One Man’s Childhood Dream Became a Missouri Christmas Tradition

We all know the individual homes and neighborhoods that take their Christmas lights displays and go big, and then add more just for good measure. This St. Louis home added quite a bit more.

In the South St. Louis County community of Affton, Jeff Uhlmeyer has followed through on his childhood dream of having his own amusement park, kind of. Uhlmeyer has a 70- year old mini train ride, like the ones that used to frequent drive-in theaters in decades past. The Christmas decorated train is free for kids to ride at his house. On the trek in Uhlmeyer’s back yard is a huge screen showing “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on a loop.

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There is no detail too small for Jeff. He has his Christmas music on rotation on a low frequency that he broadcasts on. Essentially he has his own low power Christmas radio station. Santa Claus stops by on Fridays and Saturdays in December, and why wouldn’t he. I’m pretty sure Jolly Old St. Nick is taking pointers from Uhlmeyer.

Jeff calls his home display “Rails of Fun” and with two train rides for the kids that makes sense. And his efforts are well received. There are so many people that come to see and experience what Uhlmeyer has created that parking has become a problem. Best practices are to park at a nearby church and make the short walk. People are coming in buses, limos and shuttles to take it all in. There is no charge, but Uhlmeyer accepts donations for St. Louis Shriner's Hospital for Children. Christmas magic is alive in south St. Louis County.