Postcard image of the defunct Rogers' Christmas House in Brooksville, Florida, featuring a lavishly decorated holiday-themed room. The scene showcases intricately adorned Christmas trees, a fireplace with festive mantel decorations, and mannequins dressed in holiday attire. Once a beloved attraction in Brooksville, this iconic Christmas house holds historical significance and remains a memorable piece of Florida's festive past.

A Look Back at Rogers’ Christmas House – Brooksville, FL

Remembering Roger’s Christmas House: A Holiday Wonderland in Brooksville, Florida

Brooksville, Florida, was once home to a truly magical Christmas village, where twinkling ornaments and precious holiday figures filled every nook and cranny. Rogers’ Christmas House—not to be confused with Robert’s Christmas Wonderland in Clearwater—wasn’t just a store; it was a year-round winter wonderland that drew in visitors from across the state and beyond.

A Christmas Dream Turned Iconic Destination

The story of Rogers’ Christmas House began in 1971, when Margaret Rogers Ghiotto transformed a single home into a festive holiday shop. As its popularity grew, she acquired the neighboring historic homes, eventually creating a cozy holiday village that captivated guests with its immersive, themed rooms. At its peak in the 1980s, the store saw up to $1.5 million in annual sales, solidifying its status as a must-visit Christmas destination.1

A Five-Cottage Complex

Rogers’ Christmas House was a collection of five historic homes, each adorned with meticulously crafted holiday scenes. Guests could explore these enchanting spaces by following an interconnected garden path, moving seamlessly from one festive set to the next. While every house featured elaborate Christmas tree displays, each had its own unique theme:

  • The Christmas Cottage (Main House) – The largest collection, featuring high-end holiday décor such as Swarovski crystals, hand-carved Italian wood figures, and Victorian-style porcelain dolls.
  • Country Cottage – A rustic space filled with country-themed decorations long before the farmhouse aesthetic became the trend I love to hate.
  • The Little House Under the Oak Tree – This one had a music-themed selection, plus gifts tailored for men. But let’s be honest—what do dads even want for Christmas? A new set of slippers? A gadget they’ll never use? A handwritten “IOU One Hug” coupon? (Note to self: figure this out before December 24th.)
  • Storybook Land – A whimsical set decorated in fairytale murals, stocked with games, toys, and stocking stuffers perfect for children.
  • The Bride’s House – Imagine everything a ‘proper lady’ was supposed to love in one place: fine china, jewelry, linens, and kitchenware.

BONUS AREA: There was a gnome village in the garden outside! How cute is that??

A Tale of Confusion and One-Star Reviews

After Margaret’s passing in 2006, her family decided to sell Rogers’ Christmas House to Donna Jones.2 The beloved holiday wonderland carried on until 2010, when, much to the dismay of Christmas fanatics everywhere, it closed its doors for good. In the video below, you can see the items that were auctioned off during the liquidation sale.

For years, the once-magical houses sat vacant, their halls undecked, until 2014, when Dorothea and Greg Stephens swooped in with a new vision.3 They transformed the property into a wedding venue but, in a nod to the site’s festive past, kept one of the homes as a tiny gift shop.4

This, however, led to a bit of a holiday identity crisis. Some visitors, still clinging to visions of kitsch and grandeur of the original Rogers’ Christmas House, wandered in expecting a full-blown winter wonderland—only to find a much smaller and less Christmas-y shop. Cue the indignant one-star reviews from confused customers who hadn’t gotten the memo: the OG Rogers’ Christmas House had been gone for years.

Google reviews of Boho Gift Shop Candles & More in Brooksville, Florida, showing customer confusion over its connection to the former Roger’s Christmas House. The reviews highlight disappointment from visitors who expected the iconic Christmas store, which had closed years earlier. The listing shows the shop as ‘Permanently Closed,’ with a response from the owner clarifying that Roger’s Christmas Village has been gone for years.

This Lite Version of Rogers’ Christmas House appears to be permanently closed now according to Google, but the wedding venue Saxon Manor is still available for celebrations.

Had you ever gone to Rogers’ Christmas House before it closed? I would love to hear your memories and thoughts about this treasured landmark from Brooksville’s past.

Click Here for References
  1. Tuchman, A. (1984, December 14). A Southern version of Santa’s workshop. The Ledger.
    https://books.google.com/books?id=3bgwAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA27&dq=Rogers+Christmas+House&article_id=6395,7589191&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4rdShjYWMAxWlRDABHWPFCwkQ6wF6BAgMEAE#v=onepage&q=Rogers%20Christmas%20House&f=false ↩︎
  2. Savage, C. (2007, July 29). It’s Christmas in July at Brooksville landmark. Ocala Star-Banner.
    https://books.google.com/books?id=gwZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA28&dq=Rogers+Christmas+House&article_id=5066,4914513&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4rdShjYWMAxWlRDABHWPFCwkQ6AF6BAgHEAM#v=onepage&q=Rogers%20Christmas%20House&f=false ↩︎
  3. Varn, K. (2014, June 4). Rogers’ Christmas House Village sold. Tampa Bay Times.
    https://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/rogers-christmas-house-village-sold/2182770/ ↩︎
  4. (2016, August 03). The Beloved Brooksville ‘Christmas House’ is back. Bay News 9. https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2016/8/3/the_beloved_brooksvi ↩︎

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