christian, which some of us aren't. ;)

[@darrylmihalko2838]

@@Sammakko7 dont insult him, dude

[@darrylmihalko2838]

@Zachary Rugar, i wont epricent your reply

[@lowerclassbrats77]

He's definitely improved as time as progressed.

[@TheOpalLove]

"who would get legal authority to milk the birth of Christ" i'm wheezing

[@supme7558]

He never existed therefore he had no birth therefore you can't

[@martinyarbrough1609]

He was born in October

[@quillllly]

This channel is strangely good at coming up with memeworthy lines. *COUGH* A powerful rat named Charles Entertainment Cheese *COUGH*

[@ErikNilsen1337]

sup me Dude, non-Christian writers that lives in the *same century* as Jesus confirmed that he existed. Many of them argued that the miracles his disciples attributed to him were false. They couldn’t argue against claims about him if he never existed. Go read the works of Philo and Josephus, who were contemporary historians.

[@quillllly]

@@ErikNilsen1337 What does this even have to do with the original comment?

[@rockcandyplanet]

The stories behind some of these are so touching to me…the lone mailman sending letters to kids from Santa, the man who just wanted a place where kids could have fun for a little bit for kids like his sister. Man

[@shadeshiest22]

There's a Santa themed theme park still open from the 60s out in the middle of nowhere deep in the mountains of North Carolina called Santa's Land... It is sooo creepy and run down, can't believe it's still open

[@luvbeinghiswife1148]

Dude, yes! And that huge creepy ass bunny statue is still there, scared the crap out of my nieces!

[@reaisannoying2103]

Nick Hall never been and it’s only 45 minutes from where I live because I’m scared of how creepy it is. It’s like ghost town

[@marilynsmymother711]

I went when I was about 12 (14 years ago). It’s was actually super busy and they seemed pretty popular, but everything seemed so dated. My mom used to go to the casino near it in Cherokee, NC all the time, so she wanted to take us to Santa’s Land after passing it so many times.

[@ZerryBerrytheSpaceRaccoon]

Come to think of it, I think I saw multiple billboards advertising Santa's Land when I visited Cherokee and Bryson City.

[@BridgetteLeeHarding]

I used to go there all the time as a kid in the 90s. I remember a Rudolph roller coaster and there was hardly anyone ever there so I could just ride it for an hour if I wanted

[@DigiRangerScott]

Santa Claus: Into the Santaverse

[@batmenace15]

My favorite would be the Russian Santa from Rise of the Guardians

[@vireo2543]

Santa-Noir movie when? Or Russian Santa from RotG lol.

[@LOC-Ness]

@@batmenace15 Fun fact: Both Spider-Verse and Rise of the Guardians have the same director.

[@drackestalentorgen166]

@@batmenace15 what about the Santa who fought of the Martians?

[@armandoalmanza5723]

Lol

[@SilentiumLitwicks]

Santa’s village in Jefferson New Hampshire is a HUGE part of my childhood. I returned this past October with my grandmother and parents everything i loved as a small kid was still there but there was so much more new stuff it was still enjoyable for a group of adults.

[@feykingjulian]

that's so good to hear! after watching this video again i was intrigued by that Santa's Village, i think i'll try and check it out next year!

[@YoursTrulyMrsMoores]

Same! I went to it every summer between 1993 and 2001, and a few between 2001 and 2009, before any of the really big changes were made (same with Storyland). I can't wait to bring my kids when they're old enough

[@lazchurchyard1229]

So glad it's still there. We see brochures for Story Land, but I haven't seen one for Santa's Village in a long while, so I figured it had closed. Is Jellystone still going? I have vague memories as a child driving by - or was that a campground?

[@fayteazazel4739]

Hey there Former Holiday World employee here. It’s great to see the nod to us. To this day they still get Santa letters.

[@jimmybrown362]

Holiday World gang

[@gabrieladerre2862]

I grew up in West Kentucky. I thought of Holiday World as soon as I saw the title! I loved going there, when I was a kid! But, who didn't?

[@KFam715]

@@gabrieladerre2862 I'm from Western Ky too, We went 5 or 6 times during the summer when I was a kid. I haven't been since 1999 Im sure its changed alot since then.

[@xaviercrow102]

West KY grown,also lol. Went to Holiday World every summer as a kid. My first memory of it it was still known as Santa Claus Land if I'm not mistaken (I've been around a while lol). I'm...much older now,but I've taken my kids there a few times and they love it. It's really cool to go back and see everything that's changed,grown,and been added to over the years. Tbh I'd rather go back there any time than go to Disneyland/world. Too much nostalgia for me.

