Shelley Ridge Farms continuing tradition of yearly holiday light display

The Shelley family – Jeff, Janna, Toraleah and Aaron – took over the farm at the former Living Waters Christian Grounds seven years ago. Two years ago they re-branded to Shelley Ridge Farms, but one mainstay throughout all of the change has been the yearly holiday light display.

“The people prior to us had owned it for two years,” Janna Shelley said of the property, located at 1511 Frankfort School Road in Corbin. “It was a lot smaller, but every year that we’ve owned it we have added to it.”

“The original vision was to keep Christ in Christmas,” said Toraleah Shelley. “When we took it over we wanted to make sure and keep that as the focus, so the first half of the light show is mostly about that. We don’t want to forget the real reason for the season.”

At the midway point of the drive-through lights display at Shelley Ridge Farms, visitors can park their vehicles and enter an indoor area where kids can have their picture taken with Santa Claus. And not just “a” Santa Claus, but “the” Santa Claus.

“Santa has been the same ever since we’re owned the farm,” Toraleah Shelley explained, adding that it’s nice for visitors to be able to get Santa photos featuring the same face every year.

After meeting the big man, families have plenty of options for what to do next. They can get up close and personal with some animals in the stalls next door, they can enjoy a hay ride. If you want, you can grab a hot cup of cider or cocoa, and either sit next to a fire pit or take a stroll through a wintry wonderland. If actual snow isn’t falling, then don’t worry, that can be added any time courtesy of an on-site snow machine.

“I’ve kind of always wanted to make it feel like a Hallmark Christmas movie,” said Toraleah. “I enjoy it, but it is a lot of work.”

“It is nice being able to provide something like this to the local community,” said Janna Shelley. “It is a family business, and every year we will put some of the proceeds back into the farm so that we can continue to grow it.”

In the future, plans are in place to further expand the indoor offerings at Shelley Ridge Farms, and to add additional parking space in order to accommodate more vehicles. There is also an ongoing effort to increase the number of lights and structures that are on display.

“We appreciate everyone’s business,” Toraleah added. “We wouldn’t be able to operate without our customers. We appreciate seeing people come down to spend part of their holidays with us.”

The light display at Shelley Ridge Farms is open nightly through Dec. 23. Admission is $20 per carload, with larger vans and small busses being $30, depending on total occupancy of the vehicle.

For more information, search for Shelley Ridge Farms on Facebook.