West Valley man's Christmas lights spectacular featured in national commercial


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WEST VALLEY CITY — Some hobbies can become obsessions.

"More of an addiction,” said Robbie Gowers, laughing.

Gowers remembers his wife wanting some Christmas lights 10 years ago. Chances are she never thought it would get to what it now is: a Christmas lights spectacular.

"Two years ago, one of the branches broke, I fell out of it and landed on top of a (Christmas light) arch and the arch broke my fall,” Gowers said.

Turns out that wouldn't be the last time he was almost seriously injured.

"I was out here a couple of weeks ago at 4 o'clock in the morning. My wife almost killed me,” Gowers said jokingly. "I've been known to ask neighbors if I could hide lights in their house so my wife doesn't see them.”

Of course Gowers kept going. Even Santa and Mrs. Claus stop by for the kiddies. And if you can't make it to Wakefield Drive in West Valley to see his home, just turn on your TV or go on the internet.

Gowers' house is now featured in a Mercedes Benz Christmas commercial, which started running on Friday.

"It's like, ‘Wow!’ Honestly, anything to do with Christmas lights anymore, nothing surprises me," Gowers said.

It's a lot of work to turn your home into Rocky Mountain Power's favorite customer.

But it's that Christmas spirit that makes all this worth it.

There are probably a few Christmas lights in your neighborhood. It’s likely you have some lights of your own. But chances are yours look nothing like a West Valley man's house. (KSL TV)
There are probably a few Christmas lights in your neighborhood. It’s likely you have some lights of your own. But chances are yours look nothing like a West Valley man's house. (KSL TV)

"We do it, the smiles. The smiles and the memories,” Gowers said. “I've had people tell me it's now a family tradition to come up here."

All because his wife wanted some lights.

"She's very patient,” Gowers said. “She's about ready to hang me from these lights. She's very understanding."

Gowers said setting up the lights begins in October. And the most popular question is, “How much is his power bill?” Gowers wouldn't say for sure, only that it's in the hundreds and enough that Rocky Mountain Power bumped him up a level because of all the juice he uses.

The answer to the second most important question: No, Gowers didn't get a free Mercedes.

Contributing: Xoel Cardenas

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