The Creators of ‘Gingerbread Grove’

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

It was the year before COVID hit when Nancy Bane, Ellen Sorensen, and Jackie Spenser were enjoying drinks together at a neighborhood gathering for residents of the cul-de-sac at 972 & 956 Mesquite Springs Drive in Rock Springs II.

One of the ladies casually observed that their brown colored condominium buildings there looked a little like gingerbread. That is all it took for their creative juices to start flowing.

That year they worked together to create a winter-wonderland in their neighborhood with snowflakes and lights.

“The next year with COVID, no one could gather in groups,” remembered Banes. “But we decided people could come and enjoy outside Christmas lights and decorations safely in their own cars.”
“We began to make our own decorations and use our gingerbread houses as a theme,” added Sorensen.

The ladies made snowflakes out of wire coat hangers, lollipops, and Life Savers out of colorful swimming pool noodles. They made gingerbread cutouts and decorated them all. They also used lots of fishing line and PVC pipe.

Sorensen makes Gum Drops and roof tops; Bane makes lollipops and fruit slices. Spencer came up with the picture bench and decor.

Each year, they have added more and more clever decorations to their holiday display. Although most of the elements are handmade, it has been necessary for them to buy some of the items; such as the hundreds of lights.

Other neighbors are also getting into the groove. Lorraine Miller and Jean Spencer are now helping with the work-of-art Christmas time display, which the ladies call Gingerbread Grove.
“We have learned through the years, what works and what does not,” Bane said. “Last year it rained and the wind blew. So now we anchor down and tie up the taller items. We have also made a lot of items that didn’t hold up to the elements and have ended up in the trash.

Gingerbread Grove is just as good to view in daylight as it is at nighttime. What these ladies have accomplished is a Christmas magic that is hard to achieve.

Thousands of local residents have already viewed the creativity of Gingerbread Grove display. Folks keep coming back year after year to see what has been added. This year the newest addition was a wooden gingerbread house which Lorraine Miller painted after her handyman built it.
Bane said they are already working on area signage and other new ideas for next year.

This group of clever ladies have created a true Virgin Valley landmark all for the enjoyment of others in the community.
“It takes us two to three weeks to get it all put together,” said Spencer. “But we have it up by Thanksgiving so that visitors here only for Thanksgiving can see it. We take it all down on January 2.”

The group also announces the Gingerbread Grove display online and they hold special nights when they come out dressed in holiday garb to hand out candy to the kids who come by.

Viewers are welcome but are encouraged to park in the uncovered parking area and stay on the grass while viewing. The dirt areas which are criss-crossed with electrical cords and anchors, are unsafe for night-time walking.