[@andromedamyers7763]

Grew up near Santa Claus. Its always weird to see people talk about it

[@natalieobman5018]

"The most likely explanation for the name was that someone said it in a meeting as a joke and nobody could come up with anything else" Its amazing how many things get named this way. Up there with fusing words of the description (MICROprocessor SOFTware), using something or someone's name, random things within eyeline on the desk, misreading a sheet of paper Sometimes all of them at the same time.

[@theorangeofallahpbuh1840]

Would you know of any examples of things being named due to all these circumstances?

[@TY-eu1ih]

Tym the Slav how about Apple?

[@viiviketomaki7284]

@@theorangeofallahpbuh1840 These are some examples I could think of. Most car manufacturers are named after their founders so Ferruccio Lamborghini, Enzo Ferrari, Henry Ford, Ferdinand Porsche, Cleveland, Ohio was named after General Moses Cleaveland but someone fucked up so now it's Cleveland. Google is just a misspelling of googol. Motorola is a portmanteau of Motorcar and Victrola (an old word for phonograph) as Motorola's first products were car radios.

[@joshuaridgway4]

Ulysses S. Grant’s real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant. When he arrived at West Point the registrar had made a major typo on his application. Rather than go through the slog of fixing the problem, he changed his name

[@AmericasComic]

@@joshuaridgway4 lol. One of the greatest generals of American history sporting high introvert energy.

[@Somerandomjingleberry]

I love that there's a number of these that random local people just picked up and resuscitated for the sake of keeping the dream going. Honestly very uplifting to read about. I wanna visit some of these places someday just to support them.

[@prismstudios001]

He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. But enough about Zuckerburg....

[@AnonymOus-ss9jj]

If this doesn't get anymore likes try reposting it.

[@Robertlynschultz]

Awesome Comment... 👍

[@JuMaRi615]

Two years later we find out how much zuck really traces people

[@kgpspyguy]

You better watch out.

[@iamaaliyahalexander2471]

Humm no joke 👀🥺

[@lexilithium6225]

I love how factual these videos are with a hint of casual comedy.

[@LikaLaruku]

I got some "Murder, She Wrote" vibes from the opening. Abandoned, He wrote.

[@cashmoneykal]

Take notes, Beta64!

[@lexilithium6225]

@@LikaLaruku we need to trademark, stat!

[@GlassesnMouthplates]

"..built herself as the biggest real estate agent in California-" Damn, she must be one heck of a successful business lady for that time. ".... due to the fact that she weighed over 300 pounds." Oh.

[@LiberatetheRepublic]

The throwaway lines like this always make me laugh.

[@beckyshock3099]

I weighed 332 in '89, lost down to 190 in the 90's, and never gained it back. I know that don't have anything to do with your comment, but I was a security guard, and done a very good job. Weight don't have anything to do with being successful just will power.

[@NoArtisticLimitation]

@LiberatetheRepublic4 If you like those, look up How It’s Actually Made, by Huggbees

[@drakep.5857]

@@beckyshock3099 you must have been the biggest known security guard at the time! Jk lol, nice progress

[@HandmadeGoose97]

Those parks will come back one day, when Disney ends up owning Christmas

[@dhthenomad6076]

True Disney is getting every thing

[@coocoocavespider]

disney will own everything one day which is sad

[@HandmadeGoose97]

@The Last Thing You See Before You Die after they buy the rights to own the earth

[@HandmadeGoose97]

@@subsWithnotonevideo eh, I lived a good life, 22 is good enough

[@tomfriendly2412]

@@coocoocavespider Well yeah, Disney is basically a Nazi Corporation. It was supposedly Walts dying wish for the company to always believe in "Mein Furher"

[@granny_ducc]

this intro is too good for a series about out of commission theme park rides

[@kaivannoy837]

As a professional Santa Claus, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I have visited the park in Colorado and the one in Cherokee NC. I hope at some point to visit the park above the arctic circle.

[@sladikk]

2018 is the year of KZbin documentaries, and this channel stands out as the best by far

[@Allovimo]

+

[@SamSeriesInc]

yeah, video essays absolutely dominated youtube this year, it's weird that I don't see any videos talking about it. it seems every recommended feed has at least two video essays in itthese days.

[@vinceo5296]

samseriesinc Recommendations are tailored to each user independently. What you noticed is literally sampling bias. If you spend time watching video essays, then KZbin recommends then to you more.

