Holiday decorations taken to a new level

By Cassie Tomlin

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008 | 12:02 a.m.

Driving along Appaloosa Road, motorists come across a glowing front-yard spectacle of a lighted horse and carriage, Santa Claus in a hot air balloon and inflatable reindeer, among the other Christmas decorations.

For three weekends, Jeff Dunbar turns his lawn in a winter wonderland that even Clark Griswold would envy.

"You can't overdo it," he said of the elaborate display, which includes a lighted rooftop, lighted trees and a lighted manger scene.

Dunbar, who was born and raised in Boulder City and works in Las Vegas, said he likes coming home every night to the lights.

He'd leave them up year-round, if people wouldn't think he was nuts, he said.

"To all my neighbors, I'm Griswold," Dunbar said, referring to Chevy Chase's overzealous light-stringer in the movie "Christmas Vacation."

Gloria, his wife, helps with the assembly every year, but her forte is the more subtle inside display — a Christmas tree, a creche and a collection of miniature, lighted, snow-covered cabins.

"If I had my way, the inside would look like it does on the outside," he said. "It puts me in a good mood."

The two have no small children, but Jeff Dunbar said he does it for the neighborhood kids as much as for himself.

Betty Lou Short, who lives just down the street, said she loves the lights and walks her 7-year-old great-grandson down to see them. "I think they're beautiful," she said.

Lydia Shopshire, who lives across the street, said her three grandchildren visit every day and marvel at the display. "I think it's beautiful, and it's a lot of work that he went through," she said.

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].