Holiday Lights Display In Grand Prairie Rain Delayed
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GRAND PRAIRIE (CBS11) - Grand Prairie is racing to find a way to return the lights to their holiday light trail, Prairie Lights, after rains pushed water over the banks and into the 2 mile long trail of lights. They are aggressively pursuing a plan that could open up a majority of the display by week's end.
"You are in a display area called the Christmas Carnival," said Beverly Grogan, Grand Prairie Community Events Coordinator as she pointed to an elaborate section of unlit light displays. "And the Christmas Carnival, sadly, has been devoured by Lake Joe Pool."
The water has devoured the road, left electric elves stranded, their power sources waterlogged and Grand Prairie scrambling to reopen its popular holiday display.
"We are having a lot of high-level meetings trying to decide what's right for the park but also what's right for public safety," Grogan said.
The water hasn't stolen Christmas from Grand Prairie yet. Around two-thirds of the displays are away from the water's edge. That means the Prairie Lights aren't entirely sunk.
"We are looking right now at alternatives to see if we can possibly open a portion of the park," Grogan said.
Late Monday, plans were in the works to build a road to bypass the flooded area and allow access to about 75% of the lights at a discounted price as early as Thursday.
This flood is only about half the depth of the spring floods.
Fishing guide Donnie Woods lost most of his fishing season to high water. He was taking people on his boat to see the Prairie Lights to make up for lost business.
"And I'd be Santa Claus on the boat believe it or not!" Woods laughed.
But with the lights out Woods is out of money making options.
"Lavon is completely shut down now because of high water," Woods said. " Ray Hubbard, it's got just a couple of ramps open. I've got buddies that fish too for a living and it's hurting them. It's hurting all of the guys out here."
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