[@SamSeriesInc]

@@vinceo5296 Bullshit. How come my retarded girlfriend gets recommended the exact same things that I watch independently of her on my own time? Google is listening to my iphone and shit i need to move into the desert

[@rosetheghost453]

samseriesinc You call your girlfriend retarded? Lmao

[@EASpaceTime]

"...a highly publicized court battled ensued, with the entire country on the edge of their seat, waiting to find out who would get legal authority to milk the birth of Christ in a town of less than 100 people." 😂😂😂 Amazing production values and another fantastic episode. Defunctland is only getting better and better and it started out epically so it will be fun to see where things continue to evolve in 2019 and beyond.

[@8bitorgy]

"milk the birth of Christ"... As if internet marxists actually cared

[@juanitoburrito2825]

I don't think he appreciates you on his meat like that

[@cantthinkofaname5046]

@@8bitorgy as if you actually know what Marxist means

[@8bitorgy]

@@cantthinkofaname5046 the ideology of class warfare

[@cantthinkofaname5046]

@@8bitorgy and what does Marxism, and the wrong definition you provided, have to do with what defunctland was talking about? He was making fun of business people missing the point of a holiday, not stating his grand communist manifesto

[@aspiring_canadian1796]

I have wonderful memories of visiting Holiday World as a little kid, as it was the closest theme park to where I grew up. My mom also has childhood memories of going back when it was Santa Claus Land. I'm glad you covered it, I've always been curious of it's history.

[@cellochel1582]

Same! I miss it and Indiana :(

[@cucckles]

Still a great park overall. Definitely spoiled having it as my home park, the first time I went to a different park as a kid I was outraged that it’s water park cost an extra entry to get into xD. Splashin safari is free with admission to Hw.

[@kevinbbadd]

@@cellochel1582 who would miss indiana? you in prison or something?

[@sonicmario64]

I actually live about 10-15 miles away from Santa Claus, Indiana, so I'm able to go to Holiday World at least once every year, especially since I've been able to go there constantly ever since I was a baby. ^^

[@listinglazily]

I knew it used to be Santa Claus Land! I said that to someone a long time ago and they said I was nuts 🙃

[@MasterChibi]

Jesus you are absolutely killing it with the production values.

[@TheCarpetbagger]

This video is amazing! Proud to see my footage from Santa Claus, AZ used. I was unaware of several of these parks and I am making a point to go visit all of them.

[@Defunctland]

Thank you so much for your great videos! You get some awesome shots of some really unique places!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Hey Ike your videos 2

[@awdmute]

Go to holiday world first. Just... Just trust me. It's seriously the cleanest happiest place on earth.

[@Car1Sagan]

@@Defunctland not too far from Santa Claus AZ is Bedrock City AZ a few minutes NW of Flagstaff. However Bedrock City / Flinststone AZ is still active. Maybe less so due to Covid, but not dead like Santa Claus.

[@klarablair5180]

Santa's Enchanted Forest in Miami should probably not be on your list... It's more of a fair than an actual amusement park, since it's seasonal, operating on land that's usually just a normal park. They dig out the rides and displays every year around Christmas, and MAN can you tell that they've been sitting in dusty warehouses... it basically only looks decent in the dark. It's fun, don't get me wrong, but not worth its own trip.

[@AnotherMovieStudio]

This is amazing. Never did I guess Defunctland would talk about my home state, nor would they talk about the theme park I attended so much when I was younger. Holiday World was my second favorite park to go to, next to Walt Disney World of course. Whenever my school year ended, it was a tradition for our schools to take us to Holiday World, as it was only an hour away.

[@fancyuwu5657]

Same. I remember going every summer when I was younger. I still enjoy going now that I'm older. It's always worth a trip.

[@yotsubafanfan]

I only went with my school once but I used to go there a lot as a kid. Mom's credit union had discounted tickets for local theme parks and Holiday World was our favorites. I don't know bout y'all but it doesn't feel like summer until all the McDonald's has the Holiday World coupons on the counters.

[@Minnesota_Fatts]

Four stages of life: 1. Who is Santa Claus? 2. I believe in Santa Claus. 3. I do not believe in Santa Claus. 4. I *am* Santa Claus.

[@julianhudson7811]

Im stuck in the second phase due to an overabundance of childlike innocence in my life

[@brithebest4739]

I’d say this is accurate. I am in the third stage

[@spacesponge8732]

@Vamphaery2 NoLastName 5. Santa

[@brandonlyon730]

What about the fifth stage: Why is Santa Claus?

[@jeffreylaporte6525]

Vamphaery2 NoLastName this stage is called existential santa-ism!

[@NickWebsUS]

The noir theme of this was so cool

[@ericandy88]

Complete with an "after-hours, empty jazz club" rendition of "Oh, Christmas Tree".

[@1thingtosay1]

The bit about how Holland wanted kids to have a magical and lovely time at Santa's Village made me almost cry for some dang reason i--

[@DanaBlack]

Production on your videos has become so good I find it hard to believe that it isn't like 20+ people working on this. Like this is better quality than 90% of stuff on say the History channel.

