T
here’s no place like home for the holidays, but sometimes you’re overcome with a sense of wanderlust — even this time of year. Sure, there are plenty of holiday-themed events and attractions locally, but two towns in the Midwest make a cottage industry out of Christmas: Santa Claus, Ind., is about three hours to the west of Cincinnati while Frankenmuth, Mich., is about five hours north. And on the way to Frankenmuth, you can also swing by a small Ohio hamlet that also gets some attention this time of year for its reindeer-friendly name.
Rudolph, Ohio is about five miles off of I-75 in Wood County, home of Bowling Green State University. Though it only has a population of 458, it does have its own post office, which is the source of its Christmas connection. Each year, the town’s post office offers an exclusive postmark featuring the likeness of the famous red-nosed reindeer that shares the town’s name. People have been known to drive for miles to the tiny northwest Ohio village with bundles of mail to be stamped, though most just mail it in. Those that show up in person can sometimes enjoy cookies and coffee provided by local residents in the building’s lobby.
The town was not named for Santa’s lead reindeer, though. “It used to be called Mercers,” says Holly Hartlerode, curator of the Wood County Historical Center and Museum in Bowling Green. Reading from The Commemorative Historical and Biographical Record of Wood County published in 1897, she continues, “ ‘H.J. Rudolph is the principle merchant for the village,’ so chances are it was named after him.”
With a Rudolph-emblazoned piece of mail in hand, travelers can continue north on I-75 to Frankenmuth. A popular destination this time of year, Frankenmuth — like Cincinnati — is steeped in German heritage. Indeed, the area is also known as “Little Bavaria” and has no shortage of Germanic-influenced buildings.
“A friend from work had gone there a couple of years back and she told me about it,” says Kristen Uhl, a former Anderson Township resident who recently relocated to Ann Arbor and decided to check out Frankenmuth with her fiancé. “We went to Bronner’s and shopped around, then drove to downtown Frankenmuth and had lunch at the Frankenmuth Brewery.” Those two establishments are easily the town’s most popular attractions: Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland claims to be the “World’s Largest Christmas Store,” and Frankenmuth Brewery is the oldest beer-maker in Michigan. The shops in town feature everything from toys to cheese.
According to the book Images of America: Frankenmuth, the town was founded in the mid-1800s as a haven for emigrants from the troubled Franconian region of Bavaria. In fact, the town’s name is the combination of “Franken,” referring to that part of Bavaria, and “mut,” which means courage.
Other attractions include Grandpa Tiny’s Farm, Junction Valley Railroad and Michigan’s Military and Space Heroes Museum, as well as the town’s famous Zehnder’s Holz Brücke covered bridge.
If going north in winter makes you nervous, consider another option: Head west from Cincinnati, through Louisville and on into Indiana on I-64 to Spencer County. Get off at Exit 63 and head south for about three miles and you’ll arrive in the town of Santa Claus.
Originally called Santa Fe, the town was forced to choose a new name in 1856 when it applied for a post office; there already was a Santa Fe, Ind. Legend has it that the issue was being debated at a meeting in the town’s church on Christmas Eve. The doors blew open and the sound of sleigh bells could be heard. A child shouted, “It’s Santa Claus,” and the town adopted the name.
Starting in the 1920s, volunteers began answering letters from Santa Claus, as mail began arriving addressed to the man in the red suit. Today it is most widely known as the home of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari amusement park. And while that’s closed for the year, Santa Claus still offers plenty of Christmas-themed fun in December.
One of the most popular stops year-round is Santa’s Candy Castle. Located on Route 245, the building was originally part of what was to be a Santa-themed village. In the 1930s a local entrepreneur seeking to capitalize on the town name began the project, but only completed two buildings. A battle with a rival businessman combined with the Great Depression ended the plan. The Koch family opened the amusement park in 1946 a few years after the dust had settled. The Castle was a private residence until a few years ago when it was converted back into a business. Admission is free, with several pay-as-you-go kid-friendly activities. Oh, and there’s lots of candy as well.
Right up the road, you’ll find the Santa Claus Museum and Village. The museum building houses memorabilia from the town as well as the amusement park. Also on the property are the old post office and the church (yes, that same one). Both were moved from their original locations but sit at the site of the original village. The town has since moved around onto Route 162, Christmas Boulevard.
It’s there you’ll find the Kringle Place Shopping Center, home of the Santa Claus Christmas Store. Not as large as the one in Frankenmuth, it’s still expansive and boasts a massive selection of ornaments, decorations and lights. They also offer homemade fudge and other treats and, of course, Santa is on duty.
If you’re in the mood for a show, the players from the nearby Lincoln Amphitheater perform Scrooge’s Christmas at Forest Park High School. This version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was adapted by Northern Kentucky University theater professor Ken Jones and features several students from the university. At night, visitors can head to the Lake Rudolph Campground and enjoy a large drive-though light display, similar to Holiday in Lights at Sharon Woods.
A winter road trip might seem like an odd undertaking during this busy time of year, but then again Santa makes it around the world in one night.
For more information on FRANKENMUTH, MICH., and SANTA CLAUS, IND., visit frankenmuth.org and santaclausind.org.
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2015.