By Don Steen
Staff Writer n reporter@psci.net
The Santa Claus Museum & Village welcomed wresting legend Mick Foley, as well as Santa Claus, December 9. Foley was not the only celebrity to visit the museum last week, with at least one reality television show (that cannot be named at this time) filming at the unique Christmas landmark. Foley, however, is a very familiar face in the Town of Santa Claus and will remain so if he has anything to say about it.
Foley has worn many faces in his long career as a performer. He wrestled under a number of names and personas, from the hard-bitten “Cactus Jack” to the eerie “Mankind” to the affable hippie, “Dude Love”. Under any name, Foley was able and willing to pull off stunts that could make any spectator wince.
His legendary career earned Foley a place in the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. It also took its toll.
Foley has recently recovered from multiple surgeries, part of a long process of rehabilitation from the damage sustained in the ring. He details his path to recovery and his embrace of Christmas and the magic of Santa Claus in his book, Saint Mick: My Journey from Hardcore Legend to Santa’s Jolly Elf.
There’s no better place for a lover of Christmas and a consummate performer than the Town of Santa Claus, and Foley has made the town a regular stop in his travels. He credits Jim Yellig, a member of the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame, as an inspiration for how to put his performing skills to use in spreading the magic of Christmas.
Naturally, Foley spent much of his visit paying his respects to Yellig’s daughter, Chief Elf Pat Koch. The two held a working meeting in the back of the historic Santa Claus Post Office, where Koch and other elves were processing mail bound for the North Pole. Foley himself pitched in to help get letters where they needed to go.
His help was most welcome. Koch said more than 13,000 letters have been processed thus far, a record for this point in the year, and more are pouring in from all over the globe. Santa’s Elves have been working through their letter backlog since Halloween, far earlier than usual. Volunteers come dear this year.
Foley was pleased to report that he might be more available as a volunteer elf in the future. He’s recently purchased property in America’s Christmas Hometown. That was welcome news to Koch.
“I knew you were smart,” she said. “I didn’t know you were that smart.”
Foley’s been tapping into his old training ethic to prepare. He noted that his handwriting skills were lacking for a time, in no small part due to his injuries from wrestling. Fortunately, penmanship was a skill he could exercise even during his more extensive physical therapy. Getting to the point where he could write dozens of letters at a time was a milestone, and Foley has come to appreciate the written word all the more as a result.
“You can’t get that same feeling if it’s not written down,” he said.
Foley has made many friends since embracing the legend of Santa Claus, and works to keep up Christmas kayfabe for the children he meets. Indeed, he had a small crew on hand to take photos and video of the Town of Santa Claus to let his far-flung fan club know that there are still magical places out there.
Foley’s next stop on his current tour was Santa’s Reindeer Ranch on the west end of town, to make sure everything was ready for Christmas Eve. It’s a busy time of year for Santa Claus after all.
“This is the busiest year I’ve ever had,” said Foley. “Even when wrestling.”
Featured Image: It was a big day last Tuesday as the Santa Claus Museum and Village welcomed wrestling legend and Christmas enthusiast Mick Foley, as well as Santa himself, to America’s Christmas Hometown. Foley helped the Jolly Old Elf manage his incoming mail at the historic Post Office after visiting with the staff, including Chief Elf Pat Koch.
