New Caretaker Wanted for Millis Wonderland
When Kevin Meehan says, “Have I got a deal for you!’’ this winter, he really means it.
He’s proposing a giveaway of unprecedented proportions.
Meehan is owner of the All-American Imperial dealerships in Mendon (Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram).
His dealerships long have been big on community involvement with several of his events growing to stretch the ability of small towns to accommodate.
Free for the taking—with some significant caveats—is his Millis Wonderland, the nationally acclaimed Christmas village and holiday attraction that he estimates will attract 22,000 cars and 77,000 passengers driving through the family’s farm between Dec. 5-25.
Meehan is searching for a suitable nonprofit that can:
1. Provide space for the 1,200 animations, 45 glass-encased floats, 100,000 lights and supporting equipment.
2. Pledge to use the assets for the celebration of Christmas and benefit of the community.
3. Give assurances it will operate “The Wonderland’’ annually for a significant number of years.
In 2008, Meehan inaugurated “The Show,’’ a local car show that grew to 3,000 cars and 35,000 spectators with free carnival rides and games. Ultimately, the security requirements for such a big gathering caused the event to be discontinued after the 2013 event.
Millis Wonderland began with Meehan and his family stringing some lights together about 10 years ago. Then it just grew and grew until it reached its current 43-acre size.
And spectators arrived.
So did accolades and significant outside attention.
NBC’s “The Today Show’’ viewers voted it America’s best holiday light display, and personality/weatherman Al Roker broadcast live from the grounds to celebrate his “Al Be Home for Christmas’’ contest.
The displays have been featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America,’’ CNN’s “Giving in Focus,’’ HGTV’s “All Out Christmas’’ as well as on NECN and WCVB TV.
In 2013, Edsel B. Ford II cited Millis Wonderland as one of the key factors in deciding to honor Meehan with the company’s prestigious Salute to Dealers Award. Ford presents the award annually to five or six dealers internationally.
Ford’s video also recognizes Meehan’s dealership which, in itself, has become a destination for music lovers to see his collection of music memorabilia or to enjoy a meal at his retro Miss Mendon Diner.
Admission for the nightly 6-10 p.m. display always has been free but Imperial employees are there to “ring the bell’’ for the Salvation Army of the Greater Milford area, which accepts cash donations, new coats and gloves, and nonperishable food.
The generosity of Wonderland visitors makes it the largest single collection site for the Salvation Army in Massachusetts, providing assistance for approximately 1,500 people.
Traffic strains two-lane Causeway street—“it’s just too much for the road to handle.’’ That’s one reason Meehan has decided to move on, but he also wants to explore new ways of giving back.
“Our kids have grown up and moved on,’’ he says. “They’re either in, close to, or out of college, and they have their own lives.’’
“It’s a transfer, a relocation of the assets, and hopefully some recognizable element of the name, to a different host and site. My family and I have put way too much into it, the number of people needing assistance is way too high, and the benefits to the community are way too important for anything less,’’ he says.
Nonprofits should express interest in acquiring “Millis Wonderland’’ via email to [email protected] or calling him at 508-473-2800.
Additional background is available at the website milliswonderland.com.
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