Santa’s Enchanted Forest Faces Uncertain Future After Four Decades

For nearly 40 years, Santa’s Enchanted Forest was a beloved staple of the Christmas season in South Florida. The event began in 1991 and at its peak, it drew more than a million visitors per season. From the beginning, it called Tropical Park home. In March 2020, the original lease expired, and since then the event has bounced between two temporary locations while still searching for a new “forever home.”

Entrance of Santa's Enchanted Forest (Photo: Santa's Enchanted Forest)

When the lease ended, Miami-Dade County chose not to renew it, despite the event’s enormous popularity. After Tropical Park, Santa’s Enchanted Forest moved to Hialeah Park for two seasons, but the site brought significant logistical challenges—including far less parking and a much smaller footprint. The event later relocated to a vacant lot in the town of Medley. That location offered more space yet came with its own problems: poor visibility from major roads and a site reportedly near a waste-to-energy facility and landfill. These constant moves affected not only attendance but also the brand’s identity and emotional connection with visitors.

In October 2024, organizers announced that—for the first time in nearly four decades—Santa’s Enchanted Forest would not open during the holiday season. “We will … reflect on four magical decades of cherished memories and plan for the future,” their Instagram post read. For countless South Florida families, the park had become an unbreakable tradition, so the news sparked immediate questions: Is this just a temporary hiatus? Is it gone for good? What about 2025? As of now, no official reopening date has been announced.

Many fans remain cautiously optimistic, yet the repeated relocations have eroded both the nostalgic attachment to the original Tropical Park site and the practical ease of attending. For Santa’s Enchanted Forest to stage a meaningful comeback, it will need a stable, long-term venue, solutions to past logistical headaches, and a renewed effort to rebuild its nostalgic appeal.

For the moment, South Florida’s largest Christmas celebration remains on hiatus—not permanently closed, but without a home or a clear timeline. After thriving for decades as one of Miami’s most cherished holiday landmarks, the event now faces an uncertain path forward. Whether it returns stronger than ever or evolves into something new remains to be seen, but the anticipation—and the memories—endure.