Courtesy Jason Robison

One night in December 2018, hundreds of people looked out of their windows to see a giant lighted star on the mountainside in Pleasant Grove. This was a delightful surprise to residents and to all who could see it for miles. Just a few days ago, a giant strawberry light design lit up the mountain. In the time between these two displays, many other lighted creations have brought brightness to all of us.

Now, the artist behind the designs, former Pleasant Grove resident David Hartle, along with his family, is hanging up his lights and tools and hoping for someone else to take over the tradition that so many have come to love. Even after moving away from the city a few years ago, the family has continued to come back to hike up the mountain, create the designs, hike up for repairs and then take the lights down again.

Over the past seven years, I have had the opportunity to write about the lights and have loved seeing them from my windows. After that first star, there were giant strawberries during Strawberry Days, a bat in October, a heart surrounded by the shape of Utah to promote hope during the pandemic, and, in 2021, a giant question mark inside a speech bubble made with about 60 solar-powered lights. Hartle was asked by the PG Cares committee to put this particular design on the mountain to kick off a youth vaping educational campaign.

In fact, many of the light creations showed up when the community was celebrating or even when there were struggles. Once, a colored light was added by Hartle to a design in honor of a young child who had just passed away due to an accident. Yes, the lights were often beacons of hope and peace to those who saw them.

“Doing the mountain light displays over the past seven years has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It brought our family closer together — hiking, planning and laughing through each season as we worked side by side to serve the community,” Hartle said. “My mom, Vickie Hartle, always taught us to love and serve others, and this became a way to live that out in a really tangible way.”

Courtesy Jeremy Hall

Hartle said there were times in his own life when he was struggling, and the kind words from people in the community — telling him how the lights became part of their family traditions or how it brightened their day when they needed it most — truly lifted him. “It reminded me that small acts of service can ripple out in big ways. It also kept me active and gave me a real sense of purpose and accomplishment, knowing I was doing something that brought joy to others. I’m incredibly grateful for what this journey has given me,” he said.

Because Hartle was recently diagnosed with neck and back issues, he can no longer physically create the designs. After this was announced recently on the Pleasant Grove Community Connection Facebook page, many residents wrote about their gratitude to the Hartle family.

“Thank you, Hartle family, for sharing your love, talent with our community. It made my heart happy to see these beautiful, amazing creations of light that brought me and my husband so much joy as we gazed upon them and know what a caring, kind family you are,” stated one comment. “Thank you for lighting up our lives,” stated another.

Yes, the lights will be missed, and there is hope that someone else can take over the job that has brought so much, well, light to so many people.