Writer Joseph J. Airdo
“It’s the smile on a child’s face and the tear in a mother’s eye that keeps me going,” says David Chuchla, standing amid a forest of twinkling Christmas trees in his Phoenix home. For 31 years, Chuchla has transformed his 2,800-square-foot residence into a dazzling holiday spectacle that draws more than 40,000 visitors annually.
The numbers alone are staggering: 50 Christmas trees, 70,000 lights, more than 5,000 ornaments and 100 animated figures. But statistics barely capture the magic that unfolds in Phoenix’s Lori Heights neighborhood each December.
“We have everything from aluminum trees from the 1950s to an alien Christmas theme,” Chuchla explains. “There’s a traditional Nativity scene, a room filled with angels, and Santa’s workshop. We even have a forest scene where Santa is fishing in a stream.”
This labor of love begins long before the first visitor arrives. Chuchla starts decorating in July, investing about 340 hours to perfect every detail.
“Since I also do Halloween decorations in the front yard, I start setting up the Christmas display right after Halloween and work until Thanksgiving to finish everything,” he says.
During the summer months, he meticulously repaints all the outdoor figures to ensure they maintain their festive luster year after year.
The technical complexity of the display is remarkable. More than a mile of extension cords snake through the house and yard, powering the vast array of lights and animated features. Each room has its own holiday music playing, creating distinct atmospheric zones throughout the home. To accommodate the massive collection, Chuchla’s furniture goes into storage and his home transforms into a walkable winter wonderland.
For 2024, visitors will discover several new additions to the spectacular display.
“We’ve added several new life-size figures including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Buddy from the movie ‘Elf,’ and a Minion character,” Chuchla shares. “We’ve also added about a dozen new blow molds to the collection.”
A neighboring volunteer adds to the festivities by creating balloon art for visitors several nights each week, and Chuchla himself appears as a different holiday character each season — this year, he’ll be greeting guests as an elf.
The display has become a cherished tradition for multiple generations of Valley families.
“I have families who have been coming since I first opened the display 31 years ago,” Chuchla reflects. “They started visiting as children themselves, and now they bring their own kids.”
Most December nights, visitors have to park a street away because of the crowds, a testament to the enduring appeal of this holiday destination.
Behind the scenes, maintaining this holiday spectacle requires significant resources. The collection fills three storage sheds and a 14-foot box truck during the offseason. Monthly electric bills exceed $1,000 during the holiday season, despite 99% of the lights being energy-efficient LEDs. Chuchla invests over $1,200 annually in new decorations, continuously expanding the display with help from community members who donate decorations and trees.
But for Chuchla, it’s about more than just creating a spectacular display. Each Christmas Eve, he quietly performs his own charitable tradition.
“I dress up as Santa and look for homeless people who are sleeping outside,” he reveals. “I quietly leave goodie bags for them. It’s just my small way of spreading some holiday cheer to those who need it most.”
The impact of Phoenix Winter Wonderland extends far beyond its dazzling statistics.
“If guests aren’t in the Christmas spirit when they arrive, they definitely will be by the time they leave,” Chuchla says.
Phoenix Winter Wonderland
Through Dec. 31 // 6-10 p.m. nightly // 4237 W. State Ave., Phoenix // Free // phoenixwinterwonderland.com
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