They only stopped briefly, though, before getting back on the road. Talbot’s goal of attracting Santa-obsessed residents to live in her town was not successful. Some plots of land did sell, but the only people who lived in Santa Claus were the ones who worked there. The Venn diagram of people who love Christmas that much and people who want to live in the desert barely crosses over. Plus, Santa Claus had a major issue that even Christmas magic couldn’t save; it didn’t have easy access to water.
To keep the town functioning when it only had a few operational buildings, Talbot had to have trucks of water brought in. If people were staying in Santa Claus for good, something would have to be worked out logistically. But it was nearly impossible to get anyone to want to live somewhere where water wasn’t a guarantee.
This lack of permanent residents combined with an overall decline in popularity as the novelty faded led Ninon Talbot to sell the town in 1950. From here, Santa’s desert paradise had a revolving door of owners. By the 1970s, the town was dilapidated, and this downward spiral continued until the town permanently closed in 1993.
Today, Santa Claus, Arizona, is a tiny ghost town that barely resembles its Christmas heyday. Candycane-patterned paint can still be faintly seen under layers of graffiti, and the images of Santa that made the town famous have been taken away. Otherwise, the continuously deteriorating three or so buildings serve as a reminder of a more innocent, odd time in history.
Also, it’s a reminder to make sure you have access to water if you plan on starting a town. Big oversight there.
Top Image: Todd Huffman/Wiki Commons
Related: The 5 Most Baffling Pieces of Christmas Themed Fan Fiction
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The Baffling Santa-themed Town (Built In A Desert)
Source: Pinoy Daily News
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