“This is the perfect town,” said Klaus, 59, who grew up in Parma and now lives in Akron. “It looks like a scene from a Hallmark movie.”
Long-time Medina real estate agent Jim Gerspacher, who helped the Klauses find and purchase the Medina church and adjacent buildings, said people always worry about what is unfamiliar. Mark Klaus credits his father, the late Gene Klaus , with fostering his love of an over-the-top Christmas. “My dad was the original Clark Griswold,” said Klaus. He hung a 16-foot tree from the ceiling in the living room and created high-wattage holiday displays in their neighborhood that drew crowds of onlookers.
The collection kept growing until he decided he needed a place to display it all, first in Brecksville, then in North Olmsted and finally in Medina. * Costumes and props from dozens of films and TV shows, including “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “The Santa Clause,” “A Christmas Carol” and “Elf.” The “Elf” exhibit includes Will Ferrell’s iconic green Buddy suit, plus a nearly identical purple one used in a deleted hockey scene; the “Grinch” features Jim Carrey’s original yak-and-spandex suit, plus the bedroom set from Cindy Lou Who.
Visits are by guided tour only, which allows guests to hear some of the backstories on the exhibits.