As the sun sets over the Blue Ridge Mountains tonight, a decades-old tradition is taking flight. For many families in Western North Carolina, the magic of Christmas Eve, the cookies left by the hearth, the stockings hung with care, and the high-tech watch kept by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
This year marks a historic milestone: the 70th anniversary of NORAD Tracks Santa. What began as a happy accident in 1955 has turned into a global phenomenon, and for wnctimes readers, it remains the most reliable way to know exactly when to get the kids into bed.
A Tradition Born from a Wrong Number
The story is now legend. In 1955, a Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement in Colorado Springs misprinted a phone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching the North Pole, the calls went straight to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) operations hotline.
Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, the commander on duty, answered the first call from a child expecting to hear Saint Nick. Rather than hanging up, Shoup ordered his staff to check the radar for signs of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Today, that spirit of holiday wonder continues with over 1,000 volunteers answering hundreds of thousands of calls from around the world.
How to Follow Along Tonight
Whether you are in Asheville, Waynesville, or Hendersonville, you can join the watch using several high-tech "Santa Cams":
The Official Website: Visit noradsanta.org to see a 3D map of Santa’s current location, his next stop, and a running tally of gifts delivered.
The Santa Hotline: For a truly nostalgic experience, kids can call 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723). Live operators (and sometimes even military personnel) are available until midnight to give real-time coordinates.
Mobile Apps: The "NORAD Tracks Santa" app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, perfect for checking his progress while traveling to Christmas Eve services or family gatherings.
Smart Home Helpers: You can even ask Alexa or OnStar, "Where is Santa?" to get the latest update.
When Will He Reach WNC?
While NORAD’s "state-of-the-art" satellites—which actually track the heat signature of Rudolph’s red nose—can see the sleigh anywhere on Earth, Santa’s exact arrival time depends on one major factor.
"History shows that Santa arrives only when children are asleep," a NORAD spokesperson noted. Historically, St. Nick tends to visit our neck of the woods between 9:00 p.m. and midnight on December 24th. If he finds the little ones still awake, he simply circles back later once the house is quiet.
Making Memories
As we celebrate another year of community and joy here in Western North Carolina, tracking the "Big Guy" serves as a reminder of the magic that brings us together. So, keep your eyes on the horizon, keep the hot cocoa warm, and from all of us at wnctimes, have a very Merry Christmas!
WNCTimes