Since 2013, Santa’s North Pole Experience has been spreading holiday cheer at the historic Cummins-Phipps-Grill House in Eden Prairie.
This season marks a new chapter as Arlyn Grussing, the beloved Santa who helped establish the experience, prepares to retire. Taking up the mantle is John Hall, a retired corporate trainer and longtime youth minister from Burnsville, who brings enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility to the cherished role.
Grussing, a retired city planner from Bloomington, has donned the red suit for 18 years. After five of his first six years as Santa at Eden Prairie Center mall, he said he became disheartened by its rushed, impersonal atmosphere. Seeking something more heartfelt, he set out to create a deeper connection with families.
That search led him to the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House, a historic property owned by the City of Eden Prairie and leased by the Historical Society. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house is preserved through rentals like Santa’s North Pole Experience. Its rustic setting along Pioneer Trail near Flying Cloud Airport drew Grussing in, offering the perfect backdrop for his vision of a meaningful holiday tradition.
“This house really creates the ambiance,” Grussing said, noting that Santa’s North Pole Experience attracts visitors from across the Twin Cities. “We bring in everything Christmas-related – decorations, toys, and more. It’s all ours, stored in big tubs. The house itself has its own charm; it’s great they were able to save it all those years ago.”
Families reserve appointments to meet Santa in the festive, ornament-filled house. Upstairs, children can color or watch Christmas movies, while downstairs features photo packages and holiday items for sale.
Grussing and Hall both emphasize that the experience prioritizes personal connection.
“It’s not just about the picture (with Santa),” Grussing said. “It’s about creating a memory families will carry with them.”
A year of change
This year has been especially difficult for Grussing. His wife, Bonnie, died in August, and his son, Brian, passed away last February. These heartbreaking losses, coupled with his approaching 80th birthday, prompted him to step back.
“I’m ready for 2024 to be over,” Grussing said. “But I’ve got great friends and a wonderful community around me. That’s what keeps me going.”
Grussing plans to work only on Sundays this season, focusing on longtime families who have been visiting him for years. Hall, who shared duties with Grussing last season, will handle all other appearances this year.
Next year, Hall will officially take over the business.
Grussing admits he’ll miss being Santa “big time.”
“I’m cutting back, doing some events at senior centers, but I don’t want to keep going until I’m frail,” he said. “I want to go out while I’m still on top of my game, able to have fun with the kids.”
Santa 2.0: Hall’s path to the red suit
Hall’s introduction to the Santa world came unexpectedly.
“Three years ago, my daughter teased me, saying, ‘Dad, grow your beard out and see how much you can look like Santa,’” Hall said. “So I did. Then some friends at my church said, ‘Hey, if you’re interested in being Santa, we know a professional Santa.’ They introduced me to Arlyn, and we had lunch. I was intrigued by his business.”
What began as a lighthearted suggestion quickly turned into a passion. After stepping in for Grussing a couple of times, Hall found himself falling in love with the role.
“I’ve always had an affinity for families, and Christmas is such a big part of that,” Hall said. “As Santa, I encourage families to connect – getting moms and dads to listen to their kids and vice versa. When Santa tells a child to be nice and listen to their parents, they take it seriously.”
Both men embody the quintessential image of Santa Claus: white beards, spectacles, red coats, black belts and boots, and, most importantly, a jolly disposition.
“He is Santa,” Hall said of Grussing. “You look at him, and you don’t even think of Arlyn – you just think Santa.”
Grussing is equally confident in Hall’s ability to carry on the tradition. “His heart is in the right place, and it’s been a smooth transition,” he said.
Hall also shared the unique challenges of growing the iconic beard. He explained that Grussing begins letting his grow in January, right after the holidays, while Hall starts in July.
“Arlyn’s beard is longer than mine, but I make it work,” Hall said with a laugh. “Honestly, it’s not my favorite thing – it’s itchy, especially when I’m working hard, and it gets matted with perspiration. But I do it for Santa.”
Moments of Santa magic
For Hall and Grussing, the most rewarding part of being Santa is connecting with children in meaningful ways. Hall recalls a young boy on the autism spectrum who initially avoided eye contact and touch but later ran back to give him a heartfelt hug – a moment that left a lasting impression.
“Moments like that remind me why I do this,” Hall said. “It’s not just about Christmas – it’s about love, joy, and connection.”
Grussing shared a similarly touching memory: a little girl once asked him to place flowers on her mother’s grave during his Christmas Eve rounds.
“That moment broke me,” Grussing said. “Sometimes, you just have to accept the moment without questioning it.”
Hall views his role as Santa as more than donning a red suit – it’s about preserving the fleeting innocence of childhood.
“If you don’t appreciate the joy of Christmas through the eyes of a child, you’re not going to enjoy being Santa,” Hall said. “But I love the mystery and the mystique of Christmas and want to help kids hold onto that.”
In today’s fast-paced world, Hall said, children are forced to grow up too quickly. “I was a kid until I was 13,” he said. “These days, kids are lucky if they stay kids until they’re 7 or 8. They’re exposed to so much – television, movies, the internet. There’s just too much information, and it’s overwhelming.”
Not every encounter is so emotional, though. Hall recounted a child asking for an alpaca.
“I don’t know why – maybe he just thought (alpacas) were fun,” Hall said. “But no, we don’t bring animals. My explanation is that they can’t survive the sleigh ride. I tell them, ‘I’d take them up in the sleigh, and they wouldn’t like it.’”
Looking ahead
As Santa’s North Pole Experience enters a new chapter, Grussing and Hall share a common purpose: bringing joy to children and families in a way that feels both timeless and meaningful.
“Being Santa comes with a lot of responsibility,” Hall said. “You don’t want to mess it up, create false expectations, or misrepresent the role. There’s a history of Santa that we’re required to know and follow.”
Grussing highlighted the role’s deeper significance, emphasizing its power to foster connection and tradition.
“People don’t realize how much belief, family, joy, love, and giving matter – it’s part of our culture,” he said. “We Santas are here to remind people of that. It’s about putting family first and focusing on love rather than hate.”
Santa’s North Pole Experience, held at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House (13600 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie), runs Fridays-Sundays on Dec. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, plus Monday, Dec. 23. Reservations are required at santasnorthpoleexperience.com.
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