Prized Bulbs Whip Up Some Cocoa, Load The Kids In The Car And Take A Drive By These Merry Mega-Watt Displays

Feeling frustrated that less than two weeks lie between you and the biggest holiday of the year? As malls, airports and roads become crowded, the holiday spirit can be lost.

In the midst of the inevitable holiday brouhaha, though, it’s important to set aside time to relax and enjoy yourself. And I’d be willing to bet that internal Grinch can be quieted with a simple drive around the Inland Northwest.

Lots of residents in our area have assembled majestic holiday displays that will rekindle the Christmas spirit with just one glance. And thanks to readers who called and wrote, we now know where to find them.

Cindie Hunt has been putting up big displays for more than 20 years. The Spokane resident has a myriad of decorations that she alternates each year at her home at 5712 N. Elgin. The 1997 display is dedicated to her three grandchildren and features 10,000 lights, dozens of figures in the yard, Christmas music and a sleigh toppling with stuffed animals. Hunt spent about two weeks preparing this year’s display.

She was raised in a family in which the holidays played a big role. Her father was the first Santa Claus to cruise the streets in the Spokane Fire Department “sleigh,” she said.

And she guarantees the family decorating tradition will continue. Her children will inherit the duties someday. “They’ve already picked out what they want,” she said.

Karrie King’s home at 328 E. Columbia is adorned with tons of Disney characters that took her and her husband, James, more than 40 hours to make. He cut the wood characters and together they painted them. In addition to Mickey, Minnie, Pooh and Tigger, the house is covered in more than 6,000 lights and a unique illusion of soft, fresh-fallen snow, conjured up using lights and polyfill, King said. Disney characters harmonize Christmas carols in the background.

The largest lighted display readers called in is at 1722 S. Bettman in the Spokane Valley, home of the Meyer family. Chris Meyer, the driving force behind this incredible home, has been dressing up her house for about five years.

She also decorates for Halloween - and as soon as the spooky stuff comes down, Meyer starts working on Christmas. The house has more than 30,000 lights, 100 light sculptures, a large manger scene (with real hay!), a toy land and North Pole scenes. Each year, she takes about a week off work to put the finishing touches on her display, which is arranged differently every season. Total time spent erecting the project: about one month.

“It’s fun for me to come up with something different every year and add a different dimension to it,” said Meyer.

The display is so huge, you’d think it was draining Washington Water Power. Della Meyer, who also lives there, says the display adds about $200 to their electricity bill - a small price to pay for the smiles it brings.

And in the end, each display was done in the true meaning of Christmas - love and sharing. “Neighbors commented (on the decorations), we got a good response. We enjoy doing this for our community and people really appreciate it,” Meyer said.

“I have had people stop and come to the door and that’s really rewarding,” said Hunt.

King had similar sentiments. “It’s rewarding to see all the people drive by. Little kids get out of the car to look … that’s why we do it,” said King.

Following is the list of addresses deemed noteworthy by our readers:

North Side

328 E. Columbia: more than 6,000 lights, music playing, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger. Characters are ice skating, decorating the Christmas tree, sliding down the roof. Pooh is coming out of the chimney.

N. 5712 Elgin: North Side, 10,000 lights, stuffed animals, train, dozens of figurines.

7020 N. Calispel: extravagant lights, nativity scene, church with people outside, animated critters, music playing in background. Thousands of lights on house, yard, fence, in back yard, carolers, snowmen that line driveway, shooting stars, toy soldiers, Christmas music.

353 W. Columbia: shooting star, Santa Claus.

At Central and Lincoln streets: churches, teddy bears, candy canes.

5525 N. Nettleton: various trees decorations, lollipops, house and windows decorated.

6500 N. Nettleton block: Santa and sleigh, lots of lights.

910 W. Central: little bears, Snoopy, Santa house, lights.

41140 N. College Circle: white trees, still adding to it.

1307 W. Central: Nativity scene, scene with Santa Claus, two hand-made Christmas trees, choir boys, toy soldiers, lots of lights.

2600 N. Olympic block: several houses decorated with many lights.

4900 N. Adams block: two houses that look coordinated, both white and red with candy canes in the yards.

2411 W. Houston: very nice display, lots of lights. “Looks great!”

6717 N. Howard: lots of lights, figures, homemade stuff.

5916 N. Wall: lots of lights and decorations in the front yard.

5832 N. Elgin: Mr. and Mrs. Claus, candy canes, lots of lights.

3205 N. Wellington: thousands of beautiful red and white lights, manger scene, 20 stars.

300 W. Barnes block: forest with wagon full of presents, and tree, elves, Nativity scene, angels, star of Bethlehem, Christmas music. “It makes you smile and puts the holiday feeling in your day.”

5504 N. Elgin: numerous lights, Santa on the roof, garage decorated.

8409 Country Homes: blue lights, trees, red lights, white trees, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, reindeer, candles.

5000 N. Farmdale Street block: three or four decorated.

Ponderosa Blvd. and Ponderosa Drive: big beautiful lights, and trailer lit up, dancing bears, snowman, they add something new every day.

7022 N. Wall: lights on house, tons of lighted figurines in front yard.

1921 W. Cleveland: Christmas trees, music in the yard, garlands, wreaths, gingerbread house, 5,000 lights.

11505 N. Whitehouse: beautifully decorated, lots of other houses in neighborhood decorated.

Francis and Country Homes Boulevard: completely covered in white lights - two blocks north of the Sons of Norway on the east side of the street.

