Building Hidden Lakes: From a Dream to Opening Night
It all started in the fall of 2025, when we found a beautiful property tucked away in Cook Springs, Alabama. The moment I saw it, I could picture the light show across the lake. With just over a year until showtime, it was time to get to work.
Building from the ground up
Since then, I’ve logged about 450 hours on the tractor and dug more than 2,000 feet of trenches for conduit, piping, power, fiber optics, and low-voltage wiring. Phase one has also meant moving plenty of dirt, reshaping the lake for the show, and building a “hunting blind” as an audio and lighting control room. Bringing that first vision to life has been no small task!
Powering up
We recently reached a big milestone: Alabama Power energized a dedicated service for the show, complete with a new transformer. I’ve also installed a dedicated 600-amp panel to support the show’s equipment and my future plans for 2027.
The final stretch
With opening night just weeks away, the lighting is arriving soon for final installation and testing alongside the network and audio systems. We’re also finishing the parking areas and lighting the route in from the road to help guests find their way.
A beautiful place to build something special
The work has been incredible, but so has the scenery—and I’m rarely without supervision from our feathered friends around the lake.
I’m grateful that God has blessed me with the ability and opportunity to create something special to share with you. We can’t wait to welcome our community to Hidden Lakes.
— Markus Hempell, Chief Illumination Officer
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