For many Minnesotans, there is a holiday memory that still feels vivid: the giant oak tree along Highway 77 in Bloomington, lit from top to trunk with thousands of sparkling white lights. It’s been more than a decade since the tree lit up the winter nights, but the memories remain strong.
“When people find out that the beautiful, old oak sits nestled on our Bloomington location, they light up,” says Marlena Hemenway, co-founder of The Geneva Suites, a family-owned residential assisted living provider. “They tell us they remember driving by it on the way to visit loved ones, or seeing it while stuck in traffic on 77. One woman said her husband proposed under the tree. Another shared that when she was deployed, her parents sent her a picture of it, and it instantly felt like Christmas again. Someone else told me that flying into MSP and spotting the tree meant they were home.”
For Marlena, the memories are personal too. “I remember driving past it with my kids when they were little,” she says. “When the lights came on, it felt like the holidays could finally begin.”
This year, after more than ten dark Decembers, the tree will shine once again.
The idea to relight the oak grew out of a simple observation: the world feels heavy lately. “People are tired,” Marlena says. “We can’t fix everything, but we can add a little more light.” Bringing back a symbol that once brought joy to so many felt like the right kind of hope.
When Marlena and Scott acquired the home where the oak tree stands, they knew it carried history. They recently reached out to the previous owners, Bob and Julie Little, who had lovingly maintained the tradition for years. “They were thrilled to know the tree might light up the skies again,” she says.
As the owners of The Geneva Suites, Marlena and Scott have dedicated their work to a simple mission: enhancing lives. The Geneva Suites cares for vulnerable adults in small residential homes throughout the Twin Cities, and they see the Lighted Oak as a way to extend that mission beyond their front doors. “We love caring for our residents, their families, our staff and now, in a new way, our community,” Marlena says. “Bringing the Lighted Oak back is another way of enhancing lives.”
The community reaction has been warm and enthusiastic. People across Bloomington and beyond have shared their memories with surprising emotion, but donations have been slower. The project is just over 20% funded, and the goal covers commercial-grade lights and the equipment needed to reach the top of the enormous oak. Two local business owners, Sam Klinefelter of Boulder Bridge and Fritz Rile of FCR Cleaning and Lighting, have generously discounted their labor to help make the project possible.
“We truly need the community’s support to light the tree again—and to keep the tradition going for years to come,” Marlena says.
Contributions of any size make an impact. Support can be given by texting ShineOn to (206) 672-7222. Even for those unable to give financially, sharing the story with friends and neighbors helps widen the circle of support.
The oak is scheduled to relight on the evening of December 7. Because vulnerable adults live in the home on the property, the event will be closed and by invitation only, but the community is warmly encouraged to enjoy the lights from the street or while driving along Cedar Avenue throughout the season. The tree will remain lit through January 31.
“We all need a little more joy and light right now,” Marlena says. “If this tree can give people even one moment of that, it’s worth it.”
The details
The Lighted Oak of Bloomington
The Geneva Suites
9145 Meadowview Road
Bloomington, MN 55425
(Hwy 77 and Old Shakopee)
December 7 – January 31
5:00 – 10:00 pm 7 nights a week
Enjoy the tree from the street or as you drive along Highway 77. To respect the privacy and safety of the residents who live on the property, please avoid parking on the grass or coming up the driveway
Contribute to help offset the costs
Text ShineOn to (206) 672-7222
For 200+ Christmas light displays around Minnesota and western Wisconsin, check out the 2025 Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide
