By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

WOOSTER, Ohio — Some Christmas tree farms may claim to be the best in Ohio, but Pine Tree Barn and Farms (now fourth-generation) near Wooster is without a doubt the oldest and could easily make a claim for being the most picturesque.

Located in the rolling hills of Wayne County in northeastern Ohio (Holmes County just to the south), Pine Tree Barn and Farms is as rural as it can get when looking for Christmas trees. Close by is the Killbuck Marsh, the largest inland marsh in the state. A nature and wildlife preserve adjoin the farm, which enhances the view from this farm. The farm rests among the largest concentration of Amish in the country.

“It’s in the middle of nowhere, and it was a curse at first,” Greg Dush said of his grandfather’s farm. “It’s so out in the country that no one ever drove by.”

Like any other business venture, theirs started out small. “My grandfather, Robert, started growing trees in 1952,” Greg said. “He called it Yule Tide Tree Farms. He was one of the first in Ohio to grow trees on a plantation, specifically for Christmas trees. People thought he was crazy starting up a tree farm like this one. Grandpa was not only an entrepreneur, but a conservationist. He’s a conservationist because he utilized springs coming from the adjacent hillsides to make a 30-acre lake.”

Robert started with nothing but Scotch pines. In 1976, business began to flourish, so he added a variety of trees and asked his son, Roger, to join him in 1976. In 1980 Roger convinced his father to rename the business Pine Tree Barn. And Roger wanted more changes. He wanted to expand the operation, to include much more than simply Christmas trees. He wanted to offer tree ornaments and other novelty items. Quickly this farm became more than just a home for trees.

For starters, there’s a 25,000 square-foot gift shop that offers exquisite gifts, accessories, handcrafted collectibles and artwork. The goods are housed in an 1868 Dutch bank barn. Gifts fill every nook and cranny, from high in the rafters of the second floor to the many alcoves in the basement. A Christmas shop on the first floor is open year-round.

Knowing their Chrismas tree visitors would be hungry (and since there is no restaurant within 10 miles of the farm) the Dush family created a very intimate restaurant, The Granary and Gardens, specializing in gourmet lunches. The restaurant offers a spectacular view of the family tree farm, twin lakes and the lush Killbuck Valley.
Next the family added a design-driven store filled with furniture, carpet, tile, rugs, bedding, indoor and outdoor lighting and a floral department. Three professional floral designers, as well as nine full-time interior designers are on staff.

But the primary reason for this farm’s existence is still the 200-acre Christmas tree farm, with its horse-drawn wagon and Pine Tree Express tractor-driven caboose rides to the fields to obtain home grown, fresh-cut or dug trees such as Fraser fir, Douglas fir, Canaan fir, blue spruce, Scotch pine and white pine. of all sizes (some up to 25 feet).

“Our focus is giving folks that magical family experience,” Greg said. “We feel as though we’re a destination from all over Ohio. The biggest difference between our tree farm and others is we price all our trees individually.”

The Dush clan is busy in the fall as well. Their farm is host to the Colonial Williamsburg Festival the first weekend of October each fall, complete with a colonial militia living history encampment, with lots of craftspeople and food.

Robert, 92, still lives on the farm. His residence is on a small island in the center of one of the lakes on the premise. Roger spearheads many of the daily operations while his son, Greg, is quickly learning all aspects of the business. And Greg’s son, Charlie, age 4, is certain to make this a fourth-generation business.

Pine Tree Barn is located at 4374 Shreve Road (State Route 226) in Wooster. Contact the tree farm at 330-264-1014.