It’s 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’s Robert Bird’s home, 1702 Elsinore Ave. in Henderson. 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’t 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 “average” 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.
“Everything in my yard that moves, spins, waves, or twirls, I dreamt and I built,” 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, “Do you Believe?”, and a Golden Knights-themed Ferris wheel. What’s 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’ must-see lights list and his life-like Santa Claus even witnessed a marriage proposal. (She said, “Yes!”)
As the display grew in popularity, he realized it offered the opportunity to embrace the spirit of giving and gratitude. “Many people would stop by and ask if I accept donations for any charities,” Bird said. So, last year, he reached out to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and began collecting donations for the charity via a lockbox on his front lawn. He collected $1,400 for St. Jude’s as well as many toys that he and his family delivered to Sunrise Children’s Hospital.
“The community was so generous that it took three trips to bring all of the toys into the building,” he said. “It was a humbling experience to bring some joy to children who will be spending their Christmas in the hospital.”
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’s Christmas House
