The summer heat, not to mention all those years of vandalism, has finally claimed Frosty.
A venerable holiday landmark in Vernon Hills for the last decade, the 25-foot-tall inflatable Frosty the Snowman that once stood at Illinois Highway 60 and Milwaukee Avenue officially has been retired.
“It was time to change our image and do something classier,” said Evan Teich, assistant to the village manager. “I mean, he was a big, inflatable doll.”
Village officials decided to replace Frosty with animated snowflakes to promote the village holiday light show.
Frosty will be missed, a few said.
“I always liked it when the wind would hit, and he seemed to be waving,” Mayor Roger Byrne said.
Police had tired over the years of dealing with vandals who stole or deflated Frosty.
