Reindeer Flight School still bringing smiles after nearly two decades

Published 7:00 am Saturday, December 9, 2023

One might say that Richard Phillips is in the lighting business. 

And even though he’s well known as the owner and operator of a Christmas lights display that has been a Milledgeville staple for the last 19 years, it’s the lighting up of faces — both young and old — that he admittedly loves most of all. 

“It just brings so much joy to me to see the kids’ faces light up…,” he said. “Just as soon as I see somebody’s face light up, the little kids, even the adults. I tell everybody when they hit the driveway, they turn to 6 years old no matter how old they are.” 

Phillips’ beloved Reindeer Flight School began nearly two decades ago when a faithful customer of his electronics repair shop in Sparta brought him a large reindeer to be fixed and then later gifted him with the outdoor décor. His late wife liked it too, and before long, the two had gathered quite a collection. 

Today, the walk-through display features well more than 50,000 lights strung upon trees, flying reindeer, candy canes, wreaths, stars, snowflakes, a train, a grand red sleigh and much, much more. 

“I couldn’t tell you how many I’ve got,” Phillips said of the lights. 

Phillips and his late wife designed and built most of the pieces, and even the ones that have been bought have been completely revamped. Each year, he adds something new and different to the collection. This year, among other pieces, he has added a Bethlehem star that boasts 6,000 lights. In addition, he’s made several new pieces – a gingerbread house, a nutcracker, a reindeer, an elf, gingerbread cookies and even a snowman – with cutouts in place for photo opportunities. 

Phillips said he works on the display year-round. When he takes it down in January, he moves the pieces to his shop, or the “hospital,” to begin working on any needed repairs. 

He begins putting it up in October each year, starting first in the back yard and then working his way to the front. 

And when he opens to the public, light seekers come from near and far. 

“I’ve had people come from Atlanta and Augusta,” he said. “I had a bunch of kids — I guess they were college girls — one night that said they were riding around trying to find places to come see lights, and I said, ‘Where are y’all from?’ She said, ‘We’re from on the other side of Augusta almost in South Carolina… and we drove all the way over here to see what your lights are like.”

While it has never snowed in the 19 years that Phillips has been hosted the Reindeer Flight School, last year did bring the coldest temperatures he’s seen, one night dipping to 15 degrees. That didn’t stop the visitors from coming, though, and while Phillips admits he did head for the gas logs on his back porch a time or two, he spent most of the night dressed as Santa in his sleigh. 

Santa sightings are a regular occurrence at Reindeer Flight School, and Phillips gladly plays the part. He’s come to know the kids he sees year after year. 

“I can walk by them in the store and recognize their children, but they don’t know who I am,” he said. 

While folks have encouraged him through the years to become more of a “commercial Santa,” he’s never been interested in that.

“I don’t do it for that,” he said. “I feel that Santa, he doesn’t go for the money…. Santa’s Santa, you know.”

Phillips encourages everyone to come to this year’s event, but the jolly old elf does remind visitors to walk carefully through the display.

“Come out and have a good time, but the main thing is no running,” he said.

This year’s Reindeer Flight School is set for Dec. 13 though Dec. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is open nightly unless it rains badly. There is no admission, but donations for electricity fees are appreciated. Santa sightings usually happen on Friday and Saturday nights, and folks are encouraged to check the Facebook page for updates as he’ll appear more frequently as Christmas approaches.

The Reindeer Flight School is located at 101 Sportsman Circle NE in Milledgeville. For more information call 478-452-6506.