AUSTIN, Texas — Step inside Jorge Villanueva's backyard near Austin and you step back in time. He built a replica town of Bethlehem and shares it with the public during Christmas. When he started the project years ago, he didn't know where his building skills would take him.

"Then I saw on Facebook this beautiful Nativity and it blew my mind. It was so realistic and I was thinking, 'Oh, my goodness! I would love to build something like that'," said Villanueva.

His little town is made up of Styrofoam covered in stucco. Villaneuva poured his heart into every detail from little chandeliers to figurines in the individual rooms.

"It's taken me a while to learn how to build soldiers, Roman soldiers. Last year I did it!" he said.

New this year is an area Villanueva built for the manger. Figures of Mary and Joseph are already in place. He and his family wait until Christmas Eve to complete the set.

"We bring the baby Jesus and we sing. Then we put the baby Jesus in on the 24th when baby Jesus is born," said Villanueva.

He's inviting the public to see his Bethlehem display again this year. Last year around 8,000 people turned out.

"They're like, 'Wow! There are no words to say. It's just wow!' They say this is amazing. All that makes me feel so special," he said.

But Villanueva doesn't take all of the credit. He says God gave him the inspiration. He calls his tiny town the gift that keeps giving. 

"My goal is to see families together at Christmas; to come together and enjoy something that you'll never see anywhere," he said.

You can tour the Bethlehem display Dec. 21 through 23 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 3012 Great Valley Drive, Cedar Park, Texas 78613.