New ride soars over SkyPark at Santa’s Village for holiday season
SkyPark at Santa’s Village in the San Bernardino Mountains is full of holiday cheer for the season, opening a new attraction and bringing back old favorites.
For the Christmas season, guests can visit and take photos with Santa in his cabin, enjoy ice skating — and new this year, guests can adopt a plush reindeer baby after visiting with the reindeer moms and learning how to care for them.
The B-Rail is the park’s newest ride that has guests pedaling among the treetops on the repurposed monorail track, which once had bee-shaped carts.
The park originally called simply Santa’s Village, opened in 1955, just weeks before Disneyland, and has a long history of creating memories for generations in Skyforest, near Lake Arrowhead.
Santa helper, Gummdrop opens his arms to welcome guests to SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A boy rides one of the go-carts at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The “North Pole” a year around frozen pole stands at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Santa awaits guest to come into his cabin at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Characters at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead walk throughout the park on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead features a B-Rail, a mountain bike attached to a railing that guests can ride throughout the park, Devon Drexel takes a ride Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead features a short train ride for guest to enjoy on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A written message to Santa is seen in his guest book at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village features a sweet shop for guest to enjoy near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Santa helper, Gummdrop welcomes guests to SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead features a B-Rail, a mountain bike attached to a railing that guests can ride throughout the park, a guest takes off on one on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village in the San Bernardino Mountains near Lake Arrowhead offers guests a rock wall on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Unique Christmas decor fill the shelves at the gift shop SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead transforms for the month of December seen on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 guests walk through the park. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Amira Fadel shoots an arrow at one of the three the target games included at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead features an experience to adopt a reindeer, the specialized stuffed plushies represented are seen on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead features an ice rink for guests to enjoy on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead features an ice rink for guests to enjoy on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Santa awaits guest to come into his cabin at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Guests enjoy story time tales with characters at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Gingerbread cookies freshly cutout sit near a window at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Martha Vega and son Samuel Vega, 1 check out the gift shop at SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead features an ice rink for guests to enjoy on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Guests enjoy SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
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Santa helper, Gummdrop opens his arms to welcome guests to SkyPark at Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The park closed in 1998, and the property was later sold. Bill and Michelle Johnson bought the property in 2014 and reopened the theme park as SkyPark at Santa’s Village in 2016, according to the park’s website.
The reimagined space aimed to keep the holiday charm it was known for, while adding elements that make up the outdoor adventure park that draws outdoor enthusiasts in the summer with its zip lines, flyfishing and mountain bike trails.
The park also offers a train ride on its Northwoods Express and a chance to test your aim with axe throwing, sharp shooting and archery.
The park is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday through Jan. 5, 2025. It will reopen in June for summer.
The park will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
