It鈥檚 the time of year when families jump in cars and venture into the night to see how the more highly motivated holiday enthusiasts have decked out front yards across the valley.
But few can rival shipping and receiving鈥檚 Robert Bird鈥檚 home, . His dazzling decor combines self-made structures, handmade signs, store-bought decorations, inflatables, lights, and music to create a winter wonderland in the desert.
And it all started with a ceiling fan.
While gazing up at the ceiling in his living room one day, Bird started to envision transforming the fan into a swing. Though he didn鈥檛 have a construction or engineering background, he soon built his first mechanical holiday structure: a rotating swing that holds five holiday-themed dolls and stuffed animals.
Prior to this, he considered himself an 鈥渁verage鈥 decorator, hanging lights on the eaves and a wreath on the door. But with this first success under his belt, he could not stop. He harnessed his ingenuity and started crafting new items every year.
鈥淓verything in my yard that moves, spins, waves, or twirls, I dreamt and I built,鈥 says Robert.
That now includes a 12-foot motorized Ferris wheel, an 8-foot waving Frosty the Snowman, an 8-foot motorized see-saw, an 8-foot blinking sign that asks, 鈥淒o you Believe?鈥, and a Golden Knights-themed Ferris wheel. What鈥檚 on tap for next year? He is currently fashioning a miniature, motorized ski lift.
Every October while the rest of us are focused on Halloween, Robert hones in on his holiday display. He begins the ritual of putting up lights and assembling structures so everything can be lit up the day after Thanksgiving.
His labor of love has earned its place on Las Vegas鈥 must-see lights list and his life-like Santa Claus even witnessed a marriage proposal. (She said, 鈥淵es!鈥)
As the display grew in popularity, he realized it offered the opportunity to embrace the spirit of giving and gratitude. 鈥淢any people would stop by and ask if I accept donations for any charities,鈥 Bird said. So, last year, he reached out to St. Jude鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Hospital and began collecting donations for the charity via a lockbox on his front lawn. He collected $1,400 for St. Jude鈥檚 as well as many toys that he and his family delivered to Sunrise Children鈥檚 Hospital.
鈥淭he community was so generous that it took three trips to bring all of the toys into the building,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t was a humbling experience to bring some joy to children who will be spending their Christmas in the hospital.鈥
Robert invites you to say hello and view his holiday wonderland for yourself! You might catch him outside dressed in Christmas attire, greeting passersby in merry holiday fashion.
Robert Bird鈥檚 Christmas House
