Storybook Island flips the switch on holiday tradition

The Storybook Island Christmas premiere night's illumination took a cue from downtown's Christmas lights and went green -- not in color, but in energy-saving lights.

The light-emitting diode style of lights will keep costs down, last longer and remain cool to the touch, avoiding scorching or possible fires, organizers said.

With more than 70 miles of holiday lights wrapped around more than 140 play sets scattered over an eight-acre family theme park, that's important, Connie LeZotte, executive director of Storybook Island, said.

"We did turn toward the LED lights to stay updated and green," LeZotte said.

The new lights line the park fences as well as the interior pathways to the various play sets throughout the park. She said that a sea of volunteers from the community, Ellsworth Air Force Base and Rapid City Stevens High School started decorating during the second weekend of October and just finished with final touches before the gates opened Friday.

Because different sponsors and people decorated the sets, every one of them will be different, LeZotte said.

"You might find a new interpretation of the Three Little Pigs or of Winnie the Pooh," she said.

With 30,000 to 40,000 people expected to walk through the gates this holiday season, LeZotte said Storybook Island Christmas is very important for the park. "It's become part of Rapid City's Christmas tradition," she said.

It also has proven a good fundraiser for the family-friendly attraction, keeping the park open for Rapid City families and tourists alike. The park operates on $1,400 a day but doesn't charge admission during the summer. Since 1958, the park has relied on these sorts of special events to keep its gates open during the summer.

Kimberly Haaland definitely relates to those Christmas and summer traditions. On Friday night, she brought her two nieces, Anna, 5, and Rachel, 3, to enjoy the Christmas lights wrapped around their favorite play scene.

The Billings, Mont., woman said that she had grown up here and came back to take in the lighted park with her extended family. It was an irresistible draw, she said.

Before the 1972 Rapid City flood, Haaland and her brother had posed for pictures in front of the wishing well.

"It brings back memories," she said.

If You Go

What: Storybook Island Christmas

When: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, until Dec. 19, when it will be open every night until New Year's Eve

Where: Storybook Island, 1301 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City

Admission: $1

Other: Train rides and photo sessions with Santa available each day at the eight-acre family theme park. Reindeer will be on the grounds Dec. 6 and 7. Bring your camera.