About Us

The Ludy‘s Christmas Lights Spectacular Display is a multitude of lights sequenced to music. Jerry, Edith, and their children have shared their excitement of lights with the community of Columbus, GA and surrounding areas for years.

Edith, one of four children, was the sibling who took charge of decorations in her family. Edith’s passion for bringing a smile to a child increased her desires to create more displays within the inside of the home. Upon entering the Ludy home, you are greeted with the most spectacular Nativity scene, a beautiful hand crafted Advent Calendar, and hand sewn Christmas Stockings for each member of the family.

When Jerry was a young boy of 12, he built his first Christmas project; a Santa out of paper grocery bags. Jerry painted a face and placed C-9 lights around a frame of wood. This small project increased each year until Jerry found himself as an adult decorating the outside of his own home. Jerry took delight in the admiring visitors driving by, providing inspiration to build and share something new each year that followed.

As Jerry introduces a new creation, with it comes an increase in the number of lights outside of the home each year. In 2006, the light count was greater than 60,000, with Jerry adding an average of 8,000 lights to the home each year. In 2011 the light count is well over 100,000 lights. Many ask about the Ludy's power bill, which used to reach four digits each November & December. However, when Jerry went "Green" several years ago, sequencing his lights to music, swapping out some of the lights for LED's, and having Georgia Power install another power box, he was able to get the power bill under control, now averaging only $100 additional dollars each month during the Christmas season.

As mentioned, all of the lights are now sequenced to music, controlled by a computerized program Jerry commands. Each song takes about three weeks to program as each individual strand of lights (over three miles worth) must be accounted for and included in the program. The music is transmitted through a FM transmitter that can be received while driving within site of the home. All visitors entering the Cottonwood Subdivision can tune their radio station to FM 90.1 and listen to the Ludy's Christmas Lights Spectacular. As you top the hill you witness the magic of lights dancing in sync to holiday music coming from your car speakers.

Each January Jerry starts the brainstorming process all over with simple drawings on a dry erase board. From there, he begins on a new project to introduce Thanksgiving evening later that year. He works tirelessly inside his Santa's Workshop, keeping the new creation top secret until the Grand Lighting night. Some of Jerry's Christmas projects have included:

In 2006, Jerry constructed a 35’ Santa, Sleigh, and Reindeer that stretched across the roof with Santa tossing gifts into the Ludy's chimney. It's been quite the center piece of the display ever since.
In 2007, Jerry incorporated the neighbor's home; having his rooftop Santa toss gifts over and behind his head, onto a trampoline of lights that then bounces into the neighbor's chimney, all while standing on the Ludy's roof! Now that takes some skill!... but what else would you expect from Santa?
In 2008, Jerry constructed three seven foot tall Snowmen to make the "Snowman Snowball Fight". One snowman in the Ludy's yard, one next door, and one across the street. The Three Snowmen throw snowballs at at each other between the three different homes! Wow! Visitors enjoy the opportunity to drive by the Ludy's home, watching in amazement as snowballs are thrown over their cars! (With the property across the street from the Ludy's home currently vacant and without power, this project has been temporarily downsized to a two man Snowman Snowball fight, with the snowmen fighting in between the Ludy's home and the next door neighbor's).
In 2009, Jerry constructed and added Santa's Lighting Engineer Elf who now kicks off the program each night by plugging in the two extension cords that light up the entire house (picture Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation). It's definitely an intro worth sitting and waiting to see at 6pm each evening.
In 2010 Jerry surprised us all with his hand created and beautifully designed Big Blue LED Snowflakes adorning the roof. They are so gorgeous! Of course, these spectacular creations just weren't enough! As visitors parked on the far right of the house they could listen for the croaking of "Gus the Christmas Frog". Gus appears out of a gift Santa tosses on the roof. He then jumps from the Ludy's home to the neighbor's roof and finally into a hand created lit birdbath! You won't want to miss him and of course little boys & girls love Gus!
In 2011 Jerry created the most beautiful 17 foot Mega Christmas Tree made completely out of 7,000 Christmas Lights topped with a spectacular 4 foot Bethlehem Star. The front lawn was then outlined and adorned with new Leaping Lit Arches. The children really enjoyed watching the arches dance in sync with the music.
So what's in store for 2012? Jerry has shared some of the most marvelous wishes and dreams for the new year. No doubt you will be in for a surprise! Happy New Year and wishing your family many blessings the whole year through.

A lot of preparation and work goes into this display in order to have all the lights working and in synchronization with the music. Jerry could not create this light wonderland each year if it wasn't for the help of his son, Keith. Since Keith was old enough to walk, he has played a large role in the preparation of the lights. It takes many months to prepare for this spectacular day. Keith and Jerry start placing lights on the roof during the second week of August, working all the way leading up to Thanksgiving.

Jerry and Edith's oldest daughter, Julie Hedges, owner of JE Hedges Photography and JE Hedges Photo Booth in Columbus, created and maintains the Ludy Christmas website. During the Christmas Season, dates will be posted regarding special evenings that will consist of visits with Santa. Santa will be providing candy canes for the children as he listens to all of their wishes. It is a great time to fellowship with neighbors and friends. Be sure to bring a camera to take that priceless photo of your loved one sitting with Santa.

Jerry and Edith both love Christmas because of celebrating that special day when Jesus Christ was born. Jesus has blessed both of them in so many ways; they want to share the joy of those blessings by bringing a smile to anyone that is able to see their display. Since Jesus is the Light of the World, then they want their lights to shine in celebration of his birth.

Visit us at 5784 Ironstone Drive, Columbus, Georgia, 31907 in the Cottonwood Plantation neighborhood. Tons of fun and excitement! So be sure to bring the family by and discover what Christmas magic Santa has planned for 2012! The Ludy‘s Christmas Light Spectacular opens Thanksgiving Evening, Thursday, November 22nd, 2012.

We look forward to seeing you!
Mr. & Mrs. Claus - Jerry & Edith Ludy
The Elves - Julie, Cary, London, Keith, Kristi, Savannah, Robert, Gracie, Zachary, & Madison