Adorable Vintage Santa Claus Land Photo Discovered at Indiana Thrift Store

If you love to thrift, you are rather familiar with the thrill of the hunt. You're searching through bins of old junk, and all of a sudden you discover something VERY cool. Something rare that isn't made anymore, a nostalgic toy from your childhood, or a piece of local history.

Every once in a while, you come across a treasure that feels like it was accidentally discarded. A family heirloom or photograph that is too special to leave on the shelf. Yesterday, I saw a post on Facebook from a man named Brian. He shared this photo and asked, "Anyone recognize this family or is it just an old school stock photo?"

Brian Harvey

His daughter Sophia purchased a vintage picture frame from World Wide Mission in Evansville, Indiana. It is a massive thrift store with rows and rows of everything from clothes to electronics to home decor, books, toys, and seasonal items. Anyway, this photo was discovered in the frame.

Isn't it ADORABLE?! Look at those sweet silly faces! Do you think their mama gave them permission to act goofy, or do you think she was begging them to smile pretty like I have to do with my kid? I guess it's good to know that kids being uncooperative for nice photos has been a problem since the 1950s. That cute Santa seems to be in on the gag though, so maybe it was planned?

Anyway, unless you live under a rock, you know that Santa Claus Land was the original name for Holiday World. For years and years, families have honored the annual tradition of going to Santa Claus, Indiana, to take that classic photo with the man himself.

The fact that the year is handwritten on the border makes me think this is an actual family's merry momento. Probably sold by the photographer or the park? Brian has shared this amazing find in a special group for Holiday World fans, but hasn't gotten any bites from anyone who knows who this is.

Unless my math is whack, the kids in the photo would probably all be in their 70s now. Since their photo was donated to an Evansville thrift store, I am going to assume they are from that same area code, but you never know!

Do you know who these cutie pies are? Could you share to help us find them? If these were your loved ones, wouldn't you want this picture back in the fam? It needs to be hung in a place of honor every Christmas!

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