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John Hollenhorst ReportingNow that Thanksgiving is fading away for the year, it's time for some Christmas cheer, in an unusual and out-of-the-way place. For several years now, people have been flocking to a campground near Brigham City.
This is one of those cases where a simple little thing can change someone's life forever. You take a good idea, throw in some Christmas spirit and a lot of hard work and you have, well, the 4th year of Fantasy At The Bay.
As daylight fades, Willard Bay State Park comes to life this time of year. Drivers weave their way through a campground transformed into a Christmas spectacle.
Rhonda Shaw, Honeyville Resident: "I think it's beautiful. I love this. I think it's a good way to use this in the wintertime."
It's a business put together by Sonny Gilbert and his wife. They happened to see a "light park" while vacationing in Branson, Missouri.
Sonny Gilbert, Fantasy At The Bay: "We decided that when we come home we'd quit my job, get a mortgage and build a light park."
Everything is hand-built in the Gilbert's backyard. Sonny is the hands on-guy. His wife is the creative partner.
Sonny Gilbert: "I build it. She wakes up in the middle of the night with ideas and tells me about it. When we done this my wife actually remembered when she was a child how things stuck with her. And what she wanted to do was create something that children will remember until they're 70 and 80."
Sara Shaw: "I like these horses pulling the sleighs."
This year they upped the charge from $5 dollars a car to $7. Nearly 10,000 cars a year pass through here and state parks takes a percentage.
Sonny Gilbert: "First year was a little slow, but each year it's picking up."
The Gilberts still have that mortgage, but they're getting it paid off. Next year they expect to open a branch operation in Salt Lake City; they're in discussions with Hogle Zoo.
