By Peggy Ussery, Associated Press
Dothan, AL – With lights glowing and visible from a distance, it's not hard to spot Holiday Spectacular. More than 10 million lights strung through trees and over holiday displays guarantee the place will be seen.
Owner Maxine Chappell has lost count of the number of lights, but notices when one isn't burning.
"We keep adding lights," Chappell said. "We want to fill in any dark spots."
In just its second season, the holiday park has come a long way since last year. Owners have completed construction on the park's numerous buildings and created a place where children and adults can get lost in the holidays.
Holiday Spectacular, however, is not the only Christmas-themed park in the area. Christmas City in Ariton and Country Christmas in Dothan also offer their share of holiday spirit.
Once the place to go to for holiday lights, this park in Ariton has seen changes in ownership over the years. It's been under new ownership for the past month.
New owner John Kendall said he realizes the Christmas park has gone down hill in popularity in the last few years. But he hopes to change that and focus direction back to a Christian-oriented theme park.
"There's so much that can be done," Kendall said.
Kendall owns other property in the Ariton area, which is how he came to see the 77 acres off Highway 51. He had resisted looking at the property despite several suggestions from his real estate agent that he do so. He didn't want to see it because he was afraid he would want to buy it. He did.
After he bought the property, Kendall replaced 80 percent of the lights and secured vendors for the park's shopping center. He hopes to expand the park to become a year-round destination with flea market weekends, cabins around the park's lake and RV hookups for campers.
Weddings have been held in the park's chapel. A fireside music room called the Chatter Box offers a sheltered place for listening to live music. The Jolly Ol Elf is the place for food and hot chocolate. Lights line a winding road in the woods where visitors can drive through the Peppermint Forest and Candy Cane Lane.
Kendall, a father of four, said he wants to ensure the park remains a family place.
"It's a clean, safe place you can bring your kids without having to worry about them seeing something bad," he said.