Ron and Linda Turner's house on Chinoe Road is best known for lighting up eyes for the last 15 years. From Thanksgiving eve to New Year's Day, cars can be seen lining the street, eager faces pressed to the glass, eyes aglow, straining to catch a glimpse of the winter wonderland the Turners create with lights, sound, and various holiday dÈcor.
With over 50,000 lights and nearly 1,000 decorative items, like reindeer, gingerbread men, and snowmen, adorning the Turner's front yard, it's no wonder a drive down Chinoe has become a Christmas tradition for many.
"I really felt there was a need for someone to brighten the spirit of Christmas, and bring it to the level we have," said Ron. "To be able to give someone the true meaning of Christmas--bright, cheerful, joyful--is so rewarding."
It takes nearly three weeks to get all the lights and decorations up, using four to six people, and totaling over 400 man hours, said Ron.
The Turners officially welcome in the holiday season with the flip of a switch Thanksgiving eve, illuminating the white, two-story house in thousands of watts of light, every day until New Year's Day.
"We do decorate for other holidays, but not like Christmas--Christmas is the giving time of year," said Ron. "We get probably 50-60 letters each year telling us how much our house has made their Christmas special."
"We've always decorated for Christmas, but it keeps getting bigger and bigger each year," added Linda. "I'll sit in one of the upstairs bedrooms and watch all the kids and the families and the dates; it's amazing. It's like a fairytale or the North Pole. I think a lot of people forget people even live here."
Not only do they provide a seasonal spectacular for thousands of visitors each year, but for the past 12 years the Turners have been lending a charitable hand to local organizations, filling the hearts of those less fortunate and the many little heads with visions of sugar-plum fairies.
"The week before Christmas," continued Ron. "We have a horse and carriage come out and we dress it up like a sleigh, and I dress up as Santa Claus, and we have homeless and terminally ill children come out with different organizations. All the kids get to sit on Santa's lap and we hand out presents. We've been doing this for the past 12 years and it's such an enjoyable time."
Decking the Halls
The Turners' holiday cheer doesn't stop with the exterior decor. Inside the nearly 9,800-square-foot home, Christmas abounds. From festooned trees in every room to a life-size Santa Claus in the spacious entry hall, Linda said decorating for the holidays never gets old.
"I love this time of year," said Linda. "It's always been a family tradition to decorate the house."
Even without the seasonal trimmings, the house is striking. With big bay windows overlooking the lake behind the house and the backyard pool, vaulted ceilings, and fireplaces in nearly every room, the house has come a long way from when Ron first bought the land some 15 years ago.
"We used to own a house over on Lakeshore," said Ron, who owns Turner Development Company. "I saw this lot and the lake behind it and knew I had to have it."
Ron describes the inside of the house as "modern/contemporary," with its mirrored alcoves, ornate detailing, and use of lighting and mirrors.
"We're really big into lighting," confessed Linda. "All of our lights are on dimmer switches. We like the warmth certain lighting gives off."
The open layout of the house makes it a very livable space, and with the Turners' three kids and seven grandchildren often visiting, every square foot is accounted for. The basement houses kid-friendly favorites, like air hockey and ping pong tables, a popcorn maker, and big screen TV for all those Disney-filled nights.
"We're in the middle of a couple projects right now," said Linda who admits the grandkids rule the roost. "We recently got rid of the upstairs balcony (I loved that view) because we didn't want one of the little ones getting hurt. We've been trying to make the house more kid-friendly for the grandkids."
Recently added to the back of the house is the Turners' sunroom, Ron's favorite area of the house. With unadorned floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake and Linda's use of soft, warm colors, it's no surprise the family spends most of their time there.
"I'd have to say my favorite feature is our bedroom," said Linda. "We've worked really hard to make it livable. After a long day you can come in here and walk directly out to the pool and the hot tub."