The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS – The Homestead Resort continued a holiday tradition Wednesday afternoon with the formal lighting of the Great Hall Christmas Tree.
This year’s tree is a Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) from Henderson Tree Farm in Newland, N.C.
The 25-year-old tree is 21 feet tall. It is decorated with 2,000 over-sized ornaments and more than 1,250 LED lights.
Taking part in the lighting were James and Trina Secour of Knoxville, Tenn., Ketch and Lydia Secour of Nashville, Tenn, Harry and Virginia Shaw and their children, Harry Shaw V, James Secor Shaw and Celia Shaw of Toledo, Ohio, and Caroline and Marty Masterson and their son Jay Hutchins Masterson of Chicago, Ill.
James and Trina Secour have been coming to The Homestead for Thanksgiving for the past 28 years. James Secour’s great-grandfather and grandfather grew up coming to The Homestead at the time when guests were in residence for a month or months at a time.
Before the tree lighting Wednesday, James recalled some of his past visits to the Bath County resort.
“At age 4, my daughter, Virginia, learned how to ride horses at The Homestead and every year would have a private lesson and she sill rides at The Homestead every year.
“We can remember the hot coco, cookies and fruitcake that were served in the library after dinner and the matzipan candies that were made here and presented to guests when leaving the dining room.
“We enjoyed the mudslides that Joe used to make in the dining room. One year, wheelchairs were found in the attic and after mudslides, we had wheelchair relay races up and down the East Wing.
“The Children’s Corner used to be in the Spa. Our children still have all the arts and crafts that they made throughout the years and now my grandchildren, Fiver and Celia, enjoy the present day Kids Club.
“We remember Mr. Runyan and his ice sculptures and will never forget the evening he took us to the basement where he made the sculptures and gave us a private tour and let us watch him create.
“The family used to take the Gorge Hike when it wasn’t guided and enjoyed the box lunchers. I can remember the green hat box-like containers with ribbons and remember the huge hamper that I used to carry through the gorge with our lunches stored inside.
“I also remember Luther, the night bellman. One evening after unloading the car and having our luggage clutched under each arm, Luther overheard my son Ketch, who was then 4, say he needed to go to the bathroom. Luther dropped all the luggage and said `C’mon, I’ll take you.’ This kind of service could only happen at The Homestead.”
Legend has it that the first Christmas trees arrived at The Homestead in 1776 when its founder, Capt. Thomas Bullitt, returned for the holidays from his service in the American Revolution.
He had met Army officers from Pennsylvania, who told him of their Christmas tree tradition. He brought the custom back to The Homestead – and it has been a part of the resort’s holiday celebrations ever since.
During the holidays, lights and ice transform the Casino Lawn into the appearance of a winter wonderland with an ice-skating rink and illuminated theme displays.
Thousands of twinkling lights outline the resort and create a backdrop for guests as they take a hayride or walk through Candy Cane Lane with oversized gingerbread figures, 10-foot candy canes and six-foot gum drops and lollipops, while the Victorian Village and Reindeer Lane feature 19th-century skaters and carolers, towering animated swans and a family of reindeer.
Toyland features 10-foot animated toy soldiers, eight-foot jack-in-the-box, rocking horses, gift boxes and Starbursts.
Guests can also stop by The Homestead’s crackling fire pit to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or roast s’mores.
This year, teams have decorated 14 live Christmas trees inside The Homestead and an additional 33 live Christmas trees at the Owner’s Club cottages.
They are complemented with 45 live holiday wreaths with bright red bows, and 700 poinsettias, among which are the varieties freedom red, prestige red, red Christmas rose, and pink Christmas rose.
The Homestead grounds are festively decorated with over 1,575 feet of evergreen garlands, and over 100,000 lights glow brightly on 75 outdoor trees and shrubs. Following another Homestead tradition, after the holidays the trees, poinsettias, and other plant materials are carefully recycled when possible.
The Homestead’s gingerbread village is an annual creation of Executive Pastry Chef, Michel Finel, and his team. Over 80 pounds of gingerbread, 110 pounds of candy, and 260 pounds of sugar comprise the Homestead holiday tradition.
As in the past, there will be a six-foot Santa and large candy canes and trees making the village a children’s wonderland.
The Homestead will also receive a special visit from Santa Claus. He will be on hand to pose for pictures and hear holiday wishes.
