This little two-hour drive will take you past a few of south Denver’s major light displays. You’ll start in South Englewood at the Kloewer residence (4990 S. Elati), move south and west through downtown Littleton on Littleton Boulevard and end up at the Wortham residence (1582 Meyerwood Circle in Highlands Ranch). The total trip is 10 miles one way. To see a map, go to this web link.
The Kloewer’s, 4990 S. Elati, Englewood, CO 80110
This home, two blocks west of Broadway and one block north of Belleview, has a postage-stamp yard, but the Kloewers manage to pack just about every inch of it with lights, figurines, shadow boxes and all manner of Christmas decor.
Matriarch Alice Kloewer reports that this chock-full display started with just one angel to celebrate the birth of their first grandbaby 27 years ago. Now it has grown to such a size that they start before Halloween, assembling their display which includes over 80 shadow boxes.
You can see the lights from your car as you drive past, but you’re going to want to get the kids and bundle out so that you can walk around and get the full effect. In addition to the lighted tree ornaments, you’ll see Winnie the Pooh, a mini Ferris wheel with stuffed animals, rotating shadow boxes with Barbies, Elvis, Harley-Davidson, and almost anything else you can think of. Add to that a collection of animatronic figures and a couple of trains chugging around a raised loop. There is so much here that you can come back year after year and see something you hadn’t noticed before.
The whole display definitely tilts toward Christmas kitsch, and some of the shadow boxes look a little worse for the wear, but it’s well worth taking the family to see. Kids will find many of their favorite characters, and adults will surely find something of nostalgic value.
Just down the block is the home of the Kloewer’s son, who also caught the Christmas lights spirit. His display is more coherent, consisting only of colored lights which decorate the house, and form different holiday figures. The brightly lit outline of a train, which adorns his driveway fence, is the highlight of this display.
Kloewer’s house to Littleton Boulevard, 2.0 miles
Once you have finished taking in the Kloewer’s display, head south until you come to the next major street, which is Belleview. If you turn right (west) on Belleview Avenue and go about 8 blocks, you will reach Windermere Street. Turn left (south ) and go .7 miles until you reach Littleton Boulevard. Then turn right (west) and continue on down Littleton Boulevard.
Downtown Littleton by Way of Littleton Boulevard
As you travel west on Littleton Boulevard (which changes its name to Main Street), you will come to a bridge festooned with lights, the entrance into the glittering display of downtown Littleton. Craft shops and trendy restaurants line either side of the street, each with one or two deciduous trees out front. Many cities string lights on trees, but the city of Littleton seems to be in a contest to see how many thousands of lights they can put on each tree. They avoid being overwhelming by sticking to a simple color palette of warm white lights.
When you reach the end of the fourth block, the street curves to the left, and as you come out towards Santa Fe Dr., you’ll see the grand finale: several large evergreen trees lit from top to bottom with brightly colored lights. The shops in this little area also make it a point to add to the display with lights outlining roof lines and gables.
Littleton Boulevard (Main Street) to1582 Meyerwood Circle in Highlands Ranch, 8.3 miles
It’s a bit of a trek from downtown Littleton to this home in Highlands Ranch, but the drive is well worth it. The Wortham’s home is one of the most tasteful and delightful lighting displays in the area.
As you come from Littleton downtown, turn left (south) on Santa Fe Dr. Drive for 5.4 miles (you’ll pass C-470) until you get to N. Dumont Way/Highlands Ranch Parkway. Turn left (east) on Highlands Ranch Parkway and follow it as it curves around for 1.2 miles. Turn right (southeast) onto Wildcat Reserve Parkway. Go .9 miles, then turn right (south) onto S. Stone Mountain Dr. From there, you go .3 miles and turn right on Meyerwood Circle. (Be sure to turn on Meyerwood Circle, not Meyerwood Lane. The house will be on your right.
The Wortham Home on Meyerwood Circle
Wortham assembled his light display after his youngest child asked him if they could “be on the map” the next year. He ended up spending as much for this display as he did for his daughter’s car. He employed a professional light and sound fellow out of Utah, and the professionalism shows.
Plan to park and stay a while to watch the choreographed music and light show at this residence. Viewers can tune to 97.7 FM for a short range radio broadcast of a loop of six holiday songs which are synchronized with the lights. The display includes lighted snowflakes, decorated trees, and arches that form patterns in response to the rhythms of the music.
Such a display has the potential to be garish, but this one is tastefully done. Most of the lights are white, and the designer avoided using annoying strobe lights or excessive flashing. The music is top-rate (no cheesy tunes) and many of the sequences are charming and whimsical. Our family likes the display so much that we usually stay through two rounds of each of the songs. Songs include Amazing Grace, Carol of the Bells, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s version of Pachelbel’s Canon.
The radio broadcast reminds people to turn off lights, not block driveways, and leave room for others to pass. The Worthams also have a donation box for charity.
Best of South Metro Lights
Our family has lived in South Metro Denver for 20 years, and these three sites are our picks for best lighting displays in the area. In about two hours and 20 miles, you can see them all.
Source:
“High tech takes over holiday lighting displays” by Sheba R. Wheeler, Denver post.com Posted: 12/17/2009 01:00:00 AM MST