To found Hill Country Christmas Trees, Mark and Carol
Mitchell traded careers in the semiconductor industry for the life of farmers
outside of Wimberley. As one of seven choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms in
the Austin area, they are part of a growing industry in Texas.
Local tree farms offer a fresher product than imported trees, and more
importantly, each acre of Christmas trees can produce enough oxygen for 18
people. There are currently 4,000 acres of trees in Texas.
Prices hover around $5 per foot. Hill Country Christmas Trees is one of the
few farms that offers to dig up the tree as an alternative to cutting.
Originally from Oregon, the couple followed a suggestion from Mark’s mother
that they consider relocating to Texas, which she described as “Heaven on
earth.” The Mitchells found something less than that when they first landed in
Houston. “But we really love Central Texas,” Mark says. They purchased the farm
in 1989.
Of the 34-acre tract, 32 acres had been cleared for a hay field. “The
realtor laughed at us when we told him what we were going to do,” Mark says.
Now in their second year of selling trees, the Mitchells have planted 20
acres with over 10,000 Afghan pine, and had1,000 are ready to harvest on
Thanksgiving weekend.
In addition to the fun of choosing a tree, the Mitchells offer coffee, hot
cider, hot chocolate, and candy canes to their visitors.
To get to Hill Country Christmas Trees take US290 to Dripping Springs, turn
south on RR12 toward Wimberley (5 miles), turn right on CR191 (3.1 miles), and
turn right at the tee (.7 miles). The farm is open 10am-6pm, Thursday-Sunday
through Dec.17. Call 461-8552.
For a complete list of Christmas tree farms in Texas, call 409/273-2120, or
the Travis County Extension Service at 473-9600.
Other Christmas tree farms in the area:
Loma Alta Christmas Tree Farm, 512/360-2005, 5.5 miles east of Bastrop off
TX71, hayrides, picnic area, weekday tours, and ducks.
Nature’s Way Christmas Tree Farm, 512/251-2016, 1 mile east of Wimberley off
US290, includes hayrides, sausage, wreaths, and animals.
Proffitt’s Farm, 210/693-2081, 2.5 miles south of Marble Falls off US281,
has hayrides, picnicking, hiking, cattle, and nature walks.
Santa’s Forest, 210/629-1854, take Gruene exit (193) off I-35 north of New
Braunfels and go north on Hunter Rd. (FM1102); it also has hayrides,
refreshments, picnic tables, campfire, wreaths, and petting zoo.
[NOW CLOSED]Wolf Plantations, 10 miles south of Dripping Springs off RR12;
offers refreshments and coloring books.
The Lit’l Christmas Tree Farm, 512/267-3539, off FM1431 from Cedar Park
to Nameless Rd. and follow signs,
Coming up this weekend…
Kristkindl Markt turns Fredericksburg in a little German village with lots of
entertainment, refreshments, and shopping, Dec. 8-10. 210/997-8515.
Christmas at Rio Medina fills the old general store with lights, shopping, and
history, on FM471 north of Castroville, Dec. 9. 210/538-2441.
The Hill Country Flyer offers special weekend excursions on the steam train
from Cedar Park to Burnet through Christmas Eve. 447-6377.
Day Trips, Vol. I, a book of the first 100 day trips from this column,
updated and expanded, is available for $6.95, plus $3.05 for shipping and tax.
Mail to: Day Trips, 1712 E. Riverside Dr., Box 156, Austin, TX 78741. n
This page edited 12/09/2002
This article appears in December 8 • 1995 and December 8 • 1995 (Cover).
