Turning Stone Casino’s Gingerbread Village On Display

Verona, NY (WIBX) - The Turning Stone Resort Casino is catering to its visitors' sweet tooth in a big way.

Eight gingerbread buildings adorn the resort's Garden Lobby, including a farmhouse, church and general store.

Executive Pastry Chef, Jennifer DiGiorgio, says the gingerbread village's designs are inspired by local architecture.

"We just drove around town the first year and went and looked at different roofs and houses that are in Oneida, to try to see how shingles were laid out and what types of shapes were used on, you know, obviously houses in this area, so that we could be very representative and reflective of what's around us," DiGiorgio said.

New this year, to what is likely the biggest gingerbread village in the Northeast, is an archway entrance with toy soldier nutcrackers on both sides.

To build the 53 foot long display, staff at the Turning Stone spent more than 1,000 hours putting the buildings together, using 13,000 pieces of gingerbread.

The village is on display until January 9.