NORTH
POLE, ALASKA
North Pole is home to The
Santa Claus House, and you cannot miss their building,
looking like a Santa's toy factory.
There is a huge replica of Santa & the "North Pole" (to
the left of the building and outside this photo), and murals on the outside of the
building. Santa's reindeer, Prancer, is in residence year round (when he is not helping
deliver presents).
This curiously-named small town is actually about 12 miles south of Fairbanks.
City fathers encourage shops owners to carry out the Christmas theme. Special North Pole
events are listed on our Calendar of Events.
Since it is about midway between Ft.
Wainwright and Eielson A.F.B. on
the Richardson Highway, it is a bedroom community for military families
who prefer to live off base.
North Pole has a distinctive postmark. Around Christmas, other post offices in
the area put out a special box in which to collect letters that people want postmarked
from North Pole. You can also order a "letter from Santa" at the Santa Claus
House.
Also located in North Pole is the Christian radio/TV station, KJNP
(King Jesus North Pole). They
offer tours of their station. Follow the link for more information, and a picture of the
station.
About two miles south of North Pole is the Corps of Engineers Chena River Flood Control Project, which offers tours in
the summer. Follow the link for more information.
The nearby Chena Lakes recreation area is popular for skiing in the winter and
swimming and boating in the summer, for a very small entrance fee. If you do not want to
drive out, there is bus service from Fairbanks on the Green
Line.
North Pole has a large residential population hidden away. Their first 71
room hotel (North Pole Hotel) was due to open in 2009. There is also Beaver
Lake Resort and Jolly Acres Motel (which is being remodeled to offer
short-term, furnished rental apartments) as well as a handful of bed &
breakfasts.
Tourists should be aware that, while Fairbanks and Anchorage do not have a
general sales tax (there is a bed tax), North Pole does have a 4% sales tax within their
city limits (a 4 1/2 square mile area). They also recently added a 8% bed
tax and alchohol tax to mirror the taxes in Fairbanks. Fairbanks has successfully fought off a sales tax
9 times, with the help of
the Interior Taxpayers'
Association.
Another useful link is this one to the
North Pole Chamber of Commerce.
