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Frosty's Winter Wonderland, 30-year Salt Lake City holiday display, comes down

Frosty's Winter Wonderland, 30-year Salt Lake City holiday display, comes down

Built World Salt Lake City, UT local

The Avenues display is dark after 30 seasons, and nearly all its decorations sold within minutes at an Oct. 24 sale

Overview

Updated Oct 26

Frosty's Winter Wonderland, the holiday display at 805 E. 18th Ave. in Salt Lake City's Avenues neighborhood, ended after 30 seasons. Nearly all of its decorations sold within minutes at a rummage sale on Saturday, Oct. 24, according to Hoodline and Utah News. KSL reported that owner Forrest Nunley sold more than 300 pieces and kept about 100 for his family.

Nunley told KSL he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease five years ago and later with cancer. He moved to a farm in Moab, and his body could no longer handle the annual setup. Buyers lined up about 8:30 a.m., and the sale opened at 9:45 a.m., Hoodline reported.

Why it matters

The display is gone; the piece sale is the last chance to preserve a 30-year Salt Lake holiday tradition.

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Key Indicators

30
Years of operation
Frosty's Winter Wonderland ran for 30 holiday seasons in the Avenues neighborhood.
320
Blow-mold figures
Molded light-up figures in the collection, mostly from the 1970s through 1990s, as of December 2025.
300+
Pieces sold
Decorations sold at the Oct. 24, 2026 sale, per KSL. About 100 pieces were kept by the family.

Voices

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

1996 October 2026

4 events Latest: October 24th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Rummage sale sells nearly all decorations

    Latest Sale

    Buyers lined up about 8:30 a.m. for the sale at 805 E. 18th Ave. Nearly all pieces sold within minutes. KSL reported more than 300 pieces sold and about 100 kept by the family.

  2. Tribune reports display ending

    Announcement

    The Salt Lake Tribune reports that after 30 years, Frosty's Winter Wonderland is no more; pieces of the display are for sale.

  3. Homeowners announce rummage sale of decorations

    Announcement

    Axios Salt Lake City reported the homeowners would hold a rummage sale of the display's light-up candy canes, nutcrackers and blow molds from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at 805 E. 18th Ave.

  4. Display begins in the Avenues

    Milestone

    Frosty's Winter Wonderland starts its 30-year run in Salt Lake City's Avenues neighborhood (approximate).

Scenarios

1

Frosty's pieces sell out before Christmas

Likely Resolves by Dec 25, 2026

Discussed by: Salt Lake Tribune readers

The Tribune's article tells readers how to buy pieces of the display. Strong demand could sell out the inventory before the holiday season ends.

2

Display relocates to a new location

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Local residents

The owners could sell the full display to a buyer who moves it to a new site. If that happens, the display could reappear elsewhere in a future season.

3

A new display replaces Frosty's in the Avenues

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Neighborhood observers

With Frosty's gone, another resident or group could start a new display in the Avenues, continuing the neighborhood's holiday tradition under new ownership.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1960s–present

Temple Square Christmas lights (1960s–present)

Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City has hosted a Christmas light display since the 1960s, drawing visitors to walk among more than a million lights.

Then

The display remains a major Salt Lake holiday attraction.

Now

It has become the city's most well-known holiday tradition.

Why this matters now

Frosty's Winter Wonderland was one of many Salt Lake displays; Temple Square's lights continue, highlighting the loss of a neighborhood tradition.

Ongoing

Ogden Christmas Village (ongoing)

Ogden's Christmas Village turns downtown streets into a walk-through holiday scene with elf cottages and thousands of lights each December.

Then

The village draws visitors throughout the holiday season.

Now

It remains a fixture of Utah holiday displays.

Why this matters now

Like Temple Square, it continues while Frosty's ends, showing the broader ecosystem of Utah holiday displays.

Sources

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