Weird California
Weird California
Weird California - By Joe Parzanese

Santa Claus

Map 2801 East Ventura Blvd, Oxnard, California 93036
(Near North Rice Ave)

Santa Claus Watches Over 101
Santa Claus Watches Over 101

Old Postcard of Santa Claus Lane
Old Postcard of Santa Claus Lane

Although, Santa Claus now resides in Oxnard, CA, for 52 years he lived at Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria along with his pal Frosty the Snowman and an entire Christmas themed street!

This eighteen foot tall Santa Claus found in Oxnard, CA just off of Highway 101 (take the Santa Clara exit if going North or the Rice Road exit if going South) use to be located on Santa Claus Lane just south of Santa Barbara in Carpinteria. The juice stand located on Santa Claus Lane was started by June and Patrick McKeon. With Santa Claus perched over their business, it evolved from nuts, fruit, olives, and dates into the Christmas themed attraction that it was for many many years. Santa resided in the chimney atop Santa's Candy Kitchen for fifty-two years.

However, wear and tear eventually made it unstable and hazardous to have it perched on top of the buildings there. It was taken down in March 2002. Luckily, it was saved by several citizens and transferred South to Oxnard in January 2003. It was repaired and repainted, and placed in its current spot in Oxnard, looking west over Highway 101. Approximately three hundred people attended his re-dedication at the new site.

Santa Claus behind the
Santa Claus behind the "S"
Santa Claus through the
Santa Claus through the "C"

Santa's old home, Santa Claus Lane, has mostly been re-themed into sorta a New England style fishing village, the only reminder of the prior Christmas themed attractions being the name.

Photo courtesy of David @ <a href='http://gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com'>Gorillas Don't Blog</a>
Photo courtesy of David @ Gorillas Don't Blog

Along with Santa, Frosty the Snowman stood at Santa Claus Lane, just a few building rooftops south of Santa. Additionally the village at one time had a train that kids could take rides on around the area. There was a toy store along with the candy store, and a restaurant named the Reindeer Room. To the right, you can see a picture circa 1960, courtesy of David at Gorillas Don't Blog, that shows both Santa and Frosty proudly watching over the street. Frosty's eyes supposedly lit up and his pipe may have had smoke waft out of it. He was taken down in the 1980s, acquired by Tom Merkel, and relocated out to Maricopa, CA to join Tom's extensive collection of cars in his Lost Highway Car Garden.

Today, Santa has acquired a few friends including a reindeer, a snowman with a surf board, and two flanking toy soldiers. His sleigh is off to the right behind him. Santa and his entourage hang out behind green gates, with the letters, "S", and "C" on the front.

Santa Claus also now has corporate sponsorship in order to assist in his maintenance costs, and received a brand new paint job as a result. He also wears shades in the summer to protect his eyes from the California Sun. In December a half marathon called "Santa to the Sea" takes place, with the course starting at Santa and making its way to the ocean. The race often has lots of runners dressed up in Christmas themed costumes.

Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Reindeer
Reindeer
Toy Soldier
Toy Soldier
Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Snowman and Toy Soldier
Snowman and Toy Soldier



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First Created: 2007-11-12
Last Edited: 2017-12-24


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