[@SirBlackReeds]

That's why it takes a while to release episodes. The space between them would be considerably shorter if the team did consist of 20+ persons.

[@mellowyello1478]

History channel has to compete with the internet for ratings, so its degenerated heavily to put up content which is less focused. It's like a slower version of what happened to The Learning Channel

[@ericandy88]

At least since History has now become almost completely "reality"-based.

[@juanitoburrito2825]

I don't think he appreciates you on his meat like that

[@XlittleXdrummerXgirl]

I'm about 2 minutes in, but am gonna call it: Somehow Mike Eisner's fault?

[@supme7558]

Yes he seems to be the one everyone tries to blame even though he brought some of the best things to Disneyland and the movies like the little mermaid and so on

[@GloriousDutchPancakes]

@@supme7558 he also took alot of those things away again.

[@Matoro-wp9hy]

Mike Eisner was responsible for the death of the politician

[@elderrusty541]

sup me people are always remembered for their misdeeds or good deeds, he did a lot of good but he did a lot of bad so that’s how he’s remembered

[@sammyk528]

I grew up going to the Santa's Village park in NH!! We would go every summer and make a stop at Storyland on the way. It was so nice to see one of my home parks shown on this page!!

[@humanwormbaby]

God, I flipping love the creative intros you make! To be honest I love this entire video, this may be my new favorite Defuntland video! (The one on Jaws The Ride was my old fav, so it's my second favorite now)

[@setheaton9376]

I can't understand how see videos don't all reach 1,000,000 views each- the production value is so good, & the videos are so entertaining. Keep it up!

[@WeirdExplorer]

Great video. The one in Finland is interesting. During the winter the entire region its in (Lapland) becomes a big Christmassy tourist destination. I went during the summer and it was very quiet. Not much to do at the Christmas village itself besides a couple shops and a restaurant.

[@LunaKittyfox]

I must admit, bless the man who saved exhibit F (Santa’s land). Amusement parks are meant to bring joy and happiness to people, especially Christmas themed parks

[@julianhudson7811]

Damn, you nailed that detective intro perfectly.

[@thenodfather]

I love how a theme park about a guy who lives in a land of snow was opened by a man called Coke. Another great episode. Great research, presentation and delivery. Thanks again Kevin.

[@ginzoox]

sorry to be that guy, but Koch’s name is pronounced like “cook”, not “coke”

[@Alfonso162008]

​@@ginzooxdang it, it was too good to be true lol.

[@theoriginalsangster1570]

I went to Santa's Village in Lake Arrowhead in the '90s and it was magical and terrifying. My mom also wants me to mention that they had a really quality Santa

[@LookAtWow]

I remember Santa's Village at Arrowhead! It was a great place but yeah....a little scary

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

I'll bet it was scarier in the seventies

[@KevinxDoll]

the new one is beautiful. but i do miss exploring it when it was abandoned . still have some amazing photos of it in decay

[@SSH0LE.]

i live in arrowhead, but never have been to santa’s village 🤭

[@kabbiie]

I always watch your videos on the TV version of KZbin and it feels like watching a professionally made show, hook it up to surround sound and it's like a movie. Best KZbin documentary channel by far!

[@ajsollecito4236]

PointDelta every time I watch this channel I wonder why it is not so popular. It troubles me how something so professionally made and interesting isn’t as rewarded on this site

[@Cardioqueenmom]

I watch it on my Xbox. It’s like watching a documentary, a really great one!

[@Biodebatable]

Defunctland, Lemmino and Ahoy are the holy Trinity of youtube documentarians

[@thisismysea]

@@ajsollecito4236 Defunctland is popular when compared with its peers of theme park history channels. It's an esoteric topic with a limited audience, but this channel has about four times the subscribers of other major players in the space. That's an achievement!

[@iBenjamin1000]

“In the 1950s, it was possible that a 13 year old might still believe in Santa. Now, it’s uncommon for a child older than 7 or 8 to believe in Santa. There’s a pressure to rush kids over before they age out”. Wow! That very literally says something about society. I don’t know what it says, but it says something!

[@dharmallars]

You could definitely infer something more sinister from it but to me I think it simply says kids are getting smarter since access to information is so readily available. A kid in the 80s might easily believe that Santa can visit every household in the world in 24 hours, especially if the only source of information they have are their parents and teachers, who want to keep the magic alive. But a kid with access to google can find out how impossible that is in under five seconds. Also, couple that with the fact that 99% of Santa-related Christmas-themed media centers around the fact that adults don’t believe in Santa. It’s a staple of Santa media, that only children believe. Nathan Fielder was so right when he said the biggest desire of any child is to not be seen as a baby. Telling them for over a hundred years that only babies believe in Santa and adults still get presents will wear down on the appeal for sure. Not that I think Santa is the best tradition anyway. The idea of getting presents based on your behavior is fine I guess, but I think it’s weird to teach kids that being well behaved will bring them rewards in life, since they’ll realize around the age of 13-16 that that’s not the case in the real world.

