Tuscola · Texas
W-8 Christmas Tree Farm
A 200-acre ranch near Buffalo Gap, south of Abilene, where you choose an Afghan pine, Murray cypress or Silver Blue Sapphire in the field at one flat price per tree and cut it yourself with the farm's saw and knee pads, or let the staff help, with a free hayride, free hot cocoa and cider, free admission, a Christmas store and Santa and Mrs. Claus on opening weekend.
At a glance
Your tree visit.
- Tree choices
- Cut your own
- Choose-and-cut trees
- $68–$80 per tree, by species
One price per tree, regardless of size: Afghan pine $80, Murray cypress $78 and Silver Blue Sapphire $68. Admission, the hayride and hot cocoa and cider are free. The farm provides a saw and knee pads, and the staff help with shaking, baling and loading.
Prices & conditions ↓ - Visit times
Opens Friday, November 27 at 11am, and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am through Christmas Eve. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit opening weekend, November 27–29. Ask the farm for closing time.
Full schedule ↓
Find your tree
Choose your Christmas tree.
The farm grows Afghan pine, also called Eldarica pine, with long, dark green needles and good drought resistance, along with Murray cypress and Silver Blue Sapphire. Each is one flat price per tree whatever its height, so you can pick a tall, majestic tree or a smaller one for a cozy corner.
The farm also describes Leyland cypress, with soft, feathery foliage and said to be hypoallergenic, and Carolina Sapphire cypress, with a bluish-gray hue and a fresh, minty aroma. Ask the farm which species are standing in the field this season and what they cost.
Published varieties
- Afghan pine
- Murray cypress
- Silver Blue Sapphire
Compare the options
Trees & prices.
Each tree is one flat price whatever its size. Ask the farm about payment methods, sales tax and whether shaking, baling and loading carry a charge.
| Selection & size | Price |
|---|---|
| Afghan pine | $80 One price per tree, regardless of size. |
| Murray cypress | $78 One price per tree, regardless of size. |
| Silver Blue Sapphire | $68 One price per tree, regardless of size. |
| Leyland cypress and Carolina Sapphire cypress | Ask the farm Ask which of these are in the field this season. |
| Admission | Free No admission fee. |
| Hayride | Free A hayride through the farm during your visit. |
| Hot cocoa and cider | Free Offered while you visit. |
Choose and cut your own tree
When you arrive, the friendly staff greet you and direct you to the tree fields. Wander through the rows of evergreens and choose your tree, then use the saw and knee pads the farm provides to cut it yourself, or have the staff assist you.
Once the tree is cut, the staff help with shaking, baling and loading it onto your vehicle.
| Step | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Arrive | The staff greet you and direct you to the tree fields. |
| Choose | Wander the rows and select your tree. |
| Cut | Use the saw and knee pads the farm provides, or have the staff assist you. |
| Prepare | The staff help with shaking, baling and loading the tree onto your vehicle. |
Tree prices and species
Every tree is one flat price for its species, regardless of size: Afghan pine is $80, Murray cypress is $78 and Silver Blue Sapphire is $68.
Leyland cypress and Carolina Sapphire cypress are also among the trees the farm describes; ask the farm which species are standing in the field this season and what they cost. Ask the farm too about payment methods, sales tax and whether shaking, baling and loading carry a charge.
| Species | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Afghan pine | $80 | Also called Eldarica pine; long, dark green needles and good drought resistance. One price per tree, regardless of size. |
| Murray cypress | $78 | One price per tree, regardless of size. |
| Silver Blue Sapphire | $68 | One price per tree, regardless of size. |
| Leyland cypress | Ask the farm | Soft, feathery foliage, described as hypoallergenic; ask whether it is in the field this season. |
| Carolina Sapphire cypress | Ask the farm | Bluish-gray hue and a fresh, minty aroma; ask whether it is in the field this season. |
Season dates and hours
The season opens on Black Friday, November 27, at 11am and runs through Christmas Eve, Wednesday through Sunday. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit on opening weekend, November 27 to 29.
Ask the farm what time it closes each day and about the last day of the season; Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24.
| When | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 27 (Black Friday) | Opens 11am | Opening day; Santa and Mrs. Claus visit opening weekend. |
| Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29 | From 11am | Santa and Mrs. Claus visit. |
| Wednesday through Sunday, through Christmas Eve | From 11am | Ask the farm for closing time and the last day. |
Hayride, hot cocoa, Santa and the Christmas store
Admission is free, and so is a relaxing hayride through the farm. The farm also offers complimentary hot cocoa and cider while you visit, and the setting, a traditional chuckwagon among the trees and the countryside, makes a good backdrop for family photos.
