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FeaturesDecember 13, 2015

In the words of Joannie Smith, "Prepare to be dazzled." Smith has been growing and selling Michigan Fraser fir Christmas trees near Commerce, Missouri, for more than 35 years with her husband, Jerry, along with managing their main business, River Ridge Winery...

The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore Dec. 3. (Laura Simon)
The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore Dec. 3. (Laura Simon)

In the words of Joannie Smith, "Prepare to be dazzled."

Smith has been growing and selling Michigan Fraser fir Christmas trees near Commerce, Missouri, for more than 35 years with her husband, Jerry, along with managing their main business, River Ridge Winery.

Starting out in a small 20-foot-by-30-foot cabin in the woods to help them keep warm while they sold the trees, the Smiths soon realized they needed more space for their business.

"We bought this property in 1977, and the following year we planted Christmas trees in 1978. *... Then I thought I'd have a few things [to sell], and I discovered the vast amount of variety of ornaments that are out there in the world, and I started searching high and low for them, and now the cabin part of it is the major part of the business and the trees are kind of in addition to the cabin," Smith said.

As the business grew, she noticed people were having trouble entering what is now called the Little Log Cabin, and were leaving when they couldn't get in. Meanwhile, the Smith family was living in a larger log cabin nearby.

Joannie Smith, owner of the Yule Log Cabin, works on fresh greeneries, Dec. 3. (Laura Simon)
Joannie Smith, owner of the Yule Log Cabin, works on fresh greeneries, Dec. 3. (Laura Simon)

"I thought, 'OK, we're doing something here.' So I ended up buying a two-story house in Commerce thinking, 'Oh, this'll be a good place to move it.' Well, I started telling my customers ... and they all said, 'No, no, no, we love coming to the woods,'" Smith said.

Eventually, the Smiths decided to move out of their log cabin and turn it into the Yule Log Cabin, a seasonally based business that has been thriving for the past 26 years.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Sept. 1 or Labor Day weekend (whichever comes first) through the New Year, the Yule Log Cabin is a host of bright holiday colors and cheer. With 165 trees and countless ornaments and decorations, the cabin and adjacent barn are packed to the brim with festive treasures.

A wide array of niche themes can be seen on the assorted trees, from a hunting tree with bullet ornaments, deer dressed in camouflage and a shotgun sticking out of the top to a blue peacock tree covered in feathers, sparkly blue accents and Old World pastel peacock ornaments. A nature tree with a waist-up Mother Nature figure positioned daintily as the top third sports plant ornaments and accents. At least 10 upside-down trees can be spotted, some in stands on the floor and some suspended from hooks in the ceiling.

"The store is totally different every year, and I really enjoy putting together different looks and doing crazy stuff, like the lady in the tree," Smith said, laughing.

The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Scott City. (Laura Simon)
The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Scott City. (Laura Simon)

Smith said Old World ornaments, or painted ornaments made from handblown glass, have been extremely popular in the cabins, and can be seen on nearly every tree. The cabin even has its own signature Old World ornament, emblazoned with the Yule Log Cabin logo.

Many other gifts are available, ranging from holiday books and CDs to Elf on the Shelf outfit sets to Hammond's Candies and Solmate Socks. The shop also carries Santa Clauses made by Karen Didion, who is the owner of Karen Didion Originals and a Santa Claus designer from St. Peters, Missouri.

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When it comes to decorating, Smith said she draws some inspiration from customer ideas or even from staff members, and will look for specific ornaments when she goes to market. This year, Jim Finley, who works at the cabin, decorated a Paris-themed tree adorned with small Old World macaroon ornaments, glittery mini Eiffel Towers and his own handmade ornaments, all because his wife loves Paris.

She said the huge variety, remote location and welcoming atmosphere set her business apart when it comes to holiday shopping.

"We like to think that we're very friendly and make it an experience, make it well worth their trouble to search us out," Smith said. "And there's hardly a time when someone comes in here and can't find something for someone."

The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Scott City. (Laura Simon)
The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Scott City. (Laura Simon)

Over the years, Smith said, many local families have made visiting the cabin an annual holiday tradition. Whether it's the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve, families make the yearly drive into the country to pick out a tree and browse the endless selection of ornaments.

Although the cabin is out of the way, Smith said it's all about the experience for the visitors.

"I think the whole idea of it being in the woods and in the cabin is unique in itself, and, you know, it's not convenient, like I said -- people have to plan to come here, you don't drive by -- we're a destination. It makes it an adventure for people," she said.

The Yule Log Cabin also has an outdoor shed where Smith and her employees hand craft wreaths from Fraser fir greenery. Visitors have a front-row seat and are able to watch the wreath-making process.

"It's just a fun experience," said Jennifer Behnken, a forester and seasonal employee of Yule Log Cabin. "The one thing I've liked about my time here ... is you're kind of a living exhibit as people walk by, so people can actually watch what you're doing. So we're not just in a factory doing it, but people can actually see it."

The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Scott City. (Laura Simon)
The Yule Log Cabin in Scott County has Christmas decorations galore, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Scott City. (Laura Simon)

Behnken said she enjoys the wreath-making process and providing fresh wreaths for customers to take home because it's a more organic decoration for the season.

"I think the [best] part of it is that connection with an outside world, getting the scent in your home, bringing the sense of nostalgia that comes with that when you associate with Christmas," Behnken said. "I think it's neat, at least from a maker's standpoint, that it's a handcrafted event, it's not something that's mass produced in the same way, so you feel like you're getting something individual. You're supporting your local communities by local tourism, local shopping, and I think that's really important as well."

Smith said decorating and running the cabins is near to her heart because she has had a passion for celebrating Christmas since she was a child.

"I really, really, really like the people, and I like being around all of it. Just being -- when you're walking in the door, it just feels like, 'Ah.' My mom and my grandma really made Christmas very special, very magical, so it's kind of in my blood," she said.

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