“Wings of the West” Trail Getting A New Pair Of Wings

DeLand, FL – A new pair of wings will be unveiled tomorrow in DeLand, right next to the original set that was unveiled exactly seven years ago, on September 22. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. on Persimmon Lane, the alley between the Conrad building at Georgia and New York Avenue. The new wings have been downsized for kids and fur-children. These mini-wings will be nearly identical to the first wings, just smaller. The “Wings of the West” is a collaboration between West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authority (WVTAA) and artist in residence and DeLand native Erica Group. Group says she has been encouraged to create mini-wings for years, but as her son Russ turned two years old, she decided it was time. “I realized there are so many parents, and pet parents, out there who would love to take photos of their child in front of the wings but can’t because of their size. I had to fix that, and what better time to do the seventh set than on the seventh anniversary of the first wings,” said Group. Group plans to start painting the mini-wings on September 21, 2021, having them ready to be revealed on September 22, 2021 – seven years after finishing the original. The idea of the wings started as a chalk design used in a photoshoot for a local business and turned into a social media sensation and iconic photo spot #DeLandWings. There are five other sets of wings spread across West Volusia. All of them represent something special about the location in which they’re found. The “Wings of the West” trail consists of: Bi-Plane Wings – Skydive DeLand, 1600 Flightline Blvd., DeLand, FL  Peacock Wings – Barberville Pioneer Settlement, 1776 Lightfoot Lane, Barberville, FL Fairy Wings – Fairy Trail, trailhead located at the intersection of Seneca and Chauncy St.,Cassadaga, FL Scrub-Jay Wings – Lyonia Environmental Center, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona, FL Swallow-Tailed Kite Wings – Lake Woodruff National Refuge, 2045 Mud Lake Road, DeLeon Springs, FL “We are so excited to add the mini-wings to the ‘Wings of the West’ Trail,” said Georgia Turner, Executive Director of WVTAA. “So many people have already taken flight on the trail while visiting some of West Volusia’s most popular attractions. The new wings just add to the creative and quirky elements that make West Volusia the unique destination that it is.” For more information, visit the “Wings of the West” Mural Trail.