Whitetop in Grayson County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Christmas Tree Farms

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 26, 2013

1. Christmas Tree Farms Marker

Inscription. The national demand for commercial Christmas trees has brought a new look to the highest mountains of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Billion of dollars worth of Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) plantations produce regular crops of Christmas trees sold to retailers in dozen states. Fraser fir (named for Scottish explorer John Fraser) is the only fir tree native to the southeastern United States. It grows up to 50 feet in height in its native high Appalachian communities of spruce and fir.

Erected by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry.

Location. 36° 35.942′ N, 81° 37.513′ W. Marker is in Whitetop, Virginia, in Grayson County. Marker is on Whitetop Gap Road (County Route 726) near Pond Mountain Lane (County Route 755). It is at the former N&W Whitetop station on the Virginia Creeper trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Whitetop VA 24292, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. “Virginia Creeper” Railroad (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trestle Construction (approx. 0.8 miles away); Old Growth Forest Remnants (approx. one mile away); The Offset

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(approx. 1.4 miles away); Green Cove Station (approx. 1.7 miles away); “Maud Bows to The Virginia Creeper” (approx. 1.7 miles away); Whitetop (approx. 1.8 miles away); White Top Folk Festival (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Whitetop.

Also see . . . Christmas Tree Cultivation. Wikipedia entry. “In North America, Fraser Fir, grown in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, has been called the ‘Cadillac of Christmas Trees’ as well as the ‘most popular and most valuable of Christmas tree species.’ In the southern United States, Virginia Pine is a popular Christmas tree species. In Canada, White Pine, White Spruce, Scots Pine, Blue Spruce and Fraser Fir are commonly cultivated. In the province of Ontario, Scots Pine has always dominated both the domestic and export markets. Other regions of the world also have different favorites when it comes to natural Christmas trees, and Christmas tree farms reflect these; In Europe, Norway Spruce is popular.” (Submitted on March 22, 2014.)

Christmas Tree Farm and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 27, 2013

2. Christmas Tree Farm and Marker

Young Christmas trees can be seen in the distance through the gap in the treeline in the foreground.

A Christmas Tree Farm image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 26, 2013

3. A Christmas Tree Farm

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 529 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 22, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.