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Night Trips: Looking at Holiday Lights on Hwy 55 By Linda Waggener About a quarter mile past Glens Fork, a quiet stretch of road suddenly glows with unexpected magic. A quick glance to the right reveals what looks like a forest of Christmas trees - dozens of them - each one lit in brilliant color, cascading down a hillside in a cheerful holiday display. At first, you might think you've seen all of them in front of the pretty home. But the scene insists on a second look. To truly take it in, you have to slow down, stop, turn around, and look again. Trees stretch across the front of a workshop building - dozens more illuminated trees - completing a display that feels both whimsical and intentional. In all, 50 Christmas trees spill across the hill in front of the Grider home, each one shining with strings of lights in every color imaginable. The effect is festive and generous, the kind of display that makes a night drive feel like a small holiday adventure. Sulayne Grider smiles when asked about the trees. She is quick to give credit where it is due. Her husband, JD Grider, is the artist behind every single one. The trees are not store-bought decorations or pre-fabricated props. They are handcrafted from wooden pallets - materials that are typically discarded after deliveries are made. JD saw potential where others saw scrap. With a craftsman's eye and steady hands, he shaped the pallets into tree forms, giving each one its own character before decorating them with lights. Over time, the Griders have purchased thousands of lights to bring the display to life. The result is more than a holiday yard decoration. It is a demonstration of creativity, reuse, and pride in workmanship. Each tree stands as a small sculpture, unique in size, shape, and light pattern, yet part of a larger, harmonious scene. One large illuminated tree anchors the side of JD's workshop building which holds another kind of artistry. Inside the workshop are samples of his life's work - vehicles he has rebuilt, restored, fine-tuned, and polished to prize-winning condition. Every vehicle carries its own personality and story, reflecting countless hours of careful labor and attention to detail. The star of this particular visit is impossible to miss: a perfectly restored turquoise 1959 Chevrolet Apache truck. Gleaming and immaculate, it represents the level of craftsmanship that has earned JD recognition well beyond Glens Fork. The trophies fill an entire shelf along one wall. The Apache has been selected for the cover of the 2026 calendar produced by Mike Linnig's restaurant company. The calendar is tied to a major car show held annually at the iconic Louisville business. Established in 1925, it began as a roadside fruit and vegetable stand and grew into one of Louisville's most beloved seafood restaurants, famous for its fried and grilled fish and hush puppies. Being chosen for its calendar is a notable honor among automotive enthusiasts. The truck was selected for inside the calendar in 2022 and now will be the cover. JD rebuilds and restores vehicles in his Glens Fork garage just down the road from his home, blending experience, craftsmanship with show-quality results. That same dedication is evident outside, where the glowing pallet trees stand as a quieter but equally heartfelt expression of his creativity. For those willing to take a night trip down a familiar road, the Grider home offers more than lights. It offers a reminder that holiday beauty can be handmade, repurposed, and shared freely with anyone passing by - no ticket required, just a willingness to slow down and look twice. This story was posted on 2025-12-22 23:30:32
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