Winter wonderland lights

An unusually rainy summer caused the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area to be submerged under the rising waters. The lake rose 35.63 feet above normal July 18, which waterlogged the Fort Hood Morale Wellness and Recreation’s plans of turning BLORA into a holiday lit winter wonderland for area families.

But as the waters started to wane, the damage caused to the park began to surface. Much work would have to be done with little time to repair the damage and construct the Nature in Lights trail, a central Texas holiday tradition.

Roads, sewer lift stations and electrical panel box sources had to be repaired and safety issues had to be addressed to ensure all patrons a safe environment. The majority of the light displays were cleaned and rebulbed prior to being set up. The area where the light displays were stored stood under six to eight feet of water.

“We were unable to get to the right displays until Sept. 15,” said Mike Mennor, director of Outdoor Recreation at BLORA.

 Repairing all the damage from the summer flooding in BLORA alone is currently estimated at $1.3 million. During the flood several sections within the designated route sustained major damages.

 “As the waters were rising, I kept picturing the Belton Lake flood conditions back in 1991, which cost approximately $3.2 million to repair,” Mennor said.

That was the year Belton Lake rose 40 feet and crested over the spillway of the dam, flooding the valley below.
“It was just hard to stand by and watch our recreational facilities go under water again only to wait and see what is left after the water recedes,” Mennor said.

The construction of the Nature in Lights trail was delayed until the beginning of November, and with the holiday season three weeks away, much work had to be done in little time.

“We had a lot of different challenges with the water being so high, and everybody was thinking that it couldn’t be done, but the employees pulled together,” said Koy Hicks, director of public relations for MWR.

“It was never decided that we were not going to do Nature in Lights. Everyone involved wanted it to go, from the sponsors to the employees. It was the water that was uncooperative.”

Hicks said the amount of time they had to put into the rebuilding was remarkable. Even with the delay, they still had most of the sponsors choose to support the show. They even had a few new sponsors.

Indeed, the rebuilding process would take a colossal collective effort from those involved.

“Usually there are 14 guys who do the entire setup, but this year there were 40 civilians and 12 soldiers that helped out,” Hicks said.

But on the third Thursday in November, the crew had much to be thankful for when the re-built Nature in Lights trail opened to the public.

Perhaps it was the soldiers’ enduring instincts to make something out of nothing, the good Samaritans who brought extra man power to the project, or maybe it was a little faith which provided ideal working conditions in the month of November.

“Our employees have been working night and day, around the clock to make Nature in Lights happen this season. We pride ourselves on giving this holiday gift to the greater central Texas community, especially our soldiers and families,” Mennor said in a press release.

The water is still high in some parts of the park, and the trail had to be adjusted a little, but maybe that’s part of what makes this year so special to those involved in the rebuilding process.

Hicks said, “It’s prettier this year because the lake is much closer. The lights reflect off the water.”