Last week we were invited to visit Skypark At Santa's Village and it was truly magical! It is a North Pole themed adventure park. We drove up last Saturday and stayed at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa which was amazing. If you are looking for a place to stay close to SkyPark At Santa's Village I highly recommend Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. The hotel was all decorated for Christmas, our room was so nice, the staff was so friendly and very accommodating, and we ate dinner at the hotel restaurant and it was so good. We stayed Saturday night so we could be at Santa's Village right when it opened at 9am. There is so much to do at Santa's Village so make sure you get there right when it opens and allow all day for fun, food, and activities!
Here is just a little history about SkyPark At Santa's Village. It opened just 6 weeks before Disneyland opened in 1955. Throughout the years they had to close when they battled one of the state’s worst wildfires in history, the “Old Fire” of 2003 that nearly destroyed the land completely. After 20 years the park reopened in December 2016 and it has been completely redesigned and it is absolutely beautiful.
Carter writing his name on the nice list
Is this not the cutest picture ever?!!
You can skate, rock climb, make crafts, have tea with Mrs. Claus, decorate cookies and gingerbread houses, shop, dine, eat sweet treats, drink hot cocoa, ride a train, go bungee trampoline jumping, mine for gold, zip line, ride a bike, and of course meet Santa Claus! This park has a huge focus on exploring the outdoors. All the attractions are powered by the guests, for example the cars at Arrow Head Adventure are pedal cars, not on a track being powered by a machine.
Silver Bells Arena transforms into a beautiful skating pond during the winter months. The whole family can borrow some Skypark skates and start a new Christmas tradition. There’s a reason that so many Christmas carols talk about ice skating. It’s one of the best ways to make magical Yuletide memories, especially in a beautiful, boutique rink wreathed in pine trees. Night skating is also available certain evenings, giving you a magnificent view of the stars as you speed and twirl over the ice. Adventure Elves are always there to lend a hand to skaters who would like some assistance or pointers. Rental skates are provided, though thick socks are recommended for the most comfortable experience. Visitors are welcome to bring their own skates.
Santa’s Workshop & Post Office is where you can visit Santa’s Toy Elves! See what the Elves are up to as they create unique toys and trinkets you’ll find only at Santa’s Workshop. It’s one of Santa’s favorite places in the Park, where he crafts all the presents and imagines the joy on children’s faces when they unwrap the gifts on Christmas morning. You can even join the Elves and create your very own Christmas ornament or toy. Keep it as a souvenir of your time there or spread Santa’s joy by giving it to a loved one. Watch the Elves sort mail from around the world and write Santa your own letter. Santa loves getting mail, so decorate your list for him or send him a sweet thank you not for the presents you received last year. You can drop it in the North Pole Post Office box next to Santa’s House!
We loved the entertainers, the attractions, and the entire village. You can tell that this village was made with so much love and you can really see the history throughout the entire park. It is a magical winter wonderland and fun for the entire family.
Tickets are available online at $55 for ages 4-12, $65 for ages 13-61, and $55 ages 62-79. Guests younger than 4 years old and older than 80 are free. Parking is $10 and all guests must sign a waiver before entering the park. This can be done online or at time of arrival. I highly recommend doing it online in advance. Signing the waiver forms is done outside and the day we went it was very cold so signing waiver forms for myself, Carter, Kennedy, and Blake outside was not fun. So be prepared and do it ahead online.
The park is open Sunday 9am - 6pm, Monday through Thursday 10am - 6pm, Friday 10am -8pm, and Saturday 9am - 8pm.
SkyPark at Santa's Village is located in the San Bernardino National Forest in SkyForest California. The elevation is 5,910 feet and it less than 30 minutes from one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Southern California, which is Big Bear Snow Summit.
My advice is as soon as you walk into the park visit Santa first. We arrived right when it opened and there was already a line. Santa will see children from when the park opens to when it closes. They let one family into Santa's house at a time and I loved this because you got special one on one time with Santa and could take as many photos as you wanted. Santa also gave Carter and Kennedy each a candy cane and they were some of the biggest candy canes I have ever seen!
After your visit with Santa I suggest riding the train, because the conductor takes you all around the village and shares helpful information about the shops and the entire park. Plus, the line for the train can get long too.
Make sure you bring warm clothes! We were not prepared for how cold it was going to be at Santa's Village. We had to buy hats and gloves once we arrived. Just layer up! Also, make sure you wear closed toed shoes!
They also have special events that you can sign up for and they are an additional cost, like breakfast with Santa and tea with Mrs. Claus.
Dining and Shopping:
St. Nick's Patio and Grille - Burgers, sandwiches, salads, sandwiches, pizza. The food was delicious.
The Pedal Pub - Craft beer and bar food
K's Kandyshoppe and Creamery - Candy and ice cream
The Gingerbread House - This was a favorite! Delicious sweet treats and hot cocoa!
Gatherings BBQ House - where you’ll find some of the finest barbecue around.
Kringle's Coffee and Gifts - Coffee and cocoa
Sky Trading Company - My favorite! I spent way too much money! Here you can find unique gift items and nostalgic Santa’s Village Christmas souvenirs. Plus hats, gloves, and scarves to keep warm!
The most beautifully decorated trees were all over the store. They were each decorated to a different theme and you could purchase the ornaments and so much more.
Adventure Center - If you’re ready for adventure, the SkyPark Adventure Center will be your first stop. They offer a wide range of equipment for the ultimate outdoor experience. Fishing tackle, mountain bike, hiking shoes and SkyPark brand apparel and gear is also available at the Adventure Center.
Santa's Village Mining Co. - This is where visitors of all ages can pan for arrowheads, gemstones and minerals. Relive the glory days of the California Gold Rush where prospectors covered the San Bernardino Mountains looking to strike it rich. You might find gold! For a small fee, stake your “claim” and head out to the authentic sluice to discover your treasure! Your “claim” includes a bag of paydirt and the help of the mining staff as you look for your own treasures.
Hurry up and make your plans to visit this magical village. Christmas time celebrations end on January 7th. Christmas is such a special time to bring the entire family and create a new family tradition.
