You don’t have to catch a ride with Santa to get to the North Pole this year — a new holiday experience will take you there while also benefiting a local charity.
The Hilton Anatole has partnered with LTDM Entertainment to give North Texans a first-class ticket to the North Pole with an all-new, indoor immersive experience, North Pole Adventure. Hilton Anatole and North Pole Adventure have partnered with Operation Bliss to donate a portion of ticket sales to the organization.
From December 8 to December 30, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily, the young and the young-at-heart are invited to an all-new indoor holiday immersive experience, the North Pole Adventure.
“This is a spectacular artistic experience filled with holiday wishes,” Beverly Anderson, the Anatole hotel manager, told The Dallas Express.
Dozens of family-friendly activities will have you and your loved ones visiting the Elf Academy, Cookie Factory, Reindeer Stables, Candy Cane Lane, Tunnel of Lights, and the North Pole Mail Room with Letters to Santa.
Guests to the North Pole Adventure will go behind the scenes of Santa’s Workshop, stand in awe at the Life Size Snow Globe, take a photo in Santa’s Sleigh, and visit the Toyland Marionette Theater.
But you better watch out; Santa Claus is “making a list and checking it twice; gonna find out who’s naughty and nice.” Guests can check if their name is on the Naughty or Nice List.
For adults, add the array of holiday cocktails to the Nice List. Robert Aurnhammer, the hotel’s senior food and beverage manager, told The Dallas Express that he enjoys “taking classic cocktails and adding a nostalgic and familiar twist — in this case, a holiday twist.” Specialty drinks such as the Texan Reindeer (vodka, sugar plum, ginger, lime), the Snowflake (vodka, chocolate, vanilla), and The Nutcracker (bourbon, walnut, pecan, hazelnut) are just a few of Anatole’s Nice List drinks.
The kids are not left out of the unique holiday beverage experience, as Aurnhammer has created Holiday Juice, a fruity punch hand-squeezed by Santa’s Elves, served in a take-home, light-up Christmas tree ornament.
Culinary delights will wow your eyes and your palate. Anatole’s executive chef, Arnaud Masset, told The Dallas Express, “I am from France — food is everything,” adding, “I like to eat and eat well.” Chef Masset takes great pride in his work and his team, referring to their culinary creations as art. One look and bite of any of his masterpieces, such as the Butternut Squash Bisque Shooters with smoked gouda gougères and Maple Bourbon Chicken Lollipops with toasted pecans and green onions, and you will agree.
Beverages and food are not the only masterpieces to enjoy while visiting the Anatole. Bruce Roy, general manager for the hotel, told The Dallas Express, “History is here, as the hotel is also curated as a museum. There are not many places you can go to the North Pole and see two huge pieces of the Berlin Wall.”
Since the hotel’s opening in 1979, the 45-acre property has been privately owned by the Crow family. The hotel’s proximity to the heart of Dallas encourages community while providing around-the-world experiences with its vast collection of over 1,000 art and museum pieces.
Olivia Stack, director of marketing for the Anatole, told The Dallas Express that this time of year is extra special for the hotel, as guests enjoy everything from art to entertainment. “We have activated the whole hotel for the holidays. There is something for all ages,” Stack said.
Different ticket packages are available for Christmas at the Anatole. A standard ticket allows entry to the North Pole tour, the Letter to Santa Station, North Pole Mini Golf, Adventure Map and Prize Redemption, Selfie Stations, and the Snow Globe Photo Station. Standard ticket pricing ranges from $49 for adults to $39 for children 3 – 17. Discounts are offered to active military with ID and seniors over 60. Children under the age of three are free.
Additional ticket packages include the Memory Maker Pass, the Golden Ticket, the Operation Bliss Donation Ticket, and the Operation Donation Ticket Family Pass. Detailed information about all the ticket options can be found here.
The North Pole Adventure operates on a timed entry system and launches tours every 10 to 15 minutes, with the last entry at 6:30 p.m. Visitors usually spend 60 to 90 minutes inside the holiday extravaganza. The Hilton Anatole is located at 2201 N. Stemmons Freeway in Dallas.
Operation Bliss is a nonprofit organization that provides a memorable experience to children who have been medically discharged and are on the path to recovery in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The organization partners with hotels such as the Hilton Anatole to offer a free stay for the family, which includes accommodation, food and drinks, personalized gifts, and local activities. Please visit their website to learn more about Operation Bliss and how you can help children celebrate along their journey.