Ogden Ace: Where to get a fresh cut Christmas tree in Northern Utah
Matt Love and his daughter Maizee, picked out the perfect Christmas tree at Robinson Tree Farms in Layton, loaded it up in their big blue tractor and drove through the city of Layton to get it home. They've been doing this since Maizee was just a little girl.
Fresh wreaths are made from the Christmas tree scraps.
A fresh cut Christmas tree is tradition for many families. But, if you’re hoping to get that Griswald family Christmas tree experience, where you go hiking through the snow, chop down the tree and tie it on top of your station wagon, you might be a little too late.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Christmas tree cutting permits in most of the Unitah-Wasatch-Cache National Forest are sold out, including the Heber-Kamas area and Spanish Fork area. Your best chances of getting a permit would be to make a trip to the Evanston and Mt. View districts.
Or you can just stay close to home.
The Donald Neville Christmas Tree Farm in Layton gives you the cut your own tree experience, without having to hike through the snowy mountains.
Neville said other local farms like his, including Meldrum Christmas Tree Farm and North Pole Pines, have already closed for the season because they are out of trees.
“I’d be closed too if it wasn’t my last year,” he said. “The trees I’ve got left are really good.”
Neville said he’s been selling Christmas trees for about 10-15 years, but this will be his last year due to his age.
Green Ridge Christmas Trees in Kaysville and Robinson’s Tree Farm in Morgan also have the choose and cut your own experience. Though it’s a good idea to call first and make sure they still have trees available.
ANGIE ERICKSON/Standard-Examiner
Bill Robinson has been selling Christmas trees in Ogden for over 40 years.
A saw is provided at all locations, and trees range from $20-60. Neville’s farm is open to the public but by appointment only.
Or, if you’re looking for a simpler solution to getting that perfect tree, there are quite a few tree lots around town, yet not as many as there once was.
“We’re a dying breed,” said Bill Robinson, with Robinson Tree Farms based out of Kalispell, Montana, not to be confused with the Morgan tree farm.
Brothers Kevin, Cliff and Bill Robinson have been coming to Utah from Kalispell for about 40 years. Their dad started selling Christmas trees in Ogden over 60 years ago. His first Christmas tree lot was where the McDonalds is now located just north of 12th Street on Washington Boulevard. They have six lots in Utah this year — five between Bountiful and Logan and one in Salt Lake City.
ANGIE ERICKSON/Standard-Examiner
Trees fill Burch’s lot in Layton.
Layton resident Matt Love has been buying his Christmas trees from Robinson Tree Farm for as long as he can remember. He recently showed up to the Layton lot with his 14-year-old daughter Maizee and his big blue tractor.
“We’ve done this since she was just a little girl,” he said, pointing to Maizee. “They use to have a lot closer to our house, so it’d take about three minutes to get home, now it takes about 10 minutes.”
The two picked out the perfect Christmas tree during the first weekend of December, loaded it up in their big blue tractor and drove through the city of Layton to get the tree home.
ANGIE ERICKSON/Standard-Examiner
Dillon Meehan stands in front of the trees at Burch’s Layton lot. In 1959, his grandfather Richard Burch started the local business. This year they have a lot in Layton and one in Riverdale.
Dillon Meehan, with Burch’s Trees and Wreaths, said one to two weeks before Christmas is a good time to get a fresh tree.
“They’ll last about three weeks,” he said. “Just keep it away from heat and keep it watered.”
Burch’s is locally owned and was started in 1959 by Richard Burch. His daughter Becky Meehan and her husband Mike took over the Christmas tree business and Dillon Meehan helps at the Layton lot.
“One year I took the season off (from the family business) and I thought it would be great to have a break,” he said. “It wasn’t though. It didn’t feel like Christmas.”
Over the mountain in Eden is Bailey’s Sleigh Rides where guests sleigh ride through the Bailey’s Ranch while watching the elk and reindeer and then you pick out your Christmas tree.
Here are some local businesses where you can get a fresh cut Christmas tree. You can also find pre-cut Christmas trees at Northern Utah Harmon’s, Costco, Sam’s Club and Smith’s Marketplace locations. Happy tree hunting!
Choose and cut your own tree:
Donald Neville Christmas Tree Farm, 1850 Westside Drive, Layton, by appointment only, 801-544-9401
Robinson’s Tree Farm, 6262 W. Old Hwy. Road, Morgan, 801-876-3190
Green Ridge Christmas Trees (pre cut trees also available) – 1370 N. US-89 in Kaysville, (801) 513-1861
Pre-cut tree lots:
Burch’s Trees and Wreaths
1020 Main St., Layton (In the Big Lots parking lot)
1090 W. Riverdale Road, Riverdale (In the At Home parking lot)
Robinson Tree Farms
3789 Wall Ave., Ogden
1287 Wall Ave., Ogden
104 Fort Lane, Layton
2301 S. Main St., Bountiful
2175 N. Main St., North Logan
Bailey’s Sleigh Rides
3908 N. 3300 East, Eden, 801-791-1545
Did we miss you’re favorite place to get a fresh cut Christmas tree? If so, let us know if the comments.
