Sure, opening gifts on Christmas morning can be a whole lot of fun. But, as the years pass, the memory of those gifts we opened usually begin to fade. In their place, we remember the magical moments of the holiday season. The smiles on our family's faces. That sweet aroma that greeted us when we visited our grandparents' house. And, the traditions we made and followed year after year. Add a new tradition - or simply revisit an old tradition - when you spend the day finding the perfect Christmas tree, tossing snowballs, and sipping hot cocoa at this charming Christmas farm in Missouri.
Create new holiday memories this Christmas season with a visit to the enchanting Branch Ranch, a Christmas tree farm in Philadelphia.
A must stop for Missourians for two decades, the Branch Ranch is lead by Butch and Darlene Augspurg, who first planted 5,000 trees on their land in 1990.
By 1997, the trees had matured, ready for their starring role on Christmas morning. But, it wasn't until 2010 that The Branch Ranch gained some recognition for its majestic trees.
That year, one of the Branch Ranch's trees, first place winner of the competition held by the Christmas Tree Association, was chosen to decorate the Missouri state capitol.
Today, Missourians have made it a tradition to visit the Branch Ranch, to pick out their Christmas trees and to visit...
The Baumhaus - the Tree House in German - where you can warm your hands by the roaring fire. (Snowball fights are pretty popular on the farm. So, if you get wet, you'll find the fire makes it easy to dry off and warm up quickly.)
Grab a seat in the tiny barn, where you'll sip on hot cocoa or hot apple cider as you nibble on an assortment of homemade holiday candy and cookies.
Don't forget to look up when you're in the Tree House to gaze at the Christmas Tree Express, a model train that chugs around the top of the room.
Plan your visit to the Branch Ranch, which opens November 23, 2018 and runs each weekend before Christmas. Hours are Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Branch Ranch is located at 2551 Co Rd. 159, Philadelphia, MO 63463.
Click here for the official website of The Branch Ranch. Or, go here for Facebook.
Have you been to this enchanting Christmas farm in Missouri? Tell us about it in the comments! And, for even more holiday cheer, plan to visit this magnificent drive-thru light display. Click here to read more.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!