strathy
down memory lane - Nov 14 1975
Santa Claus Land opens at Aviemore
Santa Claus Land and the Aviemore Highland craft centre – the latest addition
to the Aviemore Centre – were opened on Wednesday by Sir Andrew Gilchrist,
chairman of the Highlands and Islands Development Board.
The new projects were the idea of Mr Morris Marshall, Managing Director of
the Centre. Open all year round they will be added attractions at the holiday
complex.
Both were given financial backing by the HIDB, and were described by Sir
Andrew as an important step in the development of Aviemore.
He said he was sure that Santa Claus Land would be an automatic success with
visitors bringing their families to the Highlands.
Sir Andrew commented: “A facility such as Santa Claus Land is to be
considered as an asset to the valley as a whole, and not merely to Aviemore.”
It was appropriate, he added, that the craft centre should be developed in
Aviemore because for the past five years it had been the venue for the Highland
Trade Fair – an event which no commercial buyer of crafts could afford to miss.
The idea behind Santa Claus Land is to bring alive the marvel of Christmas
morning to its visitors. Santa is in permanent residence.
Other attractions on the six-acre site include a grotto, sleigh rides, drive-
yourself veteran cars, a doll’s house, toy factory and a gingerbread house,
Santa’s “Ok Corral” pony ride, cowboy trail with cacti, totem poles and
longhorns, an official post office, a “North Pole” permanently ice-covered, a
fairyland and crazy golf.
The Aviemore Highland craft centre is in two-storey buildings in the form of
a village square following architectural tradition, with stepped gables, and
harled in Skye marble chippings to emphasise the old effect. It has 13 shop
workshop units, and six modern two bedroom flats above the shops.
The intention of the Craft Centre is to maintain the ancient skills and
heritage of the Highlands.
In it resident craftsmen will be seen working at various trades and crafts
such as metalwork, weaving, jewellery, wood carving, engraving and pottery. Its
products will be for sale.
The Aviemore Centre
Aviemore had been a quiet little village until the 1960s when it underwent a
major period of growth following the development of the Cairngorm ski areas
from 1961. This led to the opening of the Aviemore Centre in 1966. This
provided a wide range of services for visitors and residents alike.
Unfortunately, the new centre dwarfed the village and much of its 1960s
concrete-based architecture was out of keeping with the rest of the area. In
around 1998 many of the original buildings were demolished as part of a
promised £50 million overhaul of the resort.
This photograph shows the public area outside the Osprey Room and theatre.
Aviemore Highland resort
Putting green in the touristy area of Aviemore.
Spey Valley and Cairngorms in the background.
Aviemore Centre, Go-Kart Track
Aviemore had been a quiet little village until the 1960s when it underwent a
major period of growth following the development of the Cairngorm ski areas
from 1961. This led to the opening of the Aviemore Centre in 1966. This
provided a wide range of services for visitors and residents alike.
Unfortunately, the new centre dwarfed the village and much of its 1960s
concrete-based architecture was out of keeping with the rest of the area. In
around 1998 many of the original buildings were demolished as part of a
promised £50 million overhaul of the resort.
This photograph shows the "Kart Raceway" track with some of the
self-catering accommodation behind.
This photograph shows people skiing on the slopes outside the Strathspey
Hotel (I think it was the Wednesday of half term week, overnight snow had made
the road to Cairngorm very difficult for minbuses)
Santa Claus Land
The highlight of childhood visits to Aviemore in the 1970s, this theme park
was revived for a few years in the 1990s but is now a derelict ruin. This
photo of the wishing well and Santa's workshop was taken from the site of
the now-demolished Gingerbread House and Craft Village.
The North Pole!
All that remains of the North Pole at the derelict Santa Claus Land theme
park is the base, including the motor that presumably made the now-missing
pole rotate.
Aviemore Speyside Station
In the early years of the Strathspey Railway, British Rail refused access to
Aviemore station. As a result, the society had to construct its own station.
The buildings came from the closed station at Dalnaspidal. The preserved
railway opened to passengers in 1978. In 1990, plans to redevelop the
Aviemore Centre and improve tourist facilities in the area resulted in a
deal being reached with Railtrack to use platform 3 of the mainline station.
With refurbishment of the mainline station completed and services operating
from there, Aviemore Speyside Station closed in 1998.
Tunnel under the A9
Aviemore Ring Cairn & Stone Circle
This ceremonial gathering place is around 4,000 years old. Only the outer
ring is visible now, as the central part of the site has been covered up.
Coylumbridge Hotel in 1967
The hotel lies just off the B970 and is now known as the Hilton Coylumbridge
