Winter Wonderland of Lights At Tilles Park

Listen to Christmas music, as you check out the North Pole and drive under jumping deer at the Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park in Ladue.

This St. Louis area holiday tradition began in 1987. Glimmering lights are fashioned into over 100 displays of festive characters and winter scenes in seventy-five acres of parkland.

An electric sign saying “Winter Wonderland” also marks the entrance.
An electric sign saying “Winter Wonderland” also marks the entrance.

At the Entrance

You can only enter the Christmas drive-through display from southbound Litzsinger at the McKnight Road entrance to Tilles Park.

Stay on the far right of southbound Litzsinger so you don’t back up traffic. You wait here until they are ready for you to enter. I came early at 5 p.m. to avoid the crowds and was third in line.

Stone gatehouse
Stone gatehouse

A decorated stone gatehouse can be seen on the far right.

The ticket booth is ahead on the left as I enter. I pass by the words "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."
The ticket booth is ahead on the left as I enter. I pass by the words “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.”

Next, I came to the ticket booth and paid them the entrance fee of $20 cash.

Tune your dial to 90.1 FM for Christmas Music as you drive.
Tune your dial to 90.1 FM for Christmas Music as you drive.

The Drive

On my right, I notice the sign for Winter Wonderland Music at 90.1 FM and turn the dial to this station.

I came to the park sign and went to the right of it to start the drive. (Main Photo).

Next, I drive through arches of lights as the color surrounds me.
Next, I drive through arches of lights as the color surrounds me.
See a red-lit “Seasons Greetings” with a green forest around it.
See a red-lit “Seasons Greetings” with a green forest around it.
“Jingle Bells” spelled out in a fun way.
“Jingle Bells” spelled out in a fun way.
Red and green lights shimmer on a Christmas cottage.
Red and green lights shimmer on a Christmas cottage.
Green frogs jump in a lighted pond.
Green frogs jump in a lighted pond.
Then I pass by the "North Pole."
Then I pass by the “North Pole.”
It's good to see the St. Louis Blues represented.
It’s good to see the St. Louis Blues represented.
Elves put together toys for the children.
Elves put together toys for the children.
Santa heads off with his reindeer.
Santa heads off with his reindeer.
Mice fight with swords taken from the “Sugar Plum Fairy.”
Mice fight with swords taken from the “Sugar Plum Fairy.”
Then I came to a lighted blue lake with Santa on a jet ski and a sailboat.
Then I came to a lighted blue lake with Santa on a jet ski and a sailboat.
A patriotic-themed display
A patriotic-themed display
Reindeer jump over the car.
Reindeer jump over the car.
One last look at the trees filled with color well-incorporated throughout the park drive.
One last look at the trees filled with color well-incorporated throughout the park drive.
Then lastly “And to All … A Good Night.”
Then lastly “And to All … A Good Night.”

HOW TO ENTER WINTERLAND OF LIGHTS AT TILLES PARK

Drive: Take Exit 30 off of Interstate 64 go south on McKnight Road and look for the park entrance on the right just before Litzsinger Road. Vehicular traffic should stay to the right and enter the park from the McKnight Road entrance gate. All traffic will exit the park from the Litzsinger Road exit gate.

Address: 9551 Litzsinger Rd, Ladue, MO 63124

Admission

$20-Family Vehicle- Cash only if you pay at the gate. You can also reserve online for an additional $3 service fee.

Hours

5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Monday- Sunday, through Dec. 20, Closed Christmas Eve. The busiest hour of the night is usually 6:30-7:30 p.m. If you can arrive earlier or later than that, you’re likely to have less of a wait.

MORE ST. LOUIS AREA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Seeing Christmas Lights on Candy Cane Lane

During the holiday season, the St. Louis Hills neighborhood along the 6500 block of Murdoch Avenue lights up with hundreds of strands of Christmas lights to become Candy Cane Lane.

See Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland of Lights

Whimsical Christmas lights reflecting off a lake are found at Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland drive-thru light display at Horner Park.

BOTH TILLES PARKS IN SNOW

This is the tale of two Tilles Parks, one located in Ladue, Mo., and one in St. Louis city, and their shared origin.

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