Man proposes to girlfriend at Santa's Lighted Forest

(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – One local couple will never forget their experience at Versailles State Park on Saturday night. 

The nonprofit organization called Friends of Versailles State Park hosted the inaugural ‘Santa’s Lighted Forest’ which featured a drive-thru Christmas light display and other activities. 

TJ Woodruff heard about the event on Facebook and realized that this was the perfect place for what he was planning. 

He reached out to the organizers and asked if it would be possible to propose to his girlfriend at the event. 

“They were excited for me to pop the question there. They sent pictures of where they thought would be the best places to do it,” Woodruff said. 

TJ admits that he was nervous last night as they drove through the lights and headed toward the Santa’s Lodge exhibit. 

“We took a few pictures of my girlfriend, our kids, and myself. When the kids walked away it was just the two of us,” Woodruff recalled. 

That’s when he got down on one knee and asked the big question. 

His girlfriend, Stephanie Woodhull responded by saying, “Yes.” 

“We had all sorts of people telling us congratulations. It was a super awesome moment,” Woodruff said.

He added that the Santa’s Lighted Forest volunteers did an incredible job kept everything running smooth despite the large attendance. 

The Santa’s Lighted Forest was a one-night event that even led to a backup on State Road 50 outside of Versailles State Park.