How North Pole, Alaska Failed at Being the North Pole

North Pole (Alaska)

The scheme was almost too simple: buy some Alaska land, call it North Pole, and wait for toy makers to write checks. Two developers in 1952 thought they’d struck gold with this marketing ploy.

No factories ever came, but their fake North Pole became more real than they ever planned.

Here’s how the con that didn’t work gave Alaska its most famous Christmas town.

A Real Estate Developer’s Christmas Dream

Everett Dahl ran the Dahl and Gaske Development Company when they bought most of the Davis land. They kept only a few parcels that had already been sold. Dahl later joined North Pole’s first city council after it became a town.

He wanted more than just to sell land. He planned to create a special community that would use its magical Christmas name to grow and succeed.

A Name Change To Attract Business

Before 1952, the area was simply called “Davis” after the family who first lived there. Dahl and Gaske asked the United States District Court to change this name. Judge Harry Pratt held a hearing about their request.

Bon Davis thought the idea seemed silly but still supported it. He may have seen how a new name could bring value to the area he once called home.

The Toy Manufacturer Vision

The developers named the town “North Pole” to attract toy makers. They hoped companies would build factories there so they could put “Made in North Pole” on toy boxes across America.

This plan tried to use the connection between the North Pole and Christmas in popular culture. The idea seemed smart – what toy company wouldn’t want people to think their toys came straight from Santa’s workshop?

A Second Vision: Alaska’s Disneyland

The developers also dreamed of building a “Santa Land” for tourists. They wanted to create a Christmas theme park like “a northern version of Disneyland.” This tourist spot would work with their factory plan by bringing visitors all year.

Theme parks were becoming popular in America during this time of growth after World War II. Disneyland had opened in California, showing that themed entertainment could be very successful.

The Fight For Incorporation

When developers tried to make North Pole an official city, people in nearby Highway Park fought against it. These neighbors voted down the first attempt. People living in the North Pole area still wanted to become a real city.

For the second vote, developers made the proposed city much smaller. The new boundaries only included the original Davis land and part of James Ford’s property next door.

Becoming An Official City

North Pole became an official city on January 15, 1953, just months after getting its new name.

The city only included the Davis homestead and part of James Ford’s land. The first city council had five members, including developer Everett Dahl and businessman Con Miller.

The council picked James Ford as temporary mayor until they could hold a proper election.

The Dahl Legacy In City Government

Everett Dahl went from being a land developer to serving on the city council. This dual role let him shape how the new city would grow.

He worked with other local business owners to create North Pole’s government. Dahl kept pushing for Christmas themes throughout the city.

He believed this holiday connection would help the local economy grow.

Santa Claus House Emerges

Con Miller, a member of the first city council, opened a trading post in 1952 that grew into Santa Claus House. Miller had dressed as Santa when visiting remote Alaskan villages to trade goods.

A child who saw Miller building his store called out, “Hello, Santa! Are you building a new house?” This comment gave Miller his business name. His store also served as North Pole’s post office for almost 20 years, making it central to town life.

The Failure Of The Toy Manufacturer Plan

No toy companies ever built factories in North Pole. The “Made in North Pole” plan completely failed.

Alaska was too far from the rest of the country for manufacturing in the 1950s. Shipping costs were too high.

Instead of becoming a factory town, North Pole grew into a bedroom community for people working at nearby military bases and in Fairbanks.

Preserving The North Pole Brand

Despite failing to attract toy makers, the town kept its Christmas identity. Streets got holiday names like Santa Claus Lane, Snowman Lane, and Kris Kringle Drive. The city adopted the motto “Where the spirit of Christmas lives year round.”

In 2013, North Pole created a “Made in North Pole Alaska” trademark program to protect local products, finally using part of the original vision.

Visiting North Pole, Alaska

You’ll find North Pole, Alaska at the junction of the Richardson Highway and Santa Claus Lane, 14 miles southeast of Fairbanks. The Santa Claus House at 101 St. Nicholas Drive is open daily from 10am to 6pm in summer and 10am to 5pm in winter.

Admission is free. Visit the Antler Academy to feed live reindeer or take photos with the 50-foot Santa statue.

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