Jolly Tall Goals!

This is a short story about a very tall Santa – 35 feet to be exact.

I had always assumed that the Santa in question was part of an old billboard campaign for Santa Claus Land (now Holiday World) in Santa Claus, Indiana; however, news reports have it dating to the Christmas season of 1974, when it was built for part of a display at our Old Courthouse.  It has made the rounds since then; the past several years it’s been greeting passers-by near U.S. 41 and I-64 just north of Evansville.  It has also been greatly deteriorating.

When a new gas station was being built on the site last year,  the old Santa was taken down and loaded on a flat bed trailer and hauled off to the owner’s junkyard.  The intent of the owner was to restore it, but – as so often happens – life got in the way and he put his interest in other places.

Enter two local artisans with a tall goal.

Ron McKeethen and Bob Zasadny came to the rescue.  They knew that it would take a tremendous amount of work cleaning up the surface, applying new resin and fiberglass, smoothing it all out, and finishing with a brilliant paint job), but they never doubted it was doable.  It’s taken many months of persistent action to bring back the jolly old and jolly old self.  But they did it!

This past weekend it was transported to its new home on U.S. 41 and Old State Road.  Carpe diem and check it out for yourself.  Thanks to a couple of guys (along with volunteers and donations) with a Carpe Diem Life mission, it will be there for years and years for all to enjoy.

Carpe Diem Life to all,
and to all a good night!

(Thanks to Jim Cox for the photographs)