Riding To The North Pole With Santa On A City Bus

A Real Santa Claus In Alaska

On an October afternoon while in Fairbanks, Alaska, we caught a public bus to go to the North Pole and visit its major attraction, the Santa Claus House. Shortly after we got on, we were joined by a jovial man sporting a white beard and hair and wearing a red ski cap. He had received a big hug from our woman driver as he boarded. He quickly introduced himself to us as Santa Claus and, in case we didn’t believe him, he produced an Alaska drivers license that, sure enough, indicated his legal name was Santa Claus. During the bus trip, he recounted the highlights of his life and afterwords, when I searched the internet for his bio, it confirmed everything he had said.

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist…”.

The real Alaska Santa Claus

Alaska has an official town named North Pole and, while it has the usual public schools, athletic fields, fast food restaurants, fire stations and more than the usual number of churches, this community of about 2,700 residents keeps the Christmas spirit alive all year long. Its one major attraction is Santa Claus House. It’s only a 35 minute bus ride (green line) from Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway. This town also features holiday decorations and trimmings–even if it’s 80 degrees in July. You can drive down streets called Santa Claus Lane, Kris Kringle Drive, and Mistletoe Lane, or stay the night in the Santa Suite at Hotel North Pole.

Blue MACS bus traveling through snowy Fairbanks street — A blue MACS city bus moves through a snowy Fairbanks street beneath snow-covered trees.

The real draw is Santa Claus House which brings in thousands of visitors each month. It is a sprawling store that holds endless aisles of Christmas ornaments and toys, a live Santa to listen to your Christmas wishes, and walls covered with Dear Santa letters from children all around the world. 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 to help bolster the Christmas spirit.

Here’s a tip; there cappuccinos, lattes and coffees are fantastic and be sure and buy yourself a treat from the pastry/candy case too.

About Our Santa Claus

His original name was Thomas Patrick O’Connor (he legally changed his name to Santa Claus in 2005) and he was born on January 1st 1946. He received a degree from NYU and has been an Anglican Christian monk, a former New York Assistant Chief of Police and was a vocal child welfare advocate in the city. He currently resides in North Pole, Alaska about 15 miles south of metropolitan Fairbanks. Recently he has served on the North Pole City Council (elected in a successful write-in campaign no less), ran as a candidate in Alaska’s 2022 U.S. congressional special election, and continues to work as a recognized independent court advocate for children.