Our Story

Before our first harvest, my father, Jimmy Coan, set out on a cross-country journey in search of the right place, the right people, and the right spirit to share our Christmas trees with. His travels led him to Austin, Texas, on the very day John Lennon was assassinated. That day, he witnessed a city united in grief — a community of strangers bound together by shared sorrow and compassion. Though far from home, he felt something rare and genuine in Austin’s heart — a sense of kinship that stayed with him.

It was there, in that city of music and friendship, that he knew he had found the place. He returned to North Carolina with a vision — to bring our Fraser Fir Christmas trees, grown in the cool mountain air of Ashe County, to the warmth and spirit of Texas. That year, for the first time, families in Austin brought North Carolina Christmas trees into their homes, and Papa Noel Christmas Trees was born.

More than four decades later, we remain a part of Austin’s holiday tradition — a familiar name and a familiar face for generations of families. What began as one man’s calling has become a legacy, carried on with the same care, the same craftsmanship, and the same belief that a Christmas tree is more than decoration — it is a piece of home, a symbol of family, and a reminder of what truly matters.

From our family to yours, thank you for welcoming us into your homes each Christmas season, for allowing us to be a part of your family traditions, and for keeping the spirit of Papa Noel alive year after year.

- Merry Christmas ~ Beau Coan.