There are many exciting things to do in North Pole Alaska, but first let us do an overview of Santa’s haven in the far north!

An Overview of Santa’s Fair City Up North
The city is a summertime attraction for tourists visiting nearby Fairbanks and, due to its location on the Richardson Highway, those traveling to and from the Alaska Highway and Valdez. North Pole was home to two oil refineries, the town’s major industry aside from tourism, but closed because of sulfolane contamination in groundwater. The larger refinery, operated by Flint Hills Resources, was a major source of jet fuel for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Tanker car traffic on the Alaska Railroad, entering and leaving the refinery, frequently bisects the city.
North Pole’s biggest attraction is a gift shop named Santa Claus House, the modern-day incarnation of a trading post (gift shop) established in the town’s early days. The Santa Claus House is known for the world’s largest fiberglass statue of Santa Claus outside. A small group of domesticated reindeer are just outside.
Before Christmas each year, the USPS post office in North Pole receives hundreds of thousands of letters to Santa Claus, and thousands more from people wanting the town’s postmark on their Christmas greeting cards to their families. It adveThe rtises the ZIP code 99705 as the ZIP code of Santa. A community program also responds to letters addressed to 1 Santa Claus Lane.[4]
Christmas-themed streets in North Pole include Santa Claus Lane, St. Nicholas Drive, Snowman Lane, and Kris Kringle Drive. Streetlights in the city are decorated in a candy cane motif, and many local businesses have similar decorations. The city’s firetrucks and ambulances are all red, while the police cars are green and white. The city also has an all-female flat-track Roller Derby league, the North Pole Babes in Toyland (NPBT), whose athletes have Christmas and North Pole-inspired Skater names.
North Pole has some of the least expensive residential real estate in Alaska; the median home price there is $211,184.
The Richardson Highway south of Fairbanks led to an assortment of subdivided and unsubdivided homesteads between Ladd Field and 26 Mile Field in the 1940s and 1950s.
The area that formed the central city of North Pole was homesteaded in 1944 by Bon V. and Bernice Davis. Their son, T. Neil Davis, wrote Battling Against Success in 1997, a fictionalized account of homestead life. The Alaska Railroad established a siding on the Davis homestead as part of its branch line to Eielson Air Force Base, naming the siding Davis. This name temporarily became associated with the fledgling settlement.
In 1952, Dahl and Gaske Development Company purchased the Davis homestead, subdivided it, and renamed it North Pole, in hopes of attracting a toy manufacturer to the area. The City of North Pole was incorporated on January 15, 1953 from portions of the Davis homestead and the adjacent homestead of James Ford. Ford was named the first mayor, with Everett Dahl serving on the first city council.
Another member of that first council was Conrad B. Miller. Miller, who came to Fairbanks in 1949, opened a trading post along the highway in 1952. The business became known as the Santa Claus House, and has evolved over the years into the current roadside attraction. The business was also home to North Pole’s first post office, serving in that capacity for almost 20 years. Another trading post in the community was operated by Lucius Cunningham and his family. The town’s economy largely depended on these two businesses until the 1970s, when the current four-lane Richardson Highway was built, bypassing Davis Subdivision, which was effectively its downtown.
The Earth Resources refinery (now operated by Flint Hills Resources) began operations in August 1977. It is connected to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System by several feeder pipelines operated by Golden Valley Electric Association, mostly following along the Laurence Road section line. The years after its construction saw the construction of the North Pole Plaza, a large, enclosed shopping mall along the Richardson Highway. A standalone high school and increased subdivision development in previously rural areas immediately outside the city followed before the real estate market temporarily collapsed during the 1980s.

Things to Do in North Pole Alaska
1. Visit the Santa Claus House
Celebrate Christmas any time of year with a trip to the Santa Claus House. Stroll through the magical winter wonderland to shop Santa’s Workshop for unique toys, North Pole apparel, and Alaska-made gifts. Sample fudge, cookies, and other treats while looking for the jolly man himself.
Take a photo with Santa in his sleigh or in front of the 43-foot, wooden Santa statue. Parents can coordinate for their children that are on the nice list to receive personalized letters from Santa.
Located next to the main house, the Antler Academy is where Santa’s reindeer team lives. Visit the reindeer pen to learn about all their reindeer games as you pet and feed the animals. After experiencing the childhood magic of Christmas, purchase a one-of-a-kind Alaska ornament to commemorate the trip.
2. Taste Christmas from “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” Restaurants
Food Network’s Guy Fieri traveled to the North Pole to sample his favorite holiday dishes for his hit series “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.” Embark on a culinary tour to his must-see restaurants including Big Daddy’s BBQ & Banquet serving Southern dishes with northern flare. The restaurant offers smoked turkey and beef brisket.
Fans of “A Christmas Story” can live out the movie at Pagoda Restaurant. Fieri’s team recommends the Santa Claus Lane dining spot for Asian eats with an Alaska twist — Alaska king-crab legs with ginger and the famous Pagoda steak. Or indulge in a decadent, traditional Christmas at Country Cafe, known for its cranberry glazed ham, holiday turkey dinner, and homemade stuffing. Try the reindeer sausage hoagie or almond-crusted beef tournedos with brown gravy and béarnaise at Elf’s Den & Lounge, where it’s always Christmas. Other Fieri-recommended eateries near North Pole include the Cookie Jar Restaurant in Fairbanks and the Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Co in Fox.
3. Winterfest & Holiday Bazaar
The town comes alive in December with the annual North Pole Winterfest & Holiday Bazaar, which draws crowds with activities, local vendors selling crafts and gifts, and a fireworks show. During this time of year, it’s not unusual for national TV newscasts to broadcast live from the Santa Claus House.
4. Explore Chena Lakes Recreation Area
For a break from the holidays, soak in Alaska’s remote, Arctic beauty from one of 80 easily accessible campsites at the Chena Lake Recreation Area. Divided between the lake and river park, the 2,000-acre area is surrounded by birch forests and overlooks waters where beavers, muskrats, otters, and mink live.
Traveling along Moose Creek towards the dam, visitors will see a fish-viewing overlook and panoramic views of where the river meets the dike. Cast a line into the river to hook Arctic grayling, northern pike, whitefish, burbot, and king salmon, or canoe through Lake Chena to fish for Arctic char, grayling, and rainbow trout.
In the winter, reserve space at the cabins to try ice fishing. In the summers, bike along paved trails to take a dip in the lake or float down the river. Kick back with a game of volleyball and horseshoes or rent paddleboats, row boats, and stand-up paddleboards to cruise the waters.
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10 Fun Things to Do in North Pole December 2023 | Expedia