Reindeer Flight School takes flight for another season
Published 3:15 pm Saturday, December 8, 2018
- For more than 10 years, the RFS has entertained crowds of people during Christmastime with a display of thousands of lights, a squad of majestic reindeer, a greenhouse showcasing a Christmas village, a 30-foot tall candy cane, and nightly appearances by the man in the big red hat himself — Santa Claus.
Few local people embody the joy, hopefulness and love of the Christmas season more than Richard Phillips — the creator, along with his late wife Sandra, of the Reindeer Flight School, located at 101 Sportsman Circle on Lake Sinclair.
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For more than 10 years, the RFS has entertained crowds of people during Christmastime with a display of thousands of lights, a squad of majestic reindeer, a greenhouse showcasing a Christmas village, a 30-foot tall candy cane, and nightly appearances by the man in the big red hat himself — Santa Claus.
Phillips is an inventor and fixer who spent his professional life repairing electronics at his shop in Sparta. His customers would bring him anything that no longer worked including TVs, radios, appliances, and yes, Christmas decorations.
“Many people would just let me have the decorations I worked on, and they would go out and buy new ones,” he said. “Once I got them to work again, I brought them home to decorate our yard.”
Wife Sandra was a gifted designer who mapped out where the décor would be placed throughout their lakefront property. After a few years of using store-bought pieces, she decided there was a need to take the holiday display to the next level.
“She designed large-scale reindeer and the Santa’s sleigh, and I made them in my shop here at our home,” said Phillips.
Standing next to the handmade, life-sized reindeer is nothing short of intimidating for anyone who has attempted crafting; simply put, there is nothing crafty about them — they are true craftsmanship.
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From creating the design to the cutting, sanding, staining, and building of each deer, together, the Phillipses proved to be a masterful production team.
“She designed, and I built,” he said. “I did my best to bring her drawings to life, and we had real leather harnesses with bells made especially for each of them.”
At Christmastime, reindeer are tasked with one duty-transporting Kris Kringle — and, of course, Phillips was not going to let him ride in just any jalopy. Nothing short of providing the jolly old fellow with a big-city parade worthy sleigh would do for these perfectionists.
The red wood-carved sleigh was made large enough to hold families for pictures and includes two rear steps where additional individuals can stand poised behind those occupying the main seating.
Years ago, as Sandra realized that she and her husband had fully committed to the RFS, she designed and sewed a one-of-a-kind Santa suit for Phillips to wear as he greeted onlookers. He credits the finely-tailored suit for assisting him in getting in character.
“The suit is really something very special, and there is not another one like it anywhere, but I do have to stuff it because I’m a bit thinner than the real Santa Claus,” he said.
On the nights that the RFS is open to the public, Phillips, dressed as Claus, stands in his driveway waving at onlookers-inviting them to park and take a stroll. He does not charge a penny to take the magical journey but does ask for everyone to be careful along the walking paths.
There are several picture-taking opportunities throughout the property including the aforementioned red sleigh, a sitting reindeer who wants to be sat upon, and a train with cutout spaces to allow for faces to appear through.
“I love taking pictures with my visitors, and you wouldn’t believe the adults who want to have their picture taken with Santa, too,” he said.
Playing Santa Claus is not limited to the Reindeer Flight School — for more than a decade, Phillips has served as the Mary Vinson Library’s official “special guest” for holiday storytimes.
“We have a few holiday-themed puppet shows/skits that involve Santa, his lead elf, Silver Spurs, and their last-minute Christmas antics,” said Twin Lakes Library System Youth Services Coordinator Sarah Hamil. “Richard usually comes in at the end of the storytime to sit in a chair and let children meet him and tell him what they’d like for Christmas.”
Phillips counts his volunteering at the library as some of the most important work he has done in his life. He said the joy he receives from making those children — from all walks of life — happy, is more than rewarding.
“Every year, we inevitably have a child or two that is very shy/skeptical/apprehensive about Santa, but most children are excited, full of wonder, and anticipation when they see the big guy in red,” said Hamil. “We’re so appreciative of the work he puts in — the kids would be so sad if he didn’t make an appearance during storytime.”
Indeed, this world needs more people like Richard Phillips — at Christmastime and all year long.
Hamil added: “Honestly, he is the real Santa to us! Richard always has a hug and a jolly laugh for me whenever we meet — even when it’s not December. He’s a magical part of our community.”
For more information on the Reindeer Flight School visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/reindeerflightschool/