Oxnard, California -
Santa Claus Statue

Santa Claus Lane - Vague Recollections

Photo taken in 1956 by my uncle during a visit to Santa Claus, California. [George Murphey, 09/24/2010]

Santa Claus Statue

I took this photo of the Santa last summer. I drive past it to/from work everyday. When daylight savings time starts they change Santa's clear spectacles over to sunglasses.

If you would like to see video on how Santa ended up in Oxnard, then on Disc 2 of the movie, Elf, go to the section titled "infinifilm." When the new menu comes up select "Beyond The Movie Features," and then on the subsequent menu select "Santa Mania." The story of Santa coming to Oxnard is the third segment in "Santa Mania." [Greg Eaton, 06/14/2005]

[RA: Santa was built in 1948 as part of a strip mall named Santa Claus Lane (famous for its Date Shakes, which were like drinking a Fig Newton). He was moved to a vacant lot next to a mobile home park in Oxnard in 2003. The Oxnard City Council at first wanted to kick out Santa, but now that he's been cleaned up they like him.]

Santa Claus statue finds refuge in vacant lot
Carpinteria, California's fat Santa statue may have a new home. After barely surviving the destruction of Santa Claus Lane by developers last year, the 20-ft.... [01/26/2003] Complete News Story

Santa Claus - Still Fighting

Sorry to say, Santa is struggling to stay after decades of enjoyment for roadside passers-by. The new owner wants to tear down the Santa structure and replace all buildings with a Cape Cod village motif. Historic preservationists are fighting to retain the Santa in its current position. The decision is with the county government. There is great public support for Santa but also support for private property rights.

Here is a vintage postcard from the 1950s-'60s. [Rick Closson, 07/13/2001]

[RA: News on the ongoing battle for Santa.]

Santa Claus going down -- statue's fate still undecided

One of Southern California's most prominent example of roadside vernacular architecture -- Carpinteria's fat Santa statue -- is a supervisorial decision away from becoming a memory. The new owner of the Santa Claus Lane property plans to destroy the recently renovated landmark "in order to create an upscale Cape Cod-style retail strip to service the conspicuous tastes of new residents to the community," according to a press release from Santa supporters.

... [06/06/2001] Complete News Story