Sixth annual tree lighting at the St. Mary's Inn

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For the first time this holiday season, the tree outside the St. Mary's Inn has been lit. 

John Phair, chairman of the Holiday Hospitality Group, stated "Well, we just lit the tallest decorated Christmas tree in the state of Indiana, and it gets right up there with the Rockefeller tree, not quite as tall as that, but within 10 feet of that.  It's the sixth year we've done it. We actually toned it down just a wee bit this year, because we're going through a transformation of both hotels are going to be completely redone this year and over the wintertime, and so by springtime, they'll be up and at them again, and so next year, this is going to be bigger and better than ever." 

The tree is a Norway spruce. It's about 70 feet tall. It weighs 7500 pounds, and it is a beautiful tree. The tree also contained 10,000 lights and about 700 ornaments.