Special: The Elves

As a little holiday treat, we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes with you again — ad free — to enjoy this weekend.

Arizona might not seem like the typical setting for holiday magic, but for decades, some mysterious local “elves” have turned a spherical, scrubby-looking desert juniper out on I-17 into what has to have been one of America’s more unlikely Christmas spectacles; but who are they, and why are they so determined to light up the lonely landscape? 

Pre order Laurah’s book LAY THEM TO REST: https://www.hachettebooks.com/titles/laurah-norton/lay-them-to-rest/9780306828805/

Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton

Researched by Bryan Worters and Laurah Norton

Engineered, Scored, Script-Edited, and Produced by Maura Currie 

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OSTPod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestrangethingpod/

 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/One-Strange-Thing-114307627035607

Interested in advertising on our show? Contact Glassbox Media: https://glassboxmedia.com/contact-us/

Copyright One Strange Thing Podcast LLC 2022

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

N/A, “Mystery Surrounds Tree. . .” ADOT, 2011.

AZ FAMILY NEWS STAFF, “Santa’s Helpers Decorate. . .”  AZ FAMILY, 2018.

KNPX STAFF, “The Mystery of the. . .” 12 News, 2016.

“Cordes Junction, Arizona: Mystery Christmas Tree.” Roadside America.

Audrey Jensen, “Famous Tree on I-17. . .” The Arizona Republic, 2020.

N/A, AP, “Decorated Juniper a Mystery,” The Tucson Press, 1995. 

Leolinda Bowers, “Northern Arizona Highway. . .” Active Rain, 2009. 

Dennis Wagner, “The Humble Tree. . .” The Arizona Republic, 2011.

The Prescott Times, Facebook, 2020.

Rebecca Thomas, “Decorator of I-17. . .” CBS-5, 2013.

Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez, “Did You Know: The I-17. . . “ KJZZ, 2013.

Laurie Merrill, “VIDEO: Arizona’s Official Balladeer. . .” ADOT, 2019.

Andrew Oxford, “Famous Tree on I-17 Hurt. . .” The Arizona Republic, 2019.

Dollan Ellis, “What History Has Taught Us,” Trust West Magazine, 2019.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices