“You go cut your Christmas tree!” “No you go cut it!” “No You!” “No You!” …”you!”…”you!”
This is not the conversation you will have at Plantation Pines Christmas Tree Farm but if you really want to cut down your own tree they have many standing available for you to do so.
I think cutting down your own tree is a great family tradition and if you don’t have severe allergies to Christmas trees like I do you should give it a try.
Many of us for different reasons prefer to not cut down our own tree but still like the idea of coming out to a neat family farm that grows Christmas trees and stretching our legs.
The Wiggins family owns this farm and are a nice family that really brings a good old family Christmas spirit to their farm whether it be by their friendly smiles and conversations, the dog that lays out on the porch, the rustic little cabin that has complimentary hot apple cider and cocoa available, the nifty Christmas nick knacks in the the cabin for sale, or the lines of Christmas trees throughout the farm to walk through.
There is a little playground area for kids, a hay ride, and different machines to pack away your Christmas tree in your car without making a big mess of needles everywhere.
You can also buy a stand for your live Christmas tree at an affordable price as they have everything you need. Unfortunately when we go I will have to go with one of their select few imported Douglas fur Christmas trees because I am allergic to the native Christmas trees available to be cut down by you or them.
If you haven’t tried the fun of a Christmas tree farm you really should give it a try. We have included a map to the Wiggins farm known as Plantation Pines below.
It’s that time of year again, Christmas trees, family gatherings, holiday blockbusters and school Christmas plays. Ok so it’s kind of an awkward lead in, but over the last few days the King’s Academy Christian School (KACS) drama department has been holding its annual Christmas play. This year the students are presenting the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life!” The play is being held on Campus at King’s Academy (a facility the school shares with Trinity Baptist Church). The setting is a dinner theatre / coffee and dessert, and the performance takes place with in a circle of table and chairs, for a sort of theater and the round experience.
The King’s drama department has had a very successful run since the schools inception almost seven years ago. Despite KACS smallish size they have successfully produced at least one, often two major productions every year (a fall and a spring presentation, obviously). The school has also worked closely with Tyler Civic Theatre and Roger’s Children’s Theatre over the years. Many King’s students have played roles in the community theatre’s various productions.
This fall’s project has been a great success. The staff and students have worked hard to put together a terrific adaptation of a Christmas classic. It’s a play I was surprised to see performed in a live action format but the class does a great job. The last performance will be held Saturday, the forth, at two in the afternoon. For last minute info, contact King’s Academy at (903) 534-9992. The school is located at 604 West Forth Street in Tyler.
For more on King’s Academy Christian School see any or all of the existing articles on this site. Simply look at the Business Categories section to the left of the page and scroll down to the education tab for a list of titles.
For 3 years now, a visit to Trail Creek Farm has been part of our Christmas tradition. Yes, you guessed it, Trail Creek is a Christmas tree farm!
When you arrive you jump on a hay ride to the tree field. You sit on hay bales on the wagons which are named after Santa’s reindeer. Some of them are covered in case it is cold or snowy (well you never know!) It’s fun. The helpers are good tractor drivers – I went the week my baby was due but the bumping still didn’t make me go into labor.
When you get to the field they arm you with a saw and it’s up to you to find the best tree. They are labeled in size and by price and are all shaped beautifully. It’s hard to agree on the best tree as there are 10 000 to chose from. They have Leyland Cypress and Virginia Pine trees. Everyone in our family seems to have an opinion so it takes us ages to pick the best one.
After cutting your special tree down, you load it onto the wagon and go back to the farm where they put it on a shaking platform to shake all the loose needles out of it. It is netted for you and they will even help you put it on the roof of your car for transport home.
Then it is time to relax. In the barn there is hot apple cider for all the family and popcorn – all complimentary and part of the experience. There are candles and Christmas decorations for sale, plus that all important magic stuff to keep your tree fresh in water. The kids can play in the maze, visit the animals at the farm, plus follow a short nature trail in the woods.
A visit to Trail Creek is a whole afternoon experience – your family will love it.
Prices vary, depending on how ‘full’ the trees are – from $3 to $7 per foot. They stay fresh for ages, we have ours up for about 6 weeks.
NOTE: if you visit the website you can print a coupon which will give you10% off the price of your tree. Returning customers are rewarded with the same discount – each year they send us a postcard with their opening dates and times and a10% coupon on it.
When the time of the year for picking out the tree you and your family will spend Christmas sitting around, make the experience a time that your kids will be talking about all year. Plantation Pines Farms, a family owned and run business, will guarantee a great family friendly environment.
In the early 1980’s the Wiggins family opened a Christmas tree farm and later a blueberry farm. Twenty years later the second generation family runs the farm extending their business to consist of Purple Hull and Cream Peas in the summer. They also consist of a firework stand off of highway 69 N open for New years and the fourth of July. They also are opened for school field trips to tour their tree farms, and in fall touring the pumpkin patches.
The Wiggins have a huge heart for children. They want to teach children the love of the Lord through the attractions of their farm. Call to reserve a field trip for your school for only $4.00 per a student and if you want them to provide a snack they charge $5.00. There is no charge for teachers or parents. Christmas field trips include a hay ride, games, and a movie time. They talk about their Christmas trees and let the children enjoy the farm animals. Also enjoy cookies and hot cocoa! Fall Harvest field trips also include story time and hayrides for the children. Your students will ride to and from the pumpkin patch and even get to pick a pumpkin to take home!
When you come to the farm grab a hand saw and grab a seat on the tractor and ride through the fields and pick out the perfect tree for your family. Plantation Pines have a great selection of trees, Virginia pine trees are the most traditional Christmas trees and fill your house with the sweet smell of Christmas. Leyland Cypress is the best selection for people with allergies. They also carry Northern grown trees and Frazier Firs from North Carolina. Prices very depending on size, condition and type of tree. All trees are prices and tagged. Come cut down your tree and wait for the tractor to come pick you up and tie the tree to the top of your car.
Come enjoy “pumpkin days” here at the farm. Sit with your family around the fire and enjoy a night time hayride. Come Friday and Saturday nights October and November for family fun during the night. Bring hotdogs and roast marshmallows. The Wiggins ask for you to call ahead for more information and to make a reservation.
While you are here go visit the cozy country store. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. Walk through the store and enjoy the home made reefs and tree ornaments and snacks. Bring a bit of country to your Tyler Texas Christmas. Enjoy the great company of this sweet family as they welcome you into their lives.
So this year instead of just picking up a tree that has been sitting outside of Wal-Mart for the past week, enjoy a great time with your family that you will look forward to every year.
There are a few Christmas tree farms in Tyler TX to choose from and even some tents set up at different locations in Tyler with Oregon furs but there is nothing better than going to the Wiggins Christmas tree farm near Lindale and New Harmony. The Wiggins Christmas tree farm is called Plantation Pines Christmas tree farm. They have a very good gift shop full of interesting gifts for the Christmas holidays and they have a wide variety of Christmas trees to choose from. You can go on a hay ride, cut your own tree down, have them cut it down, or get a precut fur tree. You can get a flocked tree or your standard Christmas tree without the fake snow. Whatever you are wanting you will find it at Plantation Pines.
The Plantation Pines Christmas tree farm is owned by the president of the Christmas tree association of Texas. Our family knows the wiggins family and have nothing but good things to say about them. This year they donated Christmas trees to the Texas capital building for the Christmas season.
They usually have hot cocoa and hot cider available near the gift shop. They sell the stands to hold up your tree and we still have ours from last year. Instead of going to those tents on the side of the road why not go to Plantation Pines and find a tree still in the ground? Your family will have a fun time and you will do something a little different instead of just the same old thing every year.
“You go cut your Christmas tree!” “No you go cut it!” “No You!” “No You!” …”you!”…”you!”
It’s that time of year again, Christmas trees, family gatherings, holiday blockbusters and school Christmas plays. Ok so it’s kind of an awkward lead in, but over the last few days the King’s Academy Christian School (KACS) drama department has been holding its annual Christmas play. This year the students are presenting the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life!” The play is being held on Campus at King’s Academy (a facility the school shares with Trinity Baptist Church). The setting is a dinner theatre / coffee and dessert, and the performance takes place with in a circle of table and chairs, for a sort of theater and the round experience.