The holiday season is truly one of the best times to be in the Cleveland area. Between the Christmas light displays and incredible holiday themed attractions, the whole month of December is enough to make even the biggest Grinch’s heart grow 3 sizes.
So after you’ve had your fill of the famed Christmas Story House and been charmed by the decadence of the Stan Hywet mansion dressed up in holiday decor, it’s time to check out one of the best places to feel like a kid again: Castle Noel!
Castle Noel was founded back in 2013 by Mark Klaus (yes, that is his real name!) in Medina, Ohio. An abandoned church was transformed into a nostalgia-inducing Christmas explosion of a museum. And, let’s be honest: we’re all here for it.
Mr. Klaus himself is a real-life Santa, with his jolly expression and long white beard. His love for the holiday stems from his own childhood; he claims that his father was exactly like Clark Griswold when it came to Christmas.
Now you can visit this incredible museum in Medina, about 45 minutes from Cleveland. It’s full of all kinds of Christmas displays, including old holiday movie memorabilia, toys from yesteryear, and even famous New York department store’s Christmas window displays.
Ready to visit this amazing museum? Let’s talk all about what you need to know before exploring Castle Noel!
How Castle Noel Works
First, let’s talk about the overall experience at Castle Noel. Everyone visiting has to book a spot on a tour (there are both public and private tours available). Tours last 2 hours, and are jam-packed with things to see across two buildings.
You’ll start out in the gift shop with an introduction video about Castle Noel, and then you’ll move out into the outdoor courtyard area (where the RV from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation sits), and eventually enter the converted church where most of the displays are.
You’ll move through the different sections of the museum with a guide, who will tell you all about the various props, costumes, and window displays that you’re seeing.
There are some video clips to watch along the way, as well as some required audience participation – that, yes, includes singing some Christmas carols! Just come prepared with your Christmas spirit and I promise you’ll have a good time.
8 Must-Sees at Castle Noel
If you’re wondering what to expect inside the museum itself, here are all our favorite things to see at Castle Noel:
1. Movie Memorabilia
Love Christmas movies? Castle Noel is full of incredible Christmas movie memorabilia. Some favorites include Buddy the Elf’s costume from the movie Elf, the Grinch’s sleigh, the Christmas Vacation RV, and even the snowman from Christmas With the Kranks.
There are several costumes and props from your favorite holiday movies that you’ll want to see here. The last room you’ll visit is chock full of fun props and movie costumes from lots of holiday films, from The Grinch to The Santa Clause to even Jingle All the Way!
2. New York Holiday Storefront Displays
The iconic Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales window displays are a huge reason to visit NYC during the holiday season.
But if you can’t get to the Big Apple during the month of December, Castle Noel has millions of dollars worth of old window displays to admire! Each window display came straight from NYC, and you’ll see a short video showing how Mark and his team went about getting these and bringing them to Medina.
We’re talking display after display with animated dancers, twirling gumdrops, and elaborately designed figures! They don’t really do displays as intricate and delightful as these in NYC any longer, so it’s incredible that Castle Noel has saved so many of them.
These displays are always a favorite part of the tour for everyone.
3. Blizzard Vortex
This is a bit trippy, but the Blizzard Vortex makes you feel like you’re in a dizzying blizzard as you walk through a seemingly-spinning tube with light-projected snowflakes swirling around you. (Nothing is actually spinning, but you’ll certainly feel like it is!)
You’ll pass through this vortex in order to go “back in time” to when you were a kid.
4. Vintage Toy Display
The toys of holidays past are on display in one section of the museum, which has grown over the last few years to include thousands of toys. Reminisce on your childhood or awaken your inner child as you admire board games, toys, and figurines that you will definitely recognize.
So whether you miss your Easy Bake Oven or tin lunch box, there are items from the 50’s through the 80’s on display!
5. Santa’s Chimney Squeeze
Ever wondered what it would feel like to squeeze down through a chimney like Old St. Nick? At Castle Noel, you’ll be able to squish your way through “Santa’s Chimney Squeeze” (an inflatable half-tunnel that you squeeze through) and find out just how this jolly man delivers toys for the good girls and boys.
Above your head in this room a ceiling completely covered in over 75,000+ sparkly ornaments and baubles.
