Vandals destroy new work done at Magical Forest

Daniela Mohor

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001 | 9:42 a.m.

Vandals caused about $20,000 in damage last weekend to the Magical Forest display at Opportunity Village on Oakey Boulevard.

It was the third time in the past five years the display has been targeted by vandals.

The Magical Forest, 6300 West Oakey Blvd., is the biggest fund-raiser of the year for Opportunity Village, a nonprofit agency that helps people with mental retardation improve the quality of their lives.

Last year the forest display attracted about 200,000 visitors, garnering more than $970,000, according to Opportunity Village officials.

On Sunday vandals destroyed several displays, causing at least $20,000 in damage, Magical Village founder Linda Smith said.

The day before, the organization's staff and volunteers spent hours constructing a $10,000 display of a Christmas-themed house, donated by Krispy Kreme. They discovered the damage Monday morning.

"The vandals just came in and smashed it," said Karen Sell, the Magical Forest annual campaign coordinator. "They stoned it, smashed the roof and broke the little figures inside ... We're all pretty devastated."

The vandals smashed the Krispy Kreme house and overturned the other displays. A 10-foot snowman was broken, as was a reindeer display.

Metro Police searched for possible fingerprints left by the vandals Monday afternoon. No witnesses had been located, according to Opportunity Village officials.

Additional details of the investigation were not available from Metro Monday.

The vandalism attack, staff members said, only adds to the organization's current difficulties. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, local charities have registered a significant drop in donations.

"Lately we just don't feel like we can catch a break at all," Smith said. "Everything is going wrong. We have no donations, no work for the disabled people, no volunteers, and then the vandals."

Opportunity Village, Smith said, will ask the community to help rebuild the forest. People interested in volunteering may call (702) 259-3741.

"We absolutely have to do an event not only as good as last year but better," Smith said. "We can't let people who don't have respect for themselves or for others stop us from doing the right thing."