Nothing fills a home with Christmas cheer like the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree. Lance and Susan Sambol purchased an 18-acre farm in 2008 to turn it into a tree farm. Growing and selling that first tree takes patience and seven to eight years of growth. In 2015 the couple opened Sambol’s Tree Farm in Fortville, selling Canaan fir trees to families throughout the holiday season.
“We’re a full-service tree farm, meaning we provide everything our customers need to cut down their perfect Christmas tree,” Lance Sambol says. “From there, we take the tree, trim it, shake it and bail it for the customers. After they cut down their tree, their job is done. It’s really nice because they can take the tree inside once they get home, and it’s ready to go.”
Sambol’s Tree Farm also augments its supply of beautiful trees by offering pre-cut, locally sourced Fraser firs from Northern Indiana. This is a smart choice for families who want a live Christmas tree without the process of cutting it down.
“Both of these types of trees are perfect for Christmas trees,” Sambol says. “They’re really the Cadillac of trees because of their needles and coloring. The trees vary in height from 6- to 10-feet tall.”
The Sambol family also sells fresh, handmade wreaths, garlands, and grave blankets to honor loved ones during the holiday season. Susan painstakingly decorates 300 to 400 wreaths each year, and she makes all the ribbons by hand. They even sell local handmade items such as ornaments, candles and apparel in their gift shop.
“I was in the golf business before this, so I want the farm to be aesthetically pleasing and beautifully manicured for our customers,” Sambol says. “I only wanted to focus on trees for our farm and nothing else. We have people who bring out their family and dogs to take photos because it’s so pretty out here and well-maintained.”
The farm also includes a structure where people can sit by the fireplace, warm up and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while they wait for their tree to be bundled up. A food truck is on hand each weekend serving yummy goodies including chili, hot cocoa, cookies and more.
“We’re only open for a few months a year, so it’s really important for us to catch up with our customers,” Sambol says. “We only see them once a year, so we like to chat and see how their families are doing, as we’re a family business.”
Even the Sambols’ 16-year-old gets in on the holiday merriment and memory making, by working the family business each weekend. Lance works the farm full time, while Susan still has another full-time job. The family loves providing a small piece of their customers’ holiday experience.
Sambol’s Tree Farm is located at 7783 North State Road 9 in Fortville.
