Holiday Magic: Free payphone offers calls straight to Santa

Darien, Ga. (WTOC) - A 114-year-old family operated business in Darien has been celebrating Christmas with their community for years. This year, they’ve added something new to one of their oldest “attractions”.

Darien Telephone Company has one of the last few working payphones in the state of Georgia. The folks inside thought they’d dress it up for the holidays and let young and old call Santa for free.

Mary Lou Forsyth, Darien Telephone Company President, told WTOC from time to time, people actually use the phone to make a call, however, “Most of the time they stop and take pictures because they don’t even know what it is.”

You can dial the special phone number and Santa will answer with a “Ho Ho Ho” and a message for you: “This is Santa Claus and you have reached my person hotline.”

“It’s just fun to watch them to see how they’re smiling, when they talk to him.” Said Forsyth.

She prides herself on the people inside the company her parents started in 1911, “We’ve had grandparents of current employees work here. Everything is family oriented, and like the community too, we love all the people here in the county, and try to give back when we can.”

Carley Spinks, a 6th grader, called Santa. She said, ““I really liked coming out here today because it’s like really fun to do and I love everybody who works here; they’re all super nice.”

This year Carley has a big ask for for Santa, “I asked for six of seven Maltese dogs.”

Not only can you call Santa now at Darien Telephone, for years they’ve been hosting elementary school students at their Santa Land, a hand built winter wonderland walk through!

Mary Lou says, “It’s worth it, worth it to see the kids so happy.”

And connecting Good Ole Saint Nick through a little time machine to the delight of young and old.

“We love watching the kids come here talk to Santa, and when they’re so little, their momma’s down on the ground, and the little kids have the phone to the ear.” said Mary Lou

Not only is this just one of a handful of payphones in the state of Georgia, last check in 2024 there were only 100 thousand left in the entire United States.