6. Gingerbread Theater
Still a work-in-progress, you’ll stop at the new Gingerbread Theater to sit on gingerbread benches and watch animatronics perform a little Christmas “concert.” At the end, a huge gingerbread house rises up from the stage floor.
Almost everything in this room (with the exception of the benches and the performing characters) has been hand-made by Mark himself. It’s so impressive!
7. Santa Slide
The Grand Hall inside Castle Noel is filled with tons of Christmas movie memorobilia. But by far the most famous thing here is the Santa Slide from the classic Christmas film A Christmas Story.
And just like Ralphie, you can take a ride down this slide!! Everyone gets a chance to ride down on a rug, after being pushed down by an “angry elf.”
They even have a Wall of Fame for riders over 80; so far, the oldest child at heart was 101.5 years old!
During the holiday season, Santa is even sitting at the top of the slide for photos, just like in A Christmas Story.
8. Gift Shop
Last, but certainly not least, you have to pop by the gift shop after your visit. For starters, there are a lot of incredible things to purchase from ornaments to hoodies.
Mark Klaus also has his famous sculptures available for purchase!
Tips for Visiting Castle Noel
If you’re planning to visit Castle Noel, check out these tips below!
1. Castle Noel Admission and Hours
Did you know that Castle Noel is actually open year-round? It is known as “America’s largest indoor year-round Christmas entertainment attraction!”
So while it is incredibly popular around the holiday season, you can actually go throughout the year.
Hours vary by time of year, but they are always closed on Mondays, with rare exceptions. They typically are open between 12:30-3 p.m. outside of the holidays, but are open extended hours (with many more tours available) in November and December.
Also, you’ll need to book your tour tickets in advance. This can be done online here. Tours last 2 hours, and are fully guided.
Admission for adults is $27.95-$29.95 and children 12 and under is $23.95-$24.95. There are small discounts for seniors and military. Private tours are also available.
Parking onsite is readily available and free in several surface parking lots, and there is also street parking and a parking garage nearby.
2. Prepare to be on your feet
The guided tour of Castle Noel lasts up to 2 hours, and you’ll have trouble deciding where to look next! Know that you’ll be moving and on your feet for the majority of the tour.
Is Castle Noel accessible? YES, there’s now a lift to take guests with mobility needs from the first floor to the second floor, so the whole museum is now wheelchair-friendly.
3. Kids at Castle Noel
Kids of all ages are welcome on tours of Castle Noel. But is Castle Noel kid-friendly? I’ve visited multiple times now, and there have always been kids on my tours. Personally, though, I don’t think this is the best experience for really young kids. There’s a lot of standing around, and a lot of looking at costumes and static displays that younger kids probably won’t care about.
I’d say kids 8+ who have seen lots of classic Christmas movies will enjoy this museum the most.
4. Want More Fun? Check out Alien Vacation MiniGolf!
This 3D MiniGolf is co-located with Castle Noel, so for even more fun, you can enjoy the freaky experience of this out-of-this-world minigolf.
Guests who do both Castle Noel and Alien Vacation Mini-Golf on the same day will get $2 off their tickets.
The price for minigolf is $12.50. Children 3 and under are free.
READ NEXT: Your Guide to Visiting the Christmas Story House in Cleveland
Whether you’re searching for things to do in Cleveland during the holiday season or you want to feel the spirit of Christmas mid-year, Castle Noel is a lovely place to feel the magic of Christmas as well as the nostalgia from years past.
Would you visit Castle Noel in Medina? What would you most like to see there?
Kat is a Cleveland transplant and has lived here for over 5 years. She loves to eat, drink, and explore all across the city, and has made it her personal mission to find the best breweries and pizza in Northeast Ohio. She also runs a couples travel blog and podcast called World Wide Honeymoon.
Is the castle handicap accessible? Do you rent motorized carts?
Their website says the first floor is wheelchair accessible, but the second floor is not – they have a video you can watch about the exhibits on the second floor, but it unfortunately is not otherwise accessible for wheelchair users. They do not have any carts to rent, but they do offer walkers with built-in seats for anyone with less severe mobility issues who can still navigate stairs. (I’m not an employee or representative of Castle Noel, though; I’m just reporting what is stated in the FAQ on their website.)
Is Castle Noel accessible? YES, there’s now a lift to take guests with mobility needs from the first floor to the second floor, so the whole museum is now wheelchair-friendly.
Oh that’s great to hear!