Beloved 42-year-old Christmas destination closing for good

For many families, there is nothing more important than holiday traditions. These traditions form the basis of childhood memories and are the glue that binds families together over the generations.

Unfortunately for many families, one of their cherished traditions may end for good. That’s because a beloved 42-year-old Christmas destination is closing its doors permanently.

The permanent closure after the 2025 holiday season has caused many families to express sadness over the end of an era.

It also reflects broader changes happening throughout the United States in terms of how people celebrate the Christmas holiday. 

Beloved Christmas destination closes permanently after 2025

KLTV reported on the closure of the decades-old Christmas destination, which the owners began creating in 1982. 

The destination is Danville Farms, a 500-acre farm located off Highway 259 in Kilgore, Texas. The farm’s last day of operations was set for December 7, 2025. 

Started by James Robinson when he began planting trees in 1982, it is now slated to close, as the family has gotten older, and it's time for them to move on. 

Danville Farms owners alert customers to permanent closure

The Robinson family wrote a letter to customers about the sad news of the farm’s closure, stating: “We will cherish our memories of endless hayrides, pine straw in our britches, sticky faces from pine sap and candy canes, the hunt for the perfect tree, and mostly all the love and joy each of you has brought to us.”

They thanked all of the families who had visited the farm over the past 40+ years and said that their hearts were “full of gratitude” as they pondered the “blessings of the last 40 years,” including the “thrill of seeing our faithful customers year after year.”

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Robinson also acknowledged the impact the closure would have on those loyal customers, stating, “We are aware of the impact this place has had on many families. We see the stories, and we hear the words from our customers, creating memories here. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye, but we are up in our age now, and it’s time for us to close this chapter of our lives. I have thought about it, and I’m okay with that decision.”

Customers saddened at Danville Farms' closing 

Customers who had been visiting Danville Farms for years expressed their sadness at its closure. 

“I can tell you stories of every single visit our family has made to this farm,” Amanda Brown of Gladewater told KLTV. “We started coming here before Landon was born. We’ve got pictures throughout the years as he was growing of our family making this trip and cutting down a tree and then going home to put it up. It’s something that hits you as you stand here and soak it in, that this is it.”

Cutting down a Christmas tree is becoming less common

Unfortunately, the closure of this Christmas tree farm is part of a broader trend emerging across the country. 

Many people are simply not getting real Christmas trees anymore, and tree farms are becoming fewer and farther between. 

According to the Christmas Tree Association in 2023, for example, 77% of people putting up a tree were using an artificial one. 

KLTV reported in 2023 that imports of artificial trees had risen steadily since the 1990s and hit a peak during the Covid era.

Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board, a trade group within the industry, also acknowledged that demand has been slowly declining for 40 to 50 years as artificial trees become more prevalent and realistic-looking. 

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Things aren’t looking up for the real-tree industry this year, either, as USA Today reported this year that drought and disease were hitting tree farmers hard in 2025. 

Unfortunately, these troubles are only likely to accelerate the trend of tree farms closing and artificial trees becoming more common.

This means many families who love the tradition of cutting down a real tree may find fewer places to do that in the future. 

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