Tis' the season at Castle Noel, America's largest indoor and year-round Christmas entertainment attraction. Although Christmas is a 365-day celebration for the Castle Noel staff, November and December are special months. Featuring the world’s largest privately owned collection of Hollywood Christmas movie props and costumes from your favorite Christmas movies including “The Grinch,” “Elf,” “Santa Claus The Movie,” “Fred Claus” and more, as well as 25-foot-tall animated Christmas tree and past Christmas window displays from Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s, families from all over the country flock to Castle Noel during the holidays.
The quaint and petite exterior of Castle Noel – located at 260 South Court Street in a church that dates back to 1867 – is deceptive, as it hides the museum's 40,000-square-foot interior. Inside, co-owners, Dana and Mark Klaus – yes, that's their real last name – have designed the space from floor to ceiling, complete with dazzling fiber optic Christmas displays, the Mark Klaus Gift Shop and even a room decorated with over 100,000 Christmas ornaments – all fostering Castle Noel's nostalgic aura that brings forth the warmest of childhood memories.
Upon walking in, it feels like you've been instantly transported to the North Pole. Holiday music echoes throughout the museum and everything – I mean everything – is decorated in holiday decor. The involuntary feeling that arises is one of pure joy – similar to that of which you likely experienced on Christmas morning as a child.
"Mark has designed Castle Noel to truly make you feel like a kid again," says Dana. "Whether you're two or 102, you will love Castle Noel."
She continues: "Mark is always looking for pieces to add to Castle Noel and it's counterparts, the Polar Bear Club and Alien Vacation Mini Golf. From Christmas toys and movie props to sci-fi movie costumes and props for the Alien Vacation Mini Golf, he is always adding to our collection. Coming in 2021 will be the Cousin Eddie Patio Bar as well as a TIKI Bar. Mark has been collecting items for the TIKI Bar over 20 years, all of which are genuine artifacts from around the world."
In addition to the master collector that he is, Mark is an expert sculptor and artist. The Mark Klaus Gift Shop is chock-full of gifts that he has created at a price point for everyone to enjoy.
"Mark is renowned for his detail," explains Dana. "It typically takes him one to four months to sculpt an original piece that is then molded so that more can be made. And aside from his art, he is a pure mastermind. Every single component of Castle Noel and its counterparts has come from his brain."
Dana also describes that Castle Noel is her and Mark's heart and soul. Although COVID-19 has impacted them greatly, they are working hard to bring all that Castle Noel has to offer to their guests safely by following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines. For this reason, tours are capped at 10 people and reservations must be made in advance. For more information about Castle Noel or to make a reservation, visit CastleNoel.com.