Season opens Friday · November 27
Lancaster · Massachusetts · Est. 1978
Riverwind
Choose & cut · Lancaster, MA
Reserve a Saturday
Chapter One · The Farm at Dusk
Twilight, Saturday
38°F · Snow due by midnight

Find the tree
you'll remember — forever.

Forty acres of firs, spruce, and pine at the bend of the Nashua River. Borrow a saw. Argue nicely. Leave with the tree — and the afternoon — you'll talk about all year.

Reserve a Saturday Meet the trees
Hot cider on the house · Weekend tractor rides · Free shake & bale · Bonfires at dusk · Wreaths made daily · Mr. & Mrs. Claus · Dec 7 · Hot cider on the house · Weekend tractor rides · Free shake & bale · Bonfires at dusk · Wreaths made daily · Mr. & Mrs. Claus · Dec 7 ·
Chapter Two · Our Story

A little farm,
at the bend
of the river.

Riverwind started in 1978 as one red barn, a thousand seedlings, and a hand-lettered sign my grandfather nailed to a fencepost off Route 70. Nearly half a century later, the sign is still there — a little weathered, but so are we.

Every year around Thanksgiving, we hang the string lights on the barn and the whole place changes. Wood smoke. Balsam. Boots on frozen grass. Someone always running ahead of the rest. We grow six varieties on forty acres, we remember you from last year, and when you find the right one — we'll be there with the saw.

— The Whitaker family
40
Acres, walkable
Softly rolling, easy on boots
12,000
Trees this year
Six varieties, hand-grown
3
Generations
Grandparents, parents, us