The town in 1946 became famous Santa Claus Land, the nation's first theme park. In 1984, the name of the park was changed to Holiday World . The town offers a 325 acre industrial park, which consists of Kimball International Heritage Hills Division and National Office Furniture. In 1967 a residential community called Christmas Lake Village was created in Santa Claus . It covers over 2000 acres with 500 acres set aside for recreation.
Lots surround three lakes.
Christmas Lake, the largest of the three is over a mile long and is adequate for power boats, skiiing, sailing, and swimming. Christmas Lake Village also has a championship 18-hole golfcourse , tennis, and shuffleboard. Santa Claus has grown from a population of 64 in 1964 to its present population of over 1500 residents. With over 2000 acres, the town is the largest in Spencer County. The town expects the construction of 60 homes this year.