This roadside attraction is not a town or other administrative location, but simply a name for a business along U. S. Highway 101 catering to tourists interested in purchasing Christmas themed souvenirs during their travels in southern California.
The description states:
SANTA CLAUS IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA
On Highway 101 where the mountains meet the sea.
– TOYLAND –
Santa’s Wonderland by the sea.
–The business location on Highway 101 proved initially very profitable, but when the Interstate Highway system replaced such older highways for inter-city travel, business declined significantly. This business was located on Santa Claus Lane in Carpenteria, California, but has closed, though the Santa atop the far building was preserved and made a landmark.
The car shown indicates this image is from the 1950s.
Tag: postcard
California Coastline in Spring
This image calls out the season to highlight the abundance of flowering plants along the California coastline. Almost all the yellow and white coloring mixed among the green is from blooming flowers.
The description states:
SPRING ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST. The general Pacific Coast shoreline, from Mexico to the Canadian border, measures 1366 miles in length. The first white man to view the Pacific from our shoreline was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and the crews from his ships the San Salvador and the Victoria that sailed into the bay of San Diego Sept. 28, 1542. The blue water and yellows, reds and purples of flower bloom that grow along the seashore are breath-taking beyond description.
–While this is a typical view of the coastline at many points, the type of shoreline varies extensively, from rocky settings such as this to pristine white sand beaches.
This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.
Pacific Shoreline View, California
This image is an otherwise unidentified view of the Pacific Ocean from some location along the central California coast.
The only description on the back of the card is: Shores of the Pacific
–Such rocks as are visible in the left foreground are common habitat for seabirds. Where the rocks have an easy sea-level access, it can also provide resting or breeding grounds for sea lions, seals or sea elephants.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Little Sur River and Lagoon
This image shows the mouth of the Little Sur River as it enters the Pacific Ocean. It drains the Los Padres National Forest, which contains many examples of endangered species and stands of old-growth redwood trees.
The description states:
LITTLE SUR RIVER AND LAGOON
State Hwy #1 on the Monterey Scenic Coast
–The Big Sur region, parks, Little Sur river and adjacent areas are located in the southern end of Monterey County. This lagoon changes form with the seasons, as the river’s flow increases or decreases with the winter rains.
This card was used and is dated 6 July 1955.
Pfeiffer State Beach, California
This image shows a natural bridge formation created from erosion by wave action against the rocky promontory. It is part of the Pfeiffer State Beach, in Big Sur, California. The beach has since been renamed Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
The description states:
PFEIFFER STATE BEACH
Near Big Sur, California this popular beach is noted not only for its expansive sandy beaches, but also for its interesting rock formations.
–Not shown here but also very notable is McWay Falls, an 80 foot drop to the beach below, visible from the roadside above. This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.
Bixby Creek Bridge, California
Undoubtedly the most popular bridge in the world for automobile advertisements, the Bixby Creek bridge is the longest of many bridges across the canyons that cut into the California coastline along the route of California State Highway 1.
The description states:
BIXBY BRIDGE
This graceful structure spans the creek of the same name on Highway #1 on the Monterey Coast.
–The bridge was built in 1932, and continues to be one of the tallest concrete arch bridges in the world. This postcard was used and is dated 6 July 1955.
Coastline Along California Highway 1
This image shows a sample of the scenic rocky coastline which can be viewed along much of the Pacific Coast Highway, known officially as California Highway 1.
The description states:
CALIFORNIA’S SCENIC STATE HIGHWAY NO. 1
One of the most beautiful and picturesque highways in the world. Although packed with views and thrills for the nature lover, modern engineering has made the highway very safe to drive.
–Such rocks as these are often habitat for sea birds and marine mammals, during certain seasons of the year. This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.
Rocky Cliff Edges of the Pacific Coast Highway, California
This image shows more clearly the height of the road above the ocean, and the sheer drop from the road edge to the water. The thin grey line at the upper right of the image is a portion of the guard rail for the outer lane of the road. This railing is not present continuously, however.
The description on this card is the same as the previous posting:
CALIFORNIA’S SCENIC STATE HIGHWAY NO. 1
This picturesque highway is safe to drive, though for over 66 miles there isn’t a straight or level stretch of road more than 100 yards long.
–This is a common condition along the highway both south of Carmel, California, and north of Bodega Bay, where the road is at the cliff edge for many miles.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
California Pacific Coast Highway Scene
This image shows a view of the Pacific Coast Highway from a vantage point along the road. Since the coastline is on the left, this is a south-looking view.
The description states:
CALIFORNIA’S SCENIC STATE HIGHWAY NO. 1
This picturesque highway is safe to drive, though for over 66 miles there isn’t a straight or level stretch of road more than 100 yards long.
–This condition of the road as described above was a result of having built this section along the cliff edges that descend directly into the ocean. At times there are drops of several hundred feet from the road edge, which is only a few feet from the lane of traffic and often without guard rails.
This card was used and is dated 27 June 1955.
Highway 1, California
This is an image of the world famous Pacific Coast Highway, which winds along the shoreline of California for most of the state’s length. As a result, the scenery of the coastal hills, forests and ocean are experienced almost non-stop.
The description states:
CALIFORNIA COAST HIGHWAY 1
Rugged shoreline in the Lime Kiln area south of Carmel and Big Sur.
–The Lime Kiln State Park is along the central California coast, south of the population center of the Monterey Bay, and even south of the state park at Big Sur. It is 56 miles south of Carmel, and 2 miles south of Lucia.
This card was used and is dated 14 June 1979.