Unwrapping the Magic: 8 Surprising Facts About Frankenmuth’s Bronner’s

If you live in Michigan you know exactly how lucky we are to be able to experience Christmas any time of year with just a trip to Frankenmuth. That's where it can be 80 degrees outside, but inside the doors of Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland is full-on holiday magic.

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The pride of Frankenmuth, and pretty much the state, is the largest Christmas store in the world, Bronner's. Embracing the title with pride, the store is a major tourist attraction, and for many families throughout the state, a family holiday tradition.

Whether you're a Christmas fanatic or just looking to add a touch of festive cheer to your life, Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland is an experience like no other. From its sheer size to the heartwarming displays, it's a place where the holiday spirit lives year-round!

Here's 8 Things You May Not Know About Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland:

Bronner's is the Largest Christmas Store in the World by Far

Wally Bronner opened Bronner's back in 1945. There were three original salesrooms; the Main Salesroom (1954), Tannenbaum Shop (1966), and Bavarian Corner (1971). They consolidated when the current building opened in 1977.  Bronner's showroom today covers 2.2 acres, which equals 1.7 football fields. The artistic and festive grounds cover 27 acres, with additional building space covering 7.35 acres.

It Costs Thousands to Keep Christmas Going All Year Long

Lights, lights, and more lights. Bronner's features 100,000 lights along their  ½-mile-long Christmas Lane that are lit every evening from dusk until midnight in addition to all the tree and decoration lights inside the building. So how much does it cost to keep all those lights on each day? The electrical bill for Bronner's averages about $1250 PER DAY. Yikes.

Each Tree On Display at Bronner's Has a Nativity Scene

The showroom at Bronner's features more than 300 decorated trees. Although trees are done in a variety of themes, colors, and nationalities, one thing is constant on each tree. As a nod to the Bronner family's strong Christian faith, there is a Nativity represented on every tree.

How Many People Visit Bronner's Every Year?

It's one of those places where you will see people in the holiday mood even in July. According to their website, over 2 million guests visit annually from throughout the world, including 2,000 motorcoach groups. It's no surprise though that the weekend after Thanksgiving is Bronner's busiest. They traditionally see about 50,000 guests during that time.

You Can Make Customize Your Visit

Although there is no shortage of ornaments to choose from, around 8000 different styles,  throughout Bronner's, sometimes you want to make it your own. Whether it's a name or date, personalized ornaments are a big deal at Bronner's, so much so that the staff personalizes 400,000 ornaments annually. If you're sticking with just the traditional "Merry Christmas" ornaments, Bronner's offers it in more than 40 languages.

The Have Some of the Tallest Santas Around

They greet you as to say, "Welcome to one the most magical places in the world". Standing tall outside of Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland are three Santas and a snowman. Each Santa stands 17 feet tall, with the snowman measuring 15 feet tall.

Bronner’s Has Its Own Chapel

Bronner's has a very special motto, "Enjoy CHRISTmas, it's HIS Birthday; Enjoy LIFE, it's HIS Way". To celebrate the reason for the season, Bronner's erected a replica of the Oberndorf (Salzburg), Austria, Silent Night Memorial Chapel in tribute to the Christmas hymn "Silent Night" and in thankfulness to God. The chapel was built in 1992 with permission from Austria. You will find it just a few steps away from the entrance to the Bronner's store.

Find time this season to enjoy this wonderful Michigan treasure that is Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland. Merry Christmas to all!

For more interesting Bronner's facts click here.