Our family enjoys Christmas light displays. In the Saint Louis area, there are three big displays — Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park (McKnight Road just south of 64/40); The Way of Lights at the Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville, off of highway 15 just east of I-255; and Santa’s Magical Kingdom which is on I-44’s north outer road just west of Six Flags in Eureka. We’ve seen all three and enjoyed them immensely.
But there are smaller displays put on by individual homeowners we like to visit, too. Some favorites have gone dim over the years, but we keep visiting favorites and explore looking for new ones. On Kinsale just west of Dougherty Ferry there is a very nice display – you can see it from Dougherty Ferry and there backyard display seen reflecting in the lake is pretty cool. A house on the corner of Oaktree crossing and Greenfield crossing (near the intersection of Big Bend and Sulfur Springs) is unlike any other I’ve seen. For one thing, they have their own radio station (101.5 I think); many of the light displays are synchronized with the music, and the guy makes his own unique light displays. A nearby street — Red Oak Plantation — is another annual destination for us. The houses all have big wrap around front porches and just about every house on the dead end street puts on an elegant light display. A house at the corner of Pierside and Morning Oaks (just east of Old State Road) puts on a display that’s over the top. Way over the top. This corner lot is packed to the gills with every lighted decoration on the market.
Please share any favorite St. Louis area light displays in the comment section — we’d love to check it out.
UPDATE:
It’s been a few years since we’ve had the time to drive around, so the information above may be out of date. I’m also including info from the comments from 2003 below, and this too might be out of date. So please feel free to share both your favorites or if any of the ones listed here are no longer on display in the comments section.
A big thanks to Linda Hansen for her list.
And Isiah Angeli left the following comment in 2007 on a different post:
wow there’s this house at on Starview Dr off of Kerth and (I-55 SOUTH ) butler hill and they put up joy they have a home made star a nativity set and lights every way you look.
#1 by LINDA HANSEN on December 13, 2003 - 12:08 pm
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I am light crazy. I make my husband spend many nights driving around to satisfy my passion. Over the years I have been developing a list. I don’t like commercial displays, but love private home owners who go all out.
Here is a list of homes that I have learned to love. PLEASE let me know if you know of any others.
NORTH
1. Old St. Charles Rock Rd/Parkwood/Clarksdale/Blaiser – this street is great – almost every house decorates – you will also pass a well lit nursing home on the west side of Parkwood
2. Subdivision on Old St. Charles Rock Rd at Admiralton – drive trough entire subdivision – many nice houses – notably 1st house on corner as you drive in & go all the way to the back & see a house with lots of Nutcrackers
3. Lindbergh/E on Midland/L on Link/L on Magdelana (1st street) – 3 homes next to each other – view these homes from the front & from the back – you can do this by driving in the parking lot of the church – This is a must see!
4. N on Lindbergh from Manchester/R on Huntleigh/R on Woodbridge (1st street) – house on right – this is worth seeing – the have done some different things.
5. FLEIGER – JENNINGS
Hwy 70 E/N on Jennings Station/L on Hurd/straight at fork on street – 2434 Mary Ave – This house is truly the most unique home I have ever seen. It is in a league of its own. – You are invited in to the house 6-9, the 1st week (sometimes the 2nd week of December) – Don’t miss this home!!!!!
CENTRAL
6. N on Lindbergh from Manchester/R on Denny/house on left – you can see the large lit pine tree from Lindbergh – great house
7. Manchester between Woodlawn & Sappington (Taco Bell)/N on Sturgis/ house on left.
8. W on Manchester/ L on Harrison (where the big sign of the dragon playing golf is)/ stay on Harrison & you will come to a place where you think it ends/ go L/ go R back onto Harrison/R on Washington – this home has an unusual non-Christmas look
9. St. Croix – Lockett south of Manchester to right on St. Croix is a house with many character cut outs.
10. Lockwood, eat of Berry, one block east of Sherwood, turn south on W. Jackson to 425 W. Jackson, house is on left – elegant.
11. Lockwood, between Elm and Rock Hill Rd., turn south on Grey to a home at the corner of Grey & Bristol – this house has holiday themed cut out all year long.
12. Berry Rd. south, cross over Lockwood, cross under Hwy 44, left on Big Bend, right on Grant, left on Linum, right on Honeysuckle, right on Columbine, right on W. Old Watson, left on Worthing, house on right.
13. 7200 block of Greenway, south of Delmar, west of Hanley, house has a faulous Halloween display. The owner is a set designer.
WEST
14. Manchester W to Woodsmill S/W on Big Bend/W of Sulphur Springs on the R is Treetop – the 1st 2 houses on the corner deserve mention – be sure to look at the back as you drive away
15. Across the street is Red Oak Plantation – On Christmas Eve the entire subdivision is lined with lumierre’s – no single house is outstanding, but every house is decorated creating a worthwhile view
16. Clarkson S (Kieffer Creek)/W on Pierside – a great house –– on a corner – be sure to view from all sides – not to be missed
SOUTH
17. Laurel Hill & Pardee – This is 1 block north of Eddie & Park. It is known as the Bear House. On certain days Santa & his elves our out with candy, etc.
18. Tiffany Estates – This is a subdivision off Tesson Ferry east of Musick. As a whole the entire subdivision goes all out with lots of lights – most notable is the 1st street on the right called Jade Forest. It is a cul de sac with every house lit.
19. Troost St. – This small block is one block south of Mackenzie off Heege. Every house on the block joins in on the fun. The night we were there all the neighbors were out on one driveway waving & of course, Santa was there handing out candy.
SOUTHWEST
20. South on Woods Mill to left on Marshall, bear left Beckett Memorial till it dead ends and you will see a unique home in Valley Park.
21. Woods Mill south of Hwy 44 to right on Hawkins Rd., house is in the 1600 block of hawkins across from an elementary school.
22. Hawkins Rd., cross Piedras Parkway (Citgo on left), take the first left after Piedras Parkway to continue on Hawkins (across from Summit Christian Church), travel ¾ mile, turn left on Logger Trail, house is on the corner of Logger Trail & Hawkins Rd.
The following homes have been on the list. I have noted the last time I went past them & haven’t gone back once they were not lit. You may wish to check them out, but I don’t think you will find anything. I guess I should check them out again so that I can just delete them. Let me know what you find if you go past them.
1. Manchester between Bopp & Kirkwood Jr. High/S on Lockett (Ahners)/R on Lin Manor/house on right – this is a great house, don’t miss it – I was heartbroken on Dec. 16, 2001. I drove by this house & it wasn’t lit.
2. JIM OTIS – Schoettler between Clayton & Hwy 40 (N of Logan College)/E on Greenleaf (1st house on left worth a look)/R on Treherne (1st street on R) – wasn’t lit in 2000
3. Ladue Rd W of Woodsmill – worth looking at – wasn‘t lit in 2000
4. S on Lindy (1st street W of Sulphur Springs)/L on Lakeside – the back of this house can be seen from Manchester & needs to be seen from the front, too. This entire neighborhood puts up lights & has a contest. – wasn’t lit in 2000
Over the years there have been other houses on the list, but sadly for us the owners have moved.
#2 by Kevin Murphy on December 17, 2003 - 8:23 am
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Wow! Thanks Linda.