[@Road_Rash]

People have stopped lying to their kids so much maybe? If so, I see that as a good thing...

[@GoGreen1977]

I figured out that there was no "real" Santa by the time I was 5 in 1960. By the time I was 8, some of my classmates and I had to break it to some of our other classmates, who still believed in Santa, that he didn't exist Maybe that wasn't very nice of us, but we felt it was time they knew. So even back then, at least at my school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we didn't believe in Santa until we were on the edge of puberty!

[@hereniho]

@@Road_Rash Okay Scrooge

[@thesupergamer5894]

​@Road Rash's Redline Resto Rods it's just that kids these days are raised by iPad and phones... they can just google whatever they want... it's more so a sign that parents are relying more on technology to raise their kids than do it thenself

[@jasonvaughn3478]

Holiday world in Indiana is a fantastic park! World class wooden coasters, a huge water park, and the absolute best customer service.

[@guccideltaco]

And still a lot of holiday-themed rides (not just Christmas anymore).

[@kneetheif2712]

This is very true

[@amandaking9527]

Some of my favorite childhood memories!!! Especially because Indiana doesn’t have much to offer😂

[@wyattmanhabel644]

Kay

[@1991megster]

don't forget free drinks and free sunscreen!

[@aaronharris1092]

Shout out to North Pole, Alaska, not an amusement park, but still a pretty cool, distinctly Christmas themed town a couple miles north Fairbanks. My family visited there a long time ago, back when we lived in AK. They had it all, big Santa statue, red & white paint on everything, cool shops, the works.

[@coolguymanthing6925]

Yeah I live there and recently they added like twice as much to the santa clause house so they are still thriving

[@musicmakelightning]

The street signs to Santa's Village in Scott's Valley, Ca. were still there when I moved to California in the 20th century. Even up to 5 years ago, there was an exhibit in the Los Gatos town museum for Santa's Village. They were gathering remembrances from people who visited as a child, or had worked there. The signs on Rt 17 are gone but people in the area remember Santa's Village.

[@dylansmith7370]

The Pilgrim's Plunge in Holiday World would make a great episode of defunctland. That thing was a nightmare.

[@awdmute]

I go every year multiple times and i still never got to ride that damn thing

[@saintnicole3209]

i rode it once when i was 11 with my brother and NEVER AGAIN did i get on that thing. that new metal coaster is MUCH much better

[@aceofouterspace]

Oof I agree! I rode it twice while it was open and going up that ride was always terrifying

[@cucckles]

I was always too scared to ride it, that elevator just sketched me out 😂. Now we have Thunderbird, it’s pretty okay, good B&M coaster, a bit tame though.

[@sonicmario64]

The Voyage is definitely my favorite roller coaster in the park, and I always make it a priority to go on the ride at least once every time I visit Holiday World. ^^

[@mlucas4144]

I love how each video has its own theme, your channel is its own multiverse theme park

[@BrynnBeverly]

Miles Lucas This channel is so expansive it has lore

[@MegaMozozo]

I forgot what the place is called but there used to be a santa theme park near me that was shut down and bought by a paintball company. Paintballing in the abandoned remnants of my childhood nostalgia is truly one of the best things ever Edit: Okay so it's Santa's Village in East Dundee, it only reopened because half of it was bought and turned into Paintball Explosion.

[@calciumrods1779]

the park itself is still alive and kicking at least as of July 2023: it's also across from an abandoned Walmart and near a seedy thrift store.

[@mollysouthgate]

Paintball and then Azoosment park! I live right there

[@10angles]

Your production quality is SO good.

[@Speilbilde]

Its 2:30 AM but I had to finish watching this~ Great video and Merry Christmas, Kevin!

[@juanitoburrito2825]

I don't think he appreciates you on his meat like that

[@paper_pirate]

Detective Kevin is someone I never knew I needed, but I'm glad he exists!

[@chloedockter8638]

I used to go to the East Dundee Santa's Village when I was a kid!!! I live far away now but hearing about it made me nostalgic. So sad it was a bad business move, I loved it as a child

[@fdaveokc]

I used to go there as well. According to their website, they're still open.

