LOGAN – Vandals left their mark on one of this areas’ most cherished Christmas treasures. About 15 “Chirstmas In The Park” displays at Chief Logan State Park were damaged this weekend.
Tom “Rose” Tomblin began a tradition that has grown and improved over the past 19 years. This year, the displays lit by over a million lights delighted visitors driving through the park in an estimated 30,000 – 40,000 cars.
Tim Tomblin carries on his father’s vision and says the displays are funded and maintained using donations to keep admission free for visitors to see the captivating traditional and animated displays.
“These displays are not mine. They belong to everybody, the people who work on them, the volunteers, the people who donate and the people who come to visit. They belong to everybody,” said Tomblin.
The displays that were damaged were either knocked over, wires pulled loose and/or lights broken. Tomblin says these displays are fragile and that turning them over or pulling on them weakens the structure and may mean they can’t be put up again. The large tree near the pool had wires pulled from it and it appeared efforts were made to turn it over. The waving Santa Claus welcoming children to Santa Land was knocked over and destroyed.
Tomblin says there have been isolated incidents over the years, but nothing like this.
“We have had one or two displays damaged and some things stolen over the years, but nothing like this,” said Tomblin, “It is bad when anything happens. This much damage is not only sad, it’s disheartening.”
Volunteers are in the process of taking down the displays and hope to have them down by the end of the week.
To report any information about this incident, please call 304-752-1212, or contact law enforcement.
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