SIL - Nov / Dec 2021

clude Santa at their different events.
Our role as a nonprofit charity is to
raise enough money to keep it happening
for many decades to come.”
Santa Claus Haus also has a gift
shop, which includes some items
from national suppliers, but the focus
is on local talent and products that
can be offered.
The long-range vision is to someday
have a free-standing structure
name and hometown on the list. Santa
will then always know what day
each child came to see him.
In addition to being at Santa
Claus Haus each Tuesday through
Saturday, you’ll also get to see Santa
and his sleigh, Silent Knight, at local
events, such as parades and fests.
His updated plans can be found each
morning on their Facebook page. You
can also see his calendar of events on
financially sound in what I would
call Phase 1. Phase 2 will be locating
property that will be as central to
the downtown area as possible and
building our own place that will go
on forever.”
Anyone wishing to get involved
as a volunteer is welcome to stop by
and speak to the gift shop manager
or visit the website. Tax-deductible
donations can also be made via the
“I think my biggest inspiration comes from the looks on children’s
faces when they see me. Children can be as old as 99.”
that would really give the feeling of
walking into Santa’s house. It would
be a big building so Santa’s living
room would be larger than it is now,
with a larger gift shop, and perhaps
maybe even a small coffee shop that
would offer home-baked pastries.
Another idea would be to have
a roadside attraction next to the Haus
that would not require someone to
be there all the time. Details on this
plan are being kept as a surprise for
the future.
Additionally, they would also
like to have a building to house the
“International Santa Claus Hall of
Fame,” which is just in virtual existence
currently.
Without hesitation, Santa said
that the favorite part of his day is
when Santa Claus Haus opens. Each
day, he checks “Santa’s Nice List,”
writes the date and updates the
“days until Christmas.” As each child
comes to visit, they write their first
14 • Nov/Dec 2021 • Southern Indiana Living
the website at santaclaushaus.org.
Santa was inducted into the “International
Santa Claus Hall of Fame”
in 2017. There are some other very
important people inducted into from
the area, as well. The inaugural Class
of 2010 includes Santas Jim Yellig and
Ray Jochum. In 2014, James Martin,
Santa Claus, Indiana’s first postmaster,
who began answering letters to
Santa in 1914, was inducted. In 2015,
Patricia Koch was also inducted.
“I feel very honored to be listed
in the same category as these greats,
and it is quite humbling as well,”
Santa said.
“I think my biggest inspiration
comes from the looks on children’s
faces when they see me.” And, he
noted, “Children can be as old as 99.”
Reflecting on what is next for
the organization, Santa said, “We
know that we don’t have enough
space now, so we are going to be getting
ourselves firmly planted and
website, or by stopping by.
The gift shop hours are Tuesday
through Saturday from 10 a.m.
until 5 p.m. Central time. But even
when Santa Claus Haus is closed, the
spirit and magic of Christmas is present.
Sundays are a day reserved for
volunteers to worship as they choose,
and to also spend time with family
and friends. On Mondays, Santa
takes the time to visit nursing homes,
hospitals and hospice patients.
Santa sums it all up in one simple
sentiment: “The reason for the
season is daily.” •
For more information, go to santaclaushaus.org
or facebook.com/Santa-Claus-
Haus, or call 812-626-4287 (HAUS).
Pictured: ( from bottom left, clockwise) Sometimes you
just need a fist bump from Santa; An inside look at Santa’s
sleigh, Silent Night; Santa ‘s nice list; A visitor tells Santa
his wish list; An ornament at the gift shop reminds visitors
that the true menading of Christmas the birth of Christ