[@spiritstrife]

There's a Santa's Village in NH that I went to in the 90's. Also, what a rollercoaster this video was! The deer shooting & animal abuse made me so sad, and then your Humpty Dumpty comment about "nobody could put it back together again" made me bust out laughing. Great job on the video!

[@wintersprite]

I went to the NH Santa’s Village when I was a kid in the 1990s (it’s the “G” one in the video. I also went to Santa’s Land in VT when I was little and also visited last year.

[@MrRowskey]

I am constantly delighted with the production value of this show.

[@maddyparker9755]

Holiday world holds such a special place in my heart it reminds of a time when I had nothing to worry about and I could just be a kid

[@farandaway123]

Detective Noir Kevin is the best Christmas gift I've gotten this year

[@HowToMakeAGrilledCheese]

I’ve been to Santa’s Enchanted Forest and as big as it is, it makes you feel like you’re cheating death on every ride.

[@missmeppsie3389]

Ah, Santa's magic.

[@rosesske2551]

So it’s like a holiday version of the original action park in New Jersey.

[@supme7558]

Why would anyone go ...

[@pheomillion9171]

Yes lmaoo

[@andasax6702]

It's the true Miami Holiday Experience

[@vicariousjohnson9823]

My family visited HoldayWorld in Indiana about ten years ago. It was excellent. Affordable prices, fun rides, very clean and well taken care of, a definite slant toward younger kids but still great. A super fun water area for those hot days that was an absolute blast. If you bought a cup of soda, you could refill it all day long at drink stations spread around the park for free.

[@moonlightwite]

I'm so sad I live a mere 3 hours away from Santa Claus, IN and have been to Holiday World multiple times during my childhood, but only now have I learned the hilarious history of the place.

[@Blueskybuffalo]

I used to go there when I visited extended family. Now I need to learn its history...

[@Warlocke000]

The second this video stepped into my office, I knew it would be trouble. Sure, it talked a good game, but I had nightmare visions of "Christmas Stalkings" and "St. Nick Noir"becoming a fad genre dancing in my head.

[@joea9043]

My Dad use to take my brother and I to Santa's Village in IL. I had almost forgotten the place existed, I'm glad those fading memories weren't fever dreams being remembered. I always use to wonder why on earth they went with a Santa theme for a park only open in summer lol. Now I know, thank you for shinning some light on this :-)

[@victoriabrown9908]

I got so excited when you included Santa's Village in Jefferson NH!! I grew up going there and just went this past summer with my mom to reminisce and see what has changed!

[@Pyrate2000]

Absolutely adore the Film Noir style in this Defunctland. You nailed every aspect of it, great job!

[@CheezeWhizzz]

Well, now that Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami has closed... I think it deserves its own Defunctland episode if there’s enough juicy details throughout its lifespan

[@liamprattley1851]

Oh my god. The perfect detective-like intro, the extensive detail, the mystery of it all. One of my favourite KZbin videos. Period. Edit: Isn’t it ironic that both you and Expedition Theme Park uploaded videos on these theme parks on Christmas Eve (at least, here in NZ)?

[@QwertyuiopThePie]

If you're gonna upload videos on Christmas-themed theme parks, there's really only two days a year to do it.

[@skeeredstupid]

I live just an hour from Holiday World, I'd like to share a quick Santa related update. From those around here, this is old news. The fiberglass Santa that was once on display at Christmas for a downtown court house display, had been abandoned for quite a few years in a junk yard, has been restored and is up on display on US41 North in Evansville, IN. Great info as always, Kevin! I will also share that the Lewis J. Koch (pronounced Cook) family still run Holiday World and can be found roaming the park all season long. If you want to visit, the Lake Ruldoph Campgroud is very close and has very economical rates for your stay.

[@kaiportercrafton2152]

Same here!

[@AnotherMovieStudio]

I passed that Statue every time I went back and forth to college. It was really cool to hear about my home state and the theme park I visited so much as a child.

[@smoothsashimi7048]

I love going to holiday world!! It’s so fun😭😭😭

[@kadymcawesome773]

Holiday world is by far the cleanest and nicest theme park. I live 30 mins from Kentucky kingdom but I would much rather drive the two hours to Holiday World!! Plus free sodas

[@oceanshrugs9235]

Kady Mcawesome free sodas?!!

[@ivyj.9489]

I watched the fastpass video and since then have been binge-watching this channel - this episode makes me think of Santa’s Village up in New Hampshire, which is still operating-as a new englander, my personal local theme-park-slash-fun-place vacation destination was New Hampshire, so it’s fun to see others in the comments with that same experience, lol :) great work as always!!! Edit: I didn’t realize it would be mentioned in the video but LOL

[@alectrzaskowski6792]

Dude, the theming of each of your videos match the theming of the parks themselves. Amazing work!

[@ShadowShinoda227]

New Defunctland? Best Christmas present ever!

[@akaboji]

I always end up rewatching this episode around Christmas, and every time I'm still surprised when I hear the mention of the Santa's village in Ontario! It was the first place "up north" as they call it that I ever visited as a kid. I now live in the area some 15 years later, and I still visit the park annually! Something about the budget rides and cheesy decorations just puts me in such a happy mood. As usual, the amount of effort and detail put into your videos is just astounding :D

[@MetalSandman999]

Kevin Perjurer? Boy is it going to be awkward if he ever is called as a witness in court 😂

[@purplehz97]

I've been thinking that since I first discovered these videos. Yours is the first comment I've seen that mentioned it. I guess it's only funny to some people but I think it's hilarious. Perjurer. LOL

[@phoenixdavida8987]

@@purplehz97 thought the same! lololol

[@slysindyson3229]

A great way to get out of jury duty

[@exorphitus]

I can only wonder what kind of people his ancestors were to get his family stuck with THAT name.

[@idontneedaname318]

It makes me laugh every time his name pops up at the beginning of the video

[@madolchepuddingcess4349]

The ambiance in these videos are always unique and give the videos an unworldly feel. These feel way too good to be youtube videos.

[@ArtSteph6]

Loved this episode! Have you thought about making one on “Enchanted Forest” themed parks? I know of at least three in different states that all claim to have been “the original” and all have/had very similar attractions so I’ve been curious. The one I grew up with in Old Forge NY hung on by aggressively expanding as a water park, rebranding as Water Safari, but they still have and maintain the original attractions; the one my husband grew up with in Maryland was abandoned for years and partly converted into a strip mall (creepy photos available online!) before Clark’s Elioak Farm started buying, relocating, and restoring the surviving attractions a decade ago.

[@emmajean8631]

There’s one in BC, Canada as well!

[@user-sl3po6tk4w]

there's one in oregon too! It's been running for at least a couple decades as I went when I was a toddler and it's still there even now with me in my 20s

[@calliope1868]

There's one in washington! Its advertised as more of a wild waves, but it's also a enchanted village

[@boobertthescoopert]

There’s a super creepy one in Oregon, half of the attractions don’t work, all of the staff are children, yet it’s so fascinating

[@ArtSteph6]

​@@calliope1868 Sounds like the one in central NY, it's now mostly a water park as well - that's how it's stayed in business - but the original Enchanted Forest part of the attraction is still there for people to picnic in the shade when they need to take a break from all the water slides with some *mostly* un-creepy fairy tale dioramas and the old-school attractions like the petting zoo and carnival rides. (some of them are definitely creepy tho!)

[@Devikel23]

I grew up not far from Santa Claus, Indiana. I’m no stranger to Holiday World, but had no idea about the drama that lead to my childhood stomping grounds. This is what I love about this channel.

[@DerUberStern]

Santa with a sword... I'd pay money for a painting of that for my house.

[@ck-1649]

Ever heard of Rise of the Guardians?

[@finndahuman57]

A bunch of santa’s having a Sword fight to be the One and Only santa

[@meisterschwert]

@@finndahuman57 The Holy Santa War - Seven Santas of Seven Classes: Archer, Caster, Saber, Lancer, Berserker, Assassin, and Rider

[@Wolffur]

A sword swinging santa? Maybe we could call it "Santa's Slay".

[@LaMorenitaDivina]

I love it that a couple of these parks seemed to be started or purchased by people who genuinely wanted to share some Christmas sparkle and good cheer with people (OK, for an admission fee, but that’s literally modern Christmas). I grew up with Santa’s Village Arrowhead TV ads in the background - I can still remember them - and as a grown and cynical adult it’s actually moved me to know the story behind its creation and that its creator might have been one of the decent ones who really wanted to build something nice for kids to enjoy a little magic.

[@mandak422]

So excited you mentioned Santa’s Village Jefferson, NH! Grew up going there as well as their “sister park” Story Land

[@user-lt5cg5wz8m]

Same here! I was hoping the whole time Santa’s Villiage would get a mention. I have loved both since my first visits in early childhood ❤️

[@HamazingKayliee]

I grew up going to both of those! Only stopped going to Santa's Village when i started working weekends

[@valerieannrumpf4151]

I went to both places when visiting my relatives in new hampshire, haven't been there in years.

[@Dragonborn-dc4uj]

That is right by Attitash I stay there every year as a tradition with my homeboys (sometimes go to story land to fuck around) I went to Santa’s village in 2014 I was only 18 at that time and now i wonder what happened to that park

[@patthetech]

Santa's Village, Story Land, Whale's Tale, and Six Gun (something I can't remember now) were staples of my family's summer vacation.

[@daticecold9148]

One of my favorite KZbin channels- congrats on 400k you deserve it

[@WolfRaven119]

I only started watching these videos recently and I feel so robbed. They're fantastic. I just had eye surgery and they're helping distract from the pain a lot, even if I can only listen most of the time.

[@MurryDoesEverything]

I actually work at Holiday World as a Ride Operator! (Also you pronounced Koch wrong, it's pronounced like Cook. My family is friends with theirs!) So happy to see my little beautiful place of work got noticed!!

[@dumbidiot3007]

Haha I go there so often you've probably run my ride before

[@KendrickHarrisKenfinity]

There's so much to Christmas, it's great to uncover and find out that Santa has been used for attractions. Happy Holidays! Keep it up!!

[@ianweech]

This is one of my favorite Defunctland videos. I just love all of these abandoned theme parks, and the fact that they are Santa themed makes it even better.

[@brycevo]

I gotta say, Kevin, this is a Swell gig ya did here. You did a real Bang up Job, ol pal. Just keep up the great work.

[@brycevo]

Glad to see ya ain't got no beef with me! Merry Christmas, and thank you for this mighty fine gift

[@haremfanatic1014]

Why don’t you have a million views?! Your videos are more entertaining and informative then even the most expensive documentary! These videos provided more info then any enthusiast or professional of theme park or entertainment craft. So much so it actually helps me with writing a story about entertainment media hiding dark secrets,

[@EmileeAria413]

Listen, I love all of your videos, every one is unique and engaging and that’s what I love about them. But now I just want a spin-off series that exclusively ises the film noir inner monologue style as it’s presentation. It’s so utterly hilarious to hear “It’s questions like these that keep me up at night” while discussing Santa Claus theme parks. Keep up the amazing work!

[@CoyoteRecess]

The quality of these videos is astounding and I'm blown away that someone can make Santa-themed Christmas parks entertaining. These videos are always grade-A.

[@zachenders8377]

The quality sets the bar for KZbin videos.

[@RodrigoColimodio]

They look as Tv or Netflix documentary material...

[@gregorykeithmorris3970]

I'm actually from Bracebridge, Ontario. Thanks for giving Santa's Village a shoutout. It just had its 68th season. The Rudolph coaster does rock, incidentally. Great video!

[@oscardickson2141]

I’m really surprised at the amount of effort and time you have put into this episode. It has to be the best one so far!

[@Corwin404]

How the heck does each one of these have a completely different intro? And how are they all so good?

[@lindamcneil7888]

I went to Santa"a Village in Bracebridge when I was 3 years old so, 1969. My dad put me on the big Jack O Lantern, not knowing that there was a wasps nest inside. They came out and stung me around my mouth and I had to go to the ER. I've never been back. ✌🏻

[@peachtea7269]

That sounds so painful

[@Boom12]

You've outdone yourself. Its the best episode since Disney's America.

[@CokeZeroHero]

Boom12 true but action park was nuts !!

[@thebadshave503]

"The manufacture of Christmas products" over footage of gasmasks being built. Let's not predict Christmas 2020 too hard, Kevin.

[@maddieb.4282]

This comment was extremely prescient and so was the video 😂

[@Jynxedlove]

My parents used The North Pole in NY to convince me for a few extra years that Santa was real. I have so many fond memories of that place and I only ever went once.

[@mr.meloetta1939]

"Abandoned Santa Claus Theme Parks" A jolly & happy subject for a Christmas episode

[@cybercrasherstv]

Stop, your killing my childhood, KILLING IT

[@adambud11]

It’s really nice to know that my childhood Santa’s village in NH is doing well :)

[@doityourselfbombs]

same!!

[@carson3964]

Weird, I always thought the New Hampshire Santa’s Village was the only one. Loved that place. Got a bunch of free tickets because my grandma worked there, she would operate the Rudolph animatronic in the front. The animatronic had a speaker and a microphone.

[@KittybeastWhiskers]

**descends upon new content like a crazed wolf**

[@missybarbour6885]

Tbh I've always suspected that Kevin had the soul of a noir detective

[@feralecologist]

Santa's Village in New Hampshire holds a very special place in my heart! I went there and to Storyland also in NH every summer as a kid

[@DuckOfRubber]

An interesting subject matter for your channel, as by your own admission many of the properties are still operating. Holiday World is one of the most successful independent theme parks in the US. The Raven, The Legend, and The Voyage are all widely considered among the best wooden roller coasters in the world, and the park is famous among coaster enthusiasts because of them.

[@darthives8157]

Don't forget about thunder bird