Saturday, January 18, 2025
AZLE — On Wapiti Drive, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Terry Free invited spectators from across Azle to visit a winter wonderland at 256 Wapiti Drive in the Deer Ridge Estates addition to see a dazzling and dizzying array of lights and decorations. Pop-ups, displays and trinkets are placed in five sections throughout two properties, including an airport where Santa Claus made touchdown the evening of Nov. 30. Along with amazing sights, Free met visitors to the event with complimentary cookies, hot cocoa and the chance to get pictures with the elf himself.
Many of Free’s neighbors pitch in and others have been motivated to decorate their own houses. One neighbor, Shelly Sturgill, has let Free’s displays cover part of her yard and said it’s been a treat to have Free next door. In years past, she joined in the fun by erecting a “ditto” sign pointing to Free’s property in lieu of her own decorations. Sturgill’s grandsons, Dylan and Darrell helped Free hang lights over some of the more hard-to-reach places on Free’s property.
After a brief message from Free, thanking his loved ones and neighbors, the landscape was washed in the green glow of the Christmas season while inflatable characters slowly filled with new life. Soon after, Free invited dozens of guests into his home to witness the miniature villages and model train sets he had chugging along through most of his kitchen and living room.
For Free, this has been a lifelong passion. Some of his earliest memories of the holidays include waking up on Christmas morning to see his living room transform overnight with extravagant decorations and a toy train set circling the tree. His Azle home was built with this endeavor in mind with a total of 24 circuits installed across the property in order serve his power needs. While Free changes things up each year he reuses many of the same decorations each year with some decorations being well over 20 years old. This year, Free and his neighbors have put in countless hours of preparation since August. For example, the faux snow and dirt — made from laundry detergent and coffee grounds — covering Free’s train platform was meticulously applied in spoonfuls. While living at his current home, Free has only missed out on hosting the event once, when he was out of state for medical treatment.
Free and his girlfriend Cynthia Dora love to involve the community in their hobby and look forward to spreading Christmas cheer to local kids and parents alike. From now until the new year, Free’s home will shine brightly for all who make the journey to see it. The pair will leave candy outside for passersby and will continue to welcome strangers into their home who wish to see the platform. Free does not expect to begin taking down his displays until January and once that time comes, he’ll soon be hard at work planning how to outdo himself next year.
