Husband creates Key West oasis in southern Indiana for wife caring for dying father

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- There are plenty of pumpkins decorating front yards across Kentuckiana this fall, but one Clarksville couple decided to go tropical instead.

Debra and James Mull's front yard is filled with palm trees, a wooden boat, scuba divers — even a shark made from car tires. It's not Halloween-themed; it’s Key West, Indiana-style.

The inspiration came from a trip they took back in 1998, when the couple fell in love with the Florida Keys.

"We'd been to Florida before, but never to the Keys,” Debra said. "The warmth, the sunshine, the water -- it was just beautiful."

Jimmy Buffett songs played in the background as they enjoyed strawberry daiquiris and the relaxed pace of island life. Ever since, the couple dreamed of returning for a special reason — to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary this fall. "That’s something to be proud of these days," Debra said, adding that for the past few years, we’ve wanted to go back to Key West."

But this year, their plans came to a halt.

"I didn’t want to leave my dad," she said. "He was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer.”

Knowing how much the trip meant to her, James decided to bring the destination home.

"At first, she thought I was crazy," he said with a laugh. "But I just started putting it together."

Soon, their Clarksville yard began to look like paradise -- palm trees swaying, a handmade wooden boat in the grass, and even a few playful scuba divers.

"I keep thinking, 'When’s he going to stop?'" Debra said. "He’s not — and I love it."

Neighbors have noticed, too. Some stop to take pictures, while others ask if James can help decorate their yards next.

"It’s peace to me," Debra said. "It’s my me time. I sit out there on my swing. It’s the best staycation ever."

While the Mulls won’t make it to the Keys this year, they’ve managed to bring a little bit of paradise to Clarksville — and a whole lot of love to their neighborhood along Veterans Parkway.

"I love that he did it for me," Debra said.

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