Deer Park Home Becomes Canvas For Dolly, 9/11 And Holiday Light Shows

DEER PARK, NY — Over the past two years, the 48-year-old Deer Park resident James Hentschel has used thousands of programmable lights to transform his house into a rotating canvas of holiday displays and tributes to cultural icons — most recently Dolly Parton.

Hentschel put together the Parton display following news of the country music legend's death on August 25, covering his home in pink and purple lights and incorporating images of the singer.

But the setup is part of a hobby that began long before he started programming tributes at his Deer Park home.

"I was always into lights," Hentschel told Patch. "My first car, I [had] lights. My first house, I bought lights."

As the technology improved, so did his collection.

"They just kept getting better and better and better, and I just kept buying the new and improved stuff," he said.

Hentschel estimates he has spent between $4,000 and $5,000 on the setup, building his collection gradually over about eight months to a year rather than purchasing everything at once.

He added lights to the house, then lights that illuminate the home and others for the bushes, continuously expanding the display.

Hentschel uses products made by Govee, a lighting company with an online community where users can design and share effects. He creates most of what appears on his house himself, although he also draws from designs shared by other users.

Hentschel said the investment is worth it not only because he enjoys creating the displays, but because of the response he gets from people around Deer Park.

"I love doing it," he said. "All the feedback I get from the community — everybody seems to enjoy it."

His displays run throughout the year, covering everything from Halloween and Christmas to tributes following the deaths of prominent figures.

Hentschel said he has previously created displays honoring Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, as well as one honoring a friend who died.

Many of those choices have a personal connection to the era in which he grew up.

The people he honors are often figures he remembers as major icons of the 1970s, '80s and '90s, he said.

Hentschel is preparing a tribute for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He plans to reuse portions of the 9/11 display he created last year while updating it to mark the milestone anniversary.

And once September passes, the lights won't be going away.

Hentschel said he likes to create something new for each holiday, particularly around Christmas, when his house can take on different themes from week to week. Past ideas have included Candy Cane Lane and "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

For a hobby that started simply because he liked lights, Hentschel now has another reason to keep building.

Hentschel said a neighbor recently told him her young daughter has looked forward to seeing his lights since before she could walk. Now that she can, the girl tries to run up his driveway toward the display.

“It’s very heartwarming that other people enjoy it as much as I do," Hentschel said.