PHELPS - Kids and adults love gingerbread houses around the holidays.

But in Phelps, they're taking that passion one step further.

What was a vacant lot has turned into the perfect place to start a new holiday tradition.

This life-size gingerbread house was the idea of Shelly Ray, who designed it so that every detail is just perfect.

"Shelly had it all mapped out, and said, 'you're doing this, you're doing this, you're doing this', then we all came together and did everything," says Tuckey Requa of the Phelps Chamber of Commerce.

"I've been stringing the lights, making candy canes, and helping to put rebar in," Phelps student Taylor Huca chimes in.

Between this gingerbread house, the candy canes, the lollipops, it took a team effort from the people in Phelps to make it happen.

It's a true sign of the community in the small town.

"There's tremendous support in this town for itself. People pull together amazingly here. It's a very, very committed community," Requa says.

While the team finished the house Sunday, the real unveiling will be on Friday.

Santa lights the town Christmas tree every year around this time before dozens of anxious kids.

For the first time, it will be here, by the gingerbread house.

"It's drop-dead perfect. It's perfect. It's going to look gorgeous when it's lit up," Requa says.

"It's actually better than I imagined that it would be," says Huca.

A better gingerbread house - starting a new tradition in town.

Santa's visit and tree lighting are at 6:30 Friday night in Phelps.

Story By: Ben Meyer