Moose Comes to Life with Christmas Magic in Enterprise

Forget about Elf on the Shelf... Have you heard about the Christmas Moose? Well, about 10 years ago, the moose discovered Enterprise and got convinced to help shop owners Debbie Gaydos at Shopaholic get ready for the busy holiday season.

"Help is a strong word," Debbie said. "The shenanigans the moose create has been entertaining to say the least."

The moose started talking amongst themselves and have committed to coming to Enterprise for nearly a decade. And, boy did the word travel.

Thousands of moose have made their way to Shopaholic Home Décor and Gifts every October since 2014. Thankfully Debbie Gaydos has learned how to turn the chaos of their arrival into some order. She starts with an in-brief of the tall moose of what's expected in their behavior, who in turn pass on the information to the younger moose. However, there are times the moose don't listen and can be a wee bit mischievous.

From trying to redecorate the Boll Weevil Monument, playing cards after closing time, rearranging things in the shop or lining up at front glass front checking out Main Street - the moose really enjoy all things Enterprise.

Gaydos first met the moose at market in Atlanta and immediately recognized their individual personalities.

"I thought how fun to build on that - and that's how it all started," she said. " From there we created a series of events showcasing their behaviors, and they just became so real."

That first year, Gaydos invited 50 moose for the store. Their popularity has grown over the past nine years that she now invites more than 2,000 moose to help her for the holidays.

Beginning in September, people start inquiring when they will arrive? You see, the moose are looking for forever homes and available for adoption.

Gaydos has quite a following on social media about her moose and their antics which she captures on video, in photographs and through her store displays. Customers respond to her posts about their shenanigans and one person commented she wanted her two most mischievous moose.

According to Gaydos, the moose have been adopted in all 50 states and have even traveled overseas.

"People come from all over to see the moose," she said. " We adopted 37 moose to a family that owned a ranch in Wyoming. Their daughter and son-in-law were here, and they saw some photos, so we did a Zoom call, they picked out which moose they wanted, and then came and picked them up."

Gaydos feels it is a blessing to see the joy the moose bring to people. She loves when they share stories how a moose is adapting to its new home and new adventures. Gaydos herself is a blessing when it comes to the moose. She personally donates 150 moose to the police department for officers to carry in their cars to donate where they see a need. For every three moose she adopts in the store, she gives one away to a family in need whose child/children may not have anything for Christmas. Sometimes she gives more than just one moose for every third one adopted.

The concept of donating the moose is not just central to Enterprise. When a family in Ohio heard about Gaydos' generosity they bought and had her ship them 31 moose to donate around their hometown. "The concept of giving is very much alive with the moose," she said smiling.

By: Kelly Caldwell