There's a glow in the west

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Christmas decorations surround the house of Rob and Joyce Scheitler and daughter Shaunna, west of Le Mars. "Christmas Acres" has grown each year and features more than 60,000 lights, along with numerous decorations. [Click to enlarge]

Now as an adult, Scheitler has decorated on the grounds of his acreage just one mile from that farm for the past 14 years, each year adding a bit more.

Make that a lot more.

"We call it 'Christmas Acres,'" Scheitler said.

He estimates there are 60,000 lights on 55 trees and 60 bushes, with 17 inflatable decorations in the yard. That's not counting all the snowmen and women, carolers, angels, Santa Clauses, reindeer, nativity scenes and other Christmas decorations tucked on the acreage. Twenty-three timers control the lights.

It's a project his 7-year-old daughter, Shaunna, helps with, and his wife, Joyce, keeps finding items to add to the collection.

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Rob Scheitler gets assistance from his daughter Shaunna in checking the many strings of Christmas lights that cover his acreage for the Christmas display. He started putting up the display in late September. [Click to enlarge]

"Joyce shakes her head about it, but she'll buy things for it," Scheitler said.

Three years ago Scheitler expanded to the field across the road from the house.

"I started getting things out the last weekend in September and am still adding today," said Scheitler Friday afternoon.

He turned the lights on Friday night, and will keep them on each night through Jan. 1, weather permitting.

"If it rains or there's heavy snow, we don't light it up," Scheitler said.

Where does he keep all the decorations during the year?

"I have a little shed (which gets decorated), three pickup loads go to the farm and the rest are in the garage," he said.

Scheitler planned for the large Christmas display when he built his house. It includes two 100 amp boxes and one 200 amp box.

Everything has a number or letter to coordinate with a tree or decoration, Scheitler explained. Each extension cord is also marked.

"If you don't do that, you're in trouble," Scheitler said.

Last year he added six 200-watt speakers to the mix, providing holiday music with the scenes, and strobe lights on the house roof.

"Every year, it gets bigger," Scheitler said.

With all those lights going, one may wonder about the electric bill.

"Last year for the whole season it was about $150," Scheitler said.

"I started switching to LED lights, they don't use as much power," he continued.

The Scheitler acreage sits on a small hill south of Highway 3.

"The neat thing is our location, it's a perfect spot. You can see the glow from the highway," Scheitler said.

Each year visitors slowly drive by the display. Some pull into the driveway, and if he's home, Scheitler may even come out and talk with them.

"We've had care center busses come out and have hosted a women's group and Girl Scouts," Scheitler said.

"On a nice night, we get a lot of traffic. Sometimes the kids shout out the window about the displays too," he said.

In the 14 years he's had the display, Scheitler has had only had one incident of vandalism.

Shaunna helps her father by checking the lights. She says her favorite part of the display is the music.

The Scheitlers have accumulated a lot of Christmas decorations through the years.

"We find some at rummages and auctions," he said. "We even got some from Branson, Mo. a few years ago, after they changed their decorations," he said.

Just last week, he received a call from a woman asking if he'd like some decorations. He took all of them.

He's also found some on eBay.

"We hit Menards the day after Christmas too," Scheitler said.

The outdoors isn't the only place that gets decorated for Christmas.

On Thanksgiving Day, the family will put out the Christmas decorations inside the house, both the main floor and basement.

There is no charge to view the outdoor display and there is no donation box.

"I love Christmas," said Scheitler. "I do it for the joy of it."

"Christmas Acres"

Lighted Christmas Display

5-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1,

weather permitting

7 miles west of Le Mars on Highway 3

1/4 mile south in Impala Avenue