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The Joneses covered their house in glittering white icicles. You bought a blow-up snowman. They countered with a herd of lighted reindeer (which you stealthily rearranged into sexual positions). Surrender now, because A Christmas Fantasy is clearly the victor in this year’s holiday decor wars.
The free annual display, located inside a private west-side residence, features nine decorated rooms, 80,000 holiday lights, 50-plus fully bedecked trees, animated figures, and an enchanted ice cave. The exhibit has been growing ever since owner David Chuchla showed his over-the-top decorations to a taxi driver who came to pick up a holiday guest 15 years ago. “My furniture is all in storage,” Chuchla quips. “I live at work and come home to sleep. I just take Santa out of the bed first.” He also runs a small gift shop on-site, which helps with the whopping $1,000 electric bill. People think he’s crazy, but Chuchla tells New Times he isn’t stopping anytime soon. “I’ll be doing [this] until I can’t climb the ladder to put up the 12-foot trees.”
Dec. 3-28, 2008