6623 N. Post: thousands of lights, more than 100 lighted figures in yard, Santa and reindeer flying above the house and a huge shooting star.

5924 N. Douglas Drive: revolving lights, reindeer.

8517 N. Whitehouse: won lights contest three times in 35 years, theme - Candy Stick castle this year, tons of lights, “a magnificent display.”

5404 N. Driscoll Blvd.: candy canes, lots of Christmas characters, lots of lights.

Lowe and Lane Park, Mead: 12312 N. Thor Court, Mead - cute little place, they have done a great job.

Valley

12820 E. Maxwell: beautiful lights, all kinds of scenes in yards, also see adjoining street Sinto. Dec. 19-23, neighborhood volunteers dress as Santa and hand out candy canes.

6520 E. 18th: 9,000 lights, homemade and illuminated decorations.

South McDonald and Sixth: candy canes, people in yard.

13020 E. Desmet: Thousand-light display in yard.

Seventh and McDonald: candy men, snowmen, toy soldiers.

Shelley Lake, Fourth and Sullivan: six homes with light displays, magnificent.

12900 E. Mamer block: lots of lights, figurines, house and front yard are all decorated.

24th and Sullivan: the whole neighborhood is lit up, usually about 45 houses or so.

10000 E. Trent: Santa, fence, house, roof are all decorated with lights.

2006 S. Fawn Drive: lights, candy canes, Frosty the Snowman, manger scene, soldiers.

9611 E. Dalton: zillion lights, snowman, tree, Santa, reindeer.

13002 E. Semro: music in background, animated figures, lots of lights.

South Hill

2600 E. Seventh: candy canes, lights, reindeer, Christmas figures, front yard full of stuff.

3208 E. Congress: artful use of blue and white lights to create a nice display.

2408 E. North Altamont Blvd.: house is covered in lights, Merry Christmas lights in front. 1115 E. 18th: icicle lights, green lights shaped in Christmas tree, silhouettes of deer and sled.

3000 E. 16th block: many houses decorated with colorful lights.

3303 E. 19th: Santa’s sleigh on roof; Mary, Joseph and Jesus on the front lawn; snowmen, candy canes, etc., throughout the yard.

4520 S. Julia: very elaborate, colorful lighted choo choo train in the yard, lights.

Rockwood Boulevard and Arthur: lots of lights in yard, trees, windows.

2600 S. Third block: can be seen from freeway; lots of lights, figures in yard.

3800 S. Tekoa block: every house decorated with candy canes made from stove pipes.

Browne and 27th: lighted elves and characters in the front yard.

E. 11012 Ponderosa Drive: lights in every bush, tree, around entire house, reindeer, ornaments, lighted designs.

21st and Grand: mansion with Christmas tree on roof, lights and wreaths in every window. “Very classy.”

High Drive and Grand: huge tree with lights on every branch.

2614 E. North Altamont: candy cane walkway, lights, icicle lights, figures in yard.

1328 E. 18th: lights, Santas snowmen in yard 1520 Rockwood Blvd.: large display of many trees decorated with tiny white lights.

2010 E. Pinecrest Road: trees filled with tiny white lights.

4103 E. 29th: Santa and reindeer suspended over front yard.

2821 S. Thor: toy soldiers, reindeer, lots of lights and a nativity scene.

5228 E. 25th: tiny white lights draped from eaves to suggest icicles.

5408 E. 25th: a little bit of everything - reindeer, Santa, nativity scene, crucifix and lots of lights.

Idaho

Making Waves Beauty Salon: 16805 E. Lime Kiln Road, Bayview: red and white lights, Santa on the roof.

6872 N. 15th St., Dalton Gardens: snowmen, lights, garlands, trees, still putting up some more.

Captain’s Wheel Resort, Bayview: Santa and his sleigh heading over toward the lake, spilling packages from his sleigh.

Robin Lane off Perimeter Drive, Bayview: Mickey Mouse Christmas house.

Sixth and Corbin, Bayview: Star of Bethlehem display.

Fifth and Spruce, Bayview: Mr. and Mrs. Claus looking over manger display.

The Coeur d’Alene Resort: world’s largest floating holiday light show, nightly cruises available.

The South View Mobile Home Park, 4465 N. Cloverleaf, Post Falls: elaborate display at the entrance with lots of lights.

5506 Pinta Court, Coeur d’Alene:

2440 E. Grandview Drive: (and surrounding neighbors) North Pole display with elves workshop, 10,000 lights. Santa will give out candy canes Christmas week.

1701 W. Prairie: house and full yard display.

1545 S. Highway 41, Rathdrum:

216 Bruce Drive, Fernan Lake Village: looks nice in the daytime, but is spectacular when it’s lit up after dark.

Medical Lake

902 Brooks Road, lots of lights.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 4 Photos (3 Color)

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TELL US OF HOUSES WITH GREAT HOLIDAY DECOR We’d like to expand this list of outdoor holiday decorations for publication again next week. Please tell us if your home or a neighbor’s or anyplace you see has interesting decorations. You can inform us several ways. We need to know the location of the house (the actual address would be great, but a block number is fine, too) and a brief description of the decorations to share with readers. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday. To leave a voice message, call Cityline at 458-8800, ext. 9899 in Spokane, and (208) 765-8181, ext. 9899 in Idaho. Send regular mail to Maisy Fernandez, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA, 99201. Or e-mail maisyf@spokesman.com.