

Park Albanoel in Brazil (photograph by Paul Keller)

Whether the early displays of holiday cheer fill your heart with anticipation for the coming winter months, or dread and irritation for another long, bombastic season of endless carols and swarming lights, there’s no denying that the Christmas spirit is again taking its hold.

Some places have tried to capture this fleeting joy year-round with “santa parks” where there are always prancing reindeers and busy elves. Yet even this attempt at capturing holiday joy as a sort of amusement park has its expiration date, and like a pine tree tossed to the curb with its tinsel and garland still tousled around its branches, these santa parks have been abandoned and left to ruin.

CIDADE ALBANOEL

Brazil



photograph by Paul Keller



photograph by Paul Keller



photograph by Paul Keller



photograph by Paul Keller



photograph by Paul Keller

SANTA CLAUS LAND

Golden Valley, Arizona



photograph by Todd Huffman





photograph by Todd Huffman



photograph by Todd Huffman



photograph by mlhradio/Flickr user



photograph by mlhradio/Flickr user



photograph by David Cohen



photograph by Roadsidepictures/Flickr user



photograph by mlhradio/Flickr user



SANTA’S VILLAGE

Lake Arrowhead, California

photograph by Sandi Hemmerlein/Avoiding Regret



photograph by Sandi Hemmerlein/Avoiding Regret



via Atlas Obscura, User Submitted

SANTA’S LAND

Putney, Vermont



photograph by RoadTripNE



photograph by RoadTripNE

photograph by RoadTripNE

SANTA’S WORKSHOP

Negaunee, Michigan



photograph by Ed Fisher

SANTA’S VILLAGE

East Dundee, Illinois