The joy of finding the perfect Christmas tree is something Dan Raulston gets to experience nearly every day during the Christmas season. As the owner of Raulston Acres Christmas Tree Farm in Rock Spring, that’s what he and his staff do this time of year.
“We cater a lot to families that come and cut a tree and make a memory,” said Raulston, who is also the president of the Georgia Christmas Tree Association. “You can go to a box store and buy a tree, but you won’t get the experience made like at a tree farm. We sell tree stands, garland and live wreaths.”
Staff photo by Katie Ward
From left, Raulston Acres Christmas Tree Farm owner Dan Raulston and Joseph Scott load a Christmas tree into a truck for Ringgold family Megan Kovacevich, Maddox, David Borr and Lucy at the Rock Spring farm. The cut-your-own tree farm is open now through Dec. 22 for those seeking a real Christmas tree – and memory – this season.The family-owned and operated farm sells Carolina Sapphire, Blue Ice and Murray Cypress trees grown on-site, and contracts with a farm in North Carolina to bring in Fraser Fir trees.
“We had one tree in the middle of the field and it grew wild in various directions all at once,” Raulston said, recalling one tree in particular from a few years ago. “We called it the wild tree. Everyone would pass by and ask about the wild tree. When it got to be six foot tall, we decided to shape it more like a Christmas tree. It was one of the most expensive trees in the field. A guy comes by and says, ‘That’s the tree I want.’ We tied it on top of his car and you could barely see his car for the tree.”
Raulston said the farm is on target to sell 650 trees this year. The trees cost $6 per foot on average, but the Fraser Firs cost around $8 per foot, he said. Trees range from 5-9 feet in the field. Fraser Firs can grow to be 12 feet.