The National Christmas Center is closed to the public for the off-season and will reopen in November 2025.
Please contact us for more information or to book group trips during the off-season at 1-717-902-9791 or info@stonegablesestate.com.
The story of the National Christmas Center is the story of an eight-year-old little boy named Jim who was touched by the Lord with a mission: to tell the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ, our Savior. Jim’s heart and passion grew throughout the years as he amassed a world-class exhibit that told the real story of Christmas throughout the centuries. From St. Nicholas and St. Francis, with now over 1,250 nativities from around the world, to Tudor Towne and amazing storefronts representing the town of Columbia, Pennsylvania, all bring awe and wonder to the little boy and little girl in each of us.
Facing the closing of his world renowned and beloved National Christmas Center, Jim asked the Lord to bring another to carry on the dream and keep the collection together in Lancaster County. That prayer was answered by David Abel, Steward of Stone Gables Estate. His mission is to bring God all honor, all glory and praise through all the endeavors of Stone Gables Estate. Thus, the National Christmas Center was a perfect fit. David likes to say, “If you can’t write the script, then God’s at work,” and nobody could have written the script of the National Christmas Center at Stone Gables Estate.
Jim and David now work together to reconstruct this national treasure expressing the true meaning of Christmas with the world. It is their prayer that every person visiting the National Christmas Center will truly experience the living Lord through the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas. Celebrate with us the birth of Jesus Christ.
Sincerely,
David Z. Abel
& Jim Morrison
The story of the National Christmas Center is the story of an eight-year-old little boy named Jim who was touched by the Lord with a mission: to tell the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ, our Savior. Jim’s heart and passion grew throughout the years as he amassed a world-class exhibit that told the real story of Christmas throughout the centuries. From St. Nicholas and St. Francis, with now over 1,250 nativities from around the world, to Tudor Towne and amazing storefronts representing the town of Columbia, Pennsylvania, all bring awe and wonder to the little boy and little girl in each of us.
Facing the closing of his world renowned and beloved National Christmas Center, Jim asked the Lord to bring another to carry on the dream and keep the collection together in Lancaster County. That prayer was answered by David Abel, Steward of Stone Gables Estate. His mission is to bring God all honor, all glory, and praise through all the endeavors of Stone Gables Estate; thus, the National Christmas Center was a perfect fit. David likes to say, “If you can’t write the script, then God’s at work,” and nobody could have written the script of the National Christmas Center at Stone Gables Estate.
Jim and David now work together to reconstruct this national treasure expressing the true meaning of Christmas with the world. It is their prayer that every person visiting the National Christmas Center will truly experience the living Lord through the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas. Celebrate with us the birth of Jesus Christ.
Sincerely,
David Z. Abel
& Jim Morrison
Please call for more information 717-902-9791
On January 7, 2018, the National Christmas Center of Paradise, Pennsylvania, closed its doors. For over 19 years, this 22,000-square foot beloved tourist destination shared the magic of Christmas, both religious and secular, its memories, its history, and its traditions with thousands of visitors.
Jim Morrison, founder, curator, and historian of the center, along with his business partner, Dave Murtaugh, began a search for someone who could purchase the center’s Christmas collections and keep the spirit of Christmas alive by continuing to share these treasures with others. Their prayers were answered, and the search ended when, in October, 2018, Stone Gables Estate purchased the entire Christmas collection, one of the largest collections of historical Christmas memorabilia in the United States. Morrison, who is referred to as the “Keeper of Christmas,” comes with the collection to Stone Gables Estate. He will continue to play an integral role in the resurrection of the National Christmas Center at Stone Gables Estate.
On January 7, 2018, the National Christmas Center of Paradise, Pennsylvania, closed its doors. For over 19 years, this 22,000-square foot beloved tourist destination shared the magic of Christmas, both religious and secular, its memories, its history, and its traditions with thousands of visitors.
Jim Morrison, founder, curator, and historian of the center, along with his business partner, Dave Murtaugh, began a search for someone who could purchase the center’s Christmas collections and keep the spirit of Christmas alive by continuing to share these treasures with others. Their prayers were answered, and the search ended when, in October, 2018, Stone Gables Estate purchased the entire Christmas collection, one of the largest collections of historical Christmas memorabilia in the United States. Morrison, who is referred to as the “Keeper of Christmas,” comes with the collection to Stone Gables Estate. He will continue to play an integral role in the resurrection of the National Christmas Center at Stone Gables Estate.
In early 2019, the Christmas collection was carefully packed, loaded onto numerous tractor trailers, and transported to a climate-controlled area where much of the collection has been and continues to be monitored, cleaned, restored, and put in full working order.
The permanent home of the National Christmas Center will be housed in 40,000 S.F. of the future restored Barns of Belmont. The main 120’ x 60’, four-and-one-half story 1867 Belmont barn and its associated structures, located along Fruitville Pike in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, were threatened by impending development. In 2014, Stone Gables Estate acquired these structures. The buildings were carefully disassembled in 2015, cataloged, and moved into temporary storage. The Barns of Belmont is a multi-year endeavor.
Stone Gables Estate
1 Hollinger Lane
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
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Phone: 1-717-902-9791