Photos: Repairing storm-ravaged Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Volunteers joined staff to ready the popular Duluth attraction for reopening.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights volunteers repair one of the signs damaged in Wednesday’s storm as the wind kicks up Thursday morning. The drive-thru lighting display suffered extensive damage in Wednesday's storm, executive director Nathan Bentley said. Many of the signs had their wood legs snapped or bases ripped apart by the winds. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
Duluth's Bentleyville Tour of Lights drive-thru display was closed Wednesday due to a blizzard and again Thursday as subzero temperatures and bone-chilling wind were forecast.
“We are grateful to everyone who came down to help repair, but due to the cold, we cannot safely open tonight," Bentleyville Executive Director Nathan Bentley said in a news release Thursday. "We appreciate the public’s understanding and hope to reopen tomorrow.”
Volunteers were recruited to reassemble the display Thursday morning after the blizzard toppled barricades, signs and other elements.
The attraction is scheduled to be open Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m. and Sunday from 5-9 p.m.
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Volunteer Mark Harten screws a leg to a storm-damaged sign at Bentleyville on Thursday. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
Wednesday’s storm winds ripped apart the bases of some signs at Bentleyville. Other signs had their wood legs snapped clean through. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
On Thursday morning, workers move part of a lighting display damaged by Wednesday’s storm at Bentleyville. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
Volunteer Tim McShane rights one of the Bentleyville signs toppled by Wednesday’s storm. This sign was unusual in that its legs were not broken. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
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The wind catches a Bentleyville sign Mike Stevens retrieved Thursday after rising winds blew it off its frame. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
A section of Bentleyville's barricade knocked down in Wednesday’s storm lies on the snow again after the wind toppled it again late Thursday morning. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
