Final Farewell: Most Popular Ride at Santa’s Village in New Hampshire Closes October 31

Wow. It's the end of a 35-year tradition.  It's never easy to see a much-loved tradition go by the wayside, and that's exactly what's happening at Santa's Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire.  Yes, Santa's Village is bidding farewell to one of its most popular rides this fall, which means it's time to take those last rides.

As amusement and theme park season winds down, a favorite in New England is the 23 rides at Santa's Village, with mostly Christmas or winter-themed names designed for the little ones and pre-teens.  Rudy's Rapid Transit Roller Coaster, which twists and turns through the trees of the park, is officially going into retirement at the end of October, 2023.  Kids and adults climb and then descend 26 feet on a double-figure-eight track with multiple dips and turns at up to 22 mph.

According to Santa's Village, this is the time to ride Rudy’s and feel like you're flying with the reindeer, except without the whole "traveling the whole world in 24 hours" thing that Santa does every Christmas Eve.

What an end to an era, as Rudy’s has been at Santa’s Village since 1988, according to the website. And all you have to do is jump on Facebook to see the comments of disbelief and sadness.  However, the good news is that something new will take its place.  According to Santa's Village, just like when the Great Humbug Adventure was retired for a beautiful modern ride, Rudy's, too, will eventually be the home of something fresh and modern.