Santa and Mrs. Claus join the farm for opening weekend, November 27 to 29. The farm's Christmas store is the place for a little holiday shopping and handmade items. Ask the farm about Santa's hours and photos, later Santa visits, seasonal treats and store prices. The farm's home page also mentions a photo booth, a holiday craft market and tree decorating; ask the farm whether and when they are part of your visit.
| Extra | Details |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free. |
| Hayride | Free; a ride through the farm during your visit. |
| Hot cocoa and cider | Free while you visit. |
| Santa and Mrs. Claus | Opening weekend, November 27–29; ask the farm about hours, photos and later visits. |
| Christmas store | Holiday shopping and handmade items; ask the farm for prices. |
| Chuckwagon and photo spots | A traditional chuckwagon and countryside scenery for family photos among the trees. |
What to wear and practical details
Dress for a working field: long sleeves or a jacket, gloves and sturdy shoes. Skip flip-flops and open-toed shoes, because there are stickers and uneven ground.
The farm is near Buffalo Gap, south of Abilene, with a Tuscola mailing address. Ask the farm about restrooms, pets, accessibility and bad-weather plans.
| Topic | At the farm |
|---|---|
| Address | 1225 County Road 275, Tuscola, TX 79562 |
| Clothing | Long sleeves or a jacket and gloves. |
| Shoes | Sturdy shoes; no flip-flops or open-toed shoes because of stickers and uneven ground. |
| Tools | Saw and knee pads provided; staff can assist you, and with shaking, baling and loading. |
| Restrooms, pets, accessibility, payment and weather | Ask the farm. |
Also on the ranch: photography, cabins and landscaping trees
Professional photographers may book the farm by appointment, any time of year, for a small fee; ask the farm for the amount by phone or at info@w-8christmastreefarm.com. Families visiting for a tree are welcome to take photos among the trees.
The ranch also rents two cabins, the Lady Cabin and the Cowboy Cabin, each with a bed, a kitchenette and a sitting area and booked through Airbnb, and it grows container trees for landscaping and windbreaks. These are separate from a tree visit; ask the farm for details and current prices.
The farm, the family and contacts
Paul and Gail Waddell own the 200-acre ranch, and the Christmas tree farm began as something of a whim.
Call the farm at (575) 631-6670 or email W8christmastreefarm@yahoo.com.
A closer look.
Pick your day
Dates & hours.
Tree season: Opens Friday, November 27; Wednesday through Sunday through Christmas Eve
The season opens on Black Friday, November 27, at 11am and runs through Christmas Eve, open Wednesday through Sunday. Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday, December 24. Ask the farm what time it closes and about the last day.
| Christmas tree season | Hours |
|---|---|
| Friday, November 27 (Black Friday, opening day) | Opens 11am; Santa and Mrs. Claus visit |
| Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29 | From 11am; Santa and Mrs. Claus visit |
| Wednesday through Sunday, after opening weekend through Christmas Eve | From 11am; ask the farm for closing time |
Ask the farm for the closing time and about the last day, Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24.
Before you go.
- Opens Friday, November 27 at 11am; Wednesday through Sunday through Christmas Eve; ask the farm for closing time.
- One price per tree regardless of size: Afghan pine $80, Murray cypress $78, Silver Blue Sapphire $68.
- The farm provides a saw and knee pads; staff help with cutting, shaking, baling and loading.
- Admission, the hayride and hot cocoa and cider are free; Santa and Mrs. Claus visit November 27–29.
- Wear long sleeves or a jacket, gloves and sturdy shoes.
- Call (575) 631-6670 or email W8christmastreefarm@yahoo.com.
1225 County Road 275, Tuscola, TX 79562
Keep exploring
Other farms to compare.
Crowley, Texas
Haynie's Green Acres Christmas Tree FarmTexas-grown Blue Ice and Carolina Sapphire trees in the field with free saws and weekend hayrides, plus precut Fraser fir starting at $49.99 for a tabletop tree. Opens Friday, November 27: Monday–Friday 2pm–5pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–5pm, until sold out; admission is free.
Greenville, Texas
Kadee Christmas Tree FarmSelect and cut your own Virginia pine in the field with a saw the farm provides; a field tree is $60 minimum, and imported precut firs run from tabletop to 14 or 16 feet. Open Saturday, November 21 through Saturday, December 19: weekdays 2pm–8pm, weekends 10am–8pm; the field closes at 5pm.
Brownsboro, Texas
Native Branch Christmas Tree FarmWalk the rows and cut your own Virginia pine; trees from 5 to 8.5 feet run $55 to $102 and go up from there for taller trees. Open Black Friday through the third Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 27 to December 13), Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; admission is free.