Cameras to be installed at Rehoboth Beach Christmas attraction after lights severed

Shannon Marvel McNaught, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read
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Schellville, the popular Christmas attraction in Rehoboth Beach, is installing security cameras after experiencing vandalism almost every night since it opened, according to Schell Brothers spokesperson Alyssa Titus.

Delaware State Police have also been notified of the ongoing vandalism, according to Titus.

"To the GRINCH who is cutting lights nightly at Schellville," she wrote in a Facebook post. "Why?"

Strings of lights are being cut mainly on the south side of the attraction, in the area of the maze.

"Clean cuts clearly by a knife," Titus said.

Lights have also been unplugged, which Titus said she is sure is not an accident "because they are in places that you have to seek out to unplug."

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One of the severed string of lights at Schellville.
One of the severed string of lights at Schellville.

"We have spent hours tracking down the cuts and then re-stringing lights. When there is one cut, it can take out lights in an entire section because they are chained together," Titus said.

"Schellville Enchanted Winter Celebration" is located behind Tanger Outlets Seaside, off Holland Glade Road. Homebuilding company Schell Brothers first brought Schellville, a scaled-down town with nine miniature houses, to the Delaware beaches in 2017.

This year, the company undertook a massive expansion. In addition to the miniature houses, there's a skating rink, a maze, entertainment, food vendors, shopping, Santa Claus, miniature train rides and more.

Schellville expanded in 2021 and relocated to Holland Glade Road, behind Tanger Outlets Seaside.
Schellville expanded in 2021 and relocated to Holland Glade Road, behind Tanger Outlets Seaside.

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It's free to the public and run entirely by volunteers.

"A great deal of time, energy and community effort went into creating this," Titus said, addressing the vandals on Facebook. "You are making extra work for us daily, but we are committed to keeping our village bright and fun! You will not deter our mission of happiness."

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Schellville Christmas village to install cameras after lights cut