Iowa’s Largest Rural Christmas Lights Display Will Get You in the Holiday Spirit

One of the most incredible things about the largest rural Christmas lights display in Iowa is the fact that it's not a corporate entity. It's not put on by a massive conglomerate. Like most great things in Iowa, it's a family-run operation made possible by the generosity of those who visit every single year.

Christmas Acres in Le Mars, IA is made possible by Rob Scheitler and the Scheitler family. For 26 years, Christmas Acres has been a seasonal staple in the community. All of the Scheitler's 37 trees, 57 bushes, and every available piece of land is covered with Christmas lights, decorations, blow-molds, sculptures, inflatables, and more.

According to the website Iowa Road Trip, the acreage boasts over 800 blow-molds and more than 160 lighted sculptures. Many of the pieces are vintage, exuding nostalgia and reminding you, regardless of age or generation, of those childhood Christmases.

On Friday and Saturday nights, you can purchase cookies, pies, and even local honey from the Scheitler bakery, which is run out of their garage.

How Christmas Acres Began:

Per Iowa Road Trip, when the Scheitlers, Rob and his wife Joyce, moved into their Impala Avenue home 26 years ago, they started decorating their fence and the grounds with Christmas lights. They nicknamed it "Christmas Acres." Every year, the display grew and grew. Eventually, the local newspaper did a feature story on the attraction, and from there, popularity skyrocketed every holiday season.

What Does it Cost to Drive Thru Christmas Acres?:

It is completely free to drive thru Christmas Acres. At the end of the driveway is a free-will donation box, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Christian Needs Center in Le Mars. In 2022, Iowa Road Trip states that the donations raised $41,000 for the Christian Needs Center. However, with the Christian Needs Center closing in 2023, the money will presumably be directed to another charity.

Find out more about Christmas Acres in Le Mars, IA on Facebook. You can also check out an enormous Christmas light maze in Milwaukee this holiday season too.

Christmas Acres is located at 18481 Impala Avenue.