CASE STUDY
Lone Star Lights
An Immersive Christmas Park Experience Designed to Spark Wonder, Warmth, and Welcome
4.7 Stars on Google
4.8 Stars on TripAdvisor
#1 Thing to Do in Huntsville
Rated by TripAdvisor
Overview
Lone Star Lights was a multi-zone Christmas event hosted at Carolina Creek—designed to invite families into wonder, joy, and intentional connection.
I served as the Event Producer and Experience Architect, overseeing the creative direction, production infrastructure, guest journey, and environment design. From the first walkthrough to the final firework, every moment was crafted to reflect our mission: creating space for people to experience something meaningful together
My Role
I led the vision, planning, and execution of Lone Star Lights in collaboration with a talented team of over 120 staff and volunteers each night.
My responsibilities included creative direction, brand experience design, team leadership, and infrastructure planning—from technical systems to guest hospitality. I built the foundational show control network, oversaw zone development, coordinated with culinary and operations for our dinner theatre and lodging experiences, and helped ensure every guest felt both delighted and cared for.
While I held the creative lead, the success of this experience was deeply rooted in a team culture of trust, collaboration, and excellence.
Creative Strategy
Lone Star Lights wasn’t built around spectacle—it was built around story, warmth, and detail.
Guests explored themed zones like Fractal Forest and Yuletide Square, each designed with immersive lighting, audio atmospheres, and visual storytelling. We introduced new zones annually and built pathways for surprise and delight throughout the park.
On select nights, guests enjoyed a synchronized fireworks finale paired with music and narration—a celebratory moment to cap off their visit.
Dinner Theatre & Lodging Experience
We offered a fully produced dinner theatre experience, complete with a professional holiday stage show and a four-course, chef-prepared meal.
For guests staying overnight, we transformed 12 traditional family cabins into holiday-themed lodging by removing bunk beds and replacing them with full furniture sets: queen beds, bunk beds, couches, rugs, mini fridges, coffee makers, and more.
Each room included locally sourced snacks and a handwritten welcome note upon arrival—adding a personal touch that made guests feel truly at home. We also offered 12 hotel-style rooms, each with its own theme, creating a boutique-level guest experience right in the woods.
Systems & Operations
The development and implementation of our show control network was a collaborative effort, built to provide flexibility and scale year over year.
The system enabled seamless coordination across the park—supporting immersive audio zones, park-wide announcements, and nightly programming adaptations. Beyond Lone Star Lights, we designed the infrastructure with redeployment in mind, allowing equipment used during the season to be repurposed across Carolina Creek’s year-round operations.
This approach not only supported the guest experience but added strategic value to the broader organization.
Outcomes
- 20,000+ annual attendees
- 120+ staff and volunteers per night
- Strong community buzz and media attention
- Repeat attendance and year-over-year growth
- Elevated Carolina Creek as a year-round destination for families and groups
- Created a framework for future seasonal experiences across the organization
