Oklahoma's ' King of the Holiday Inflatables'

'Tis the season to deck the halls and houses with holiday displays. You've seen the traditional wreaths and strings of lights, but in recent years another trend has really blown up. <br/><br/>News

Wednesday, December 8th 2004, 5:57 am

By: News On 6

'Tis the season to deck the halls and houses with holiday displays. You've seen the traditional wreaths and strings of lights, but in recent years another trend has really blown up.

News on Six reporter Heather Lewin introduces us to a Muskogee man who calls himself 'the king of holiday inflatables.'

â€œI saw my first inflatable at a store in Tulsa. It was a Santa Claus and I knew I just had to have it. It was bigger than anything I'd seen before." With that purchase five years ago, Jason Jones' ambition grew to be the man with the most inflatables, ever.

"Now I have the 12 and a half foot Santa Claus. My snowman pyramid reaches a total height of 18 and a half feet tall."

Standing back to take it all in, brings to mind only one possible competitor. â€œYes I am. I'm the Clark Griswold of inflatables."

When he calls himself 'the King', Jones isn't just full of hot air. He's become such a major collector; the Texas company that makes the inflatables started sending him prototypes to test before they hit the market.

One of the most unusual and most sought after pieces this year is the nativity. Jones says he's lucky to have one; this isn't even sold in the US.

Jones electric bill doubles every December, but he says the reward is well worth it. "I love seeing the kids faces' when they stop by." After acquiring more than 130 characters Jones' yard was ready to burst. "I thought it's time to expand." And he did, covering his neighbor's house and spreading down the street.

Jones has started his own website, its King of Holiday Inflatables. It's gotten so much attention; HGTV recently taped a segment on him for a show called "Outta Control Christmas."

Although Christmas is his biggest, Jones does displays for just about all holidays. In fact he and wife are expecting their first child and he's already bought an inflatable stork.