Cruise on Lake CdA visits Santa’s workshop

It was dark ahead as the boat cruised over the choppy waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Suddenly, hundreds of little lights went on, spelling “Welcome to the North Pole” in big letters. Moments later, the boat arrived at Santa Claus’ workshop. Then Santa himself read the names of every child on the boat while Mrs. Claus looked on.

“You made it on Santa’s good list,” Spokane resident Dianah Toland told her 3-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, after Santa read her name.

More and more lights lit up after that, showcasing a winter wonderland on Duane Hagadone’s Casco Bay property. For the 10th year in a row, the Hagadone Corp. is offering boat cruises to show off the hundreds of light displays set up all over the Coeur d’Alene Resort and at Hagadone’s lakeside property. Friday’s cruise was a preview for media and Hagadone employees. Beginning Friday, cruises will be offered daily starting at 4:30 p.m. through Dec. 31.

“This is a wonderful tradition,” said Dennis Hall, who brought his 10-year-old daughter, Jayden, along on the cruise for the first time. “A lot of people make this part of their Christmas holiday.”

Hagadone Corp. president and co-owner Jerry Jaeger said 40,000 people went on the cruise last year.

“We sure are proud to have the Coeur d’Alene area be holiday headquarters,” Jaeger said. “It’s just special for kids.”

Toland said she’d heard about the lights and lake cruise before, but this was the first year she’d made the 30-minute drive.

“Now that I have a little one it’s important to do those Christmas traditions,” she said.

Matt and Amanda Weed, of Post Falls, brought their three children, 6-year-old Alex, 3-year-old Katie and 9-month old Allison. The Weeds’ first time on the cruise was after a rehearsal dinner for their wedding in 1998. They plan on making it a tradition.

“He was so excited that Santa said his name,” Amanda Weed said of her son, Alex.

“Yeah, you’re not going to get coal for Christmas,” Matt Weed said with a laugh, his hand atop his son’s head.

The name of each child who goes on the cruise boat is collected by employees, then radioed to Santa, who reads each aloud when the boat arrives at his workshop.

The cruise sees new additions each year, Jaeger said. This year, a 120-year-old living Christmas tree, standing 161 feet, lights up on Hagadone’s property.