Lights of the South opens as scheduled despite Helene damage
It took more than a little holiday magic to ensure Lights of the South was plugged in and ready for guests after Hurricane Helene.
With less than two months before its announced opening date, the property and attractions had to be cleared, repaired, and in some cases, rebuilt before guests could be allowed through the illuminated gates.
“This place was no different than anywhere else,” said Mark Jackson, Lights of the South’s general manger. “There were trees down everywhere and a lot of damage to some of the attractions.”
Among the displays requiring extensive TLC were the giant illuminated American flag, the Stature of Liberty and the glowing white castle that serves as the finale of the light display trail, Lights of the South’s signature attraction. The roofs on the Lights dining area and Santa attraction also required replacement.
Jackson said skipping a year in the interest of rebuilding was never an option.
“We never talked at all about whether we would open or not,” he said. “The talks were all about having a lot of work to do before we did open. We always knew that we could do it.”
Jackson said that while the wind and falling trees did cause considerable damage, the rains Helene brought also proved particularly problematic. Rapid erosion required shoring up the Lights of the South infrastructure.
“We had to bring in 20 loads of rock,” he said. “That’s how much it took to fix the roads and paths and make sure they were safe.”
Safety, Jackson said, was a primary concern.
“The priority was never just repairing and rebuilding,” he said. “It was making sure things were safe.”
Jackson said that meant clearing the roads and trails of fallen timber as well as pulling out trees and branches that were in danger of falling.
“We have been able to do this, to open, because of a lot of work from a lot of people,” he said. “It’s really been a team that has made this all possible.”
And while rebuilding required considerable resources, Jackson said they quickly found that the most precious commodity, with mere weeks before the holiday season began, would be time.
“Time was everything,” he said. “We started the morning after the storm. We had no power. We had no internet. But we knew we could not wait for those things. We had to start immediately.”
Jackson said that much of the work continued right up until opening day on November 22, and, walking around Lights, he still sees projects that require attention. He also sees the reason the time, effort, and energy expended was so important.
“People, when they come here, are usually in a good mood,” he said. “And being here gives people a sense of normalcy. Right now, I think that is something a lot of people are looking for.”
LIGHTS OF THE SOUTH
Where: 633 Louisville Road, Grovetown, Georgia
Hours: 6 – 10 p.m. through December 30. Closed on Christmas Day.
For tickets or more information, visit lightsofthesouth.com.