Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo

Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo is a seasonal Christmas-themed amusement park in Cherokee, about three miles east of town. It is a road-trip destination for Asheville families, not an attraction within Asheville itself. The park’s 60th season is operating in 2026 from mid-May through the end of October, with Tuesday and Wednesday closures.

Check the homepage before driving because the mountain trip takes a large part of the day.

One admission price covers the park, Santa, zoo areas, rides and shows. Current admission is $30 plus tax for every visitor age 2 or older; children under 2 enter free. A family of four therefore pays $120 plus tax if everyone is at least 2.

The arcade needs quarters, and food, gifts or animal feed may add to the total. The park advertises military, AAA and other discounts, as well as group rates for parties of 20 or more.

Ages 2 to 10 are the clearest fit. Children can visit Santa’s summer home and receive a Good Conduct Diploma, watch or join the magic show, ride a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, carousel, train, boats, motorcycles and helicopters, then move through zoo areas with deer, birds, kangaroos, bears, porcupines and other animals. Whitebeard’s Lake has paddle boats, koi and lemur islands.

The official site does not publish ride-by-ride height requirements, so call ahead when a specific ride matters to your child.

Plan four to six hours if the family wants rides, animals, a show and lunch. Arriving at opening leaves room to check the daily schedule before lines develop. Saturday stays open one hour later, but Monday, Thursday and Friday may be easier choices for families trying to avoid a weekend crowd. No official wait figures are available.

Most of the experience is outdoors, so heat, rain and mountain weather can change the day. Bring sun protection, water and light rain gear. The official pages do not explain stroller access, changing tables or nursing areas.

Confirm those details before visiting with a baby. Food is easy to handle on-site: the park lists sandwiches, pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fries, snacks, drinks and sweets at several counters. This is best planned as a full Cherokee outing rather than a short stop between other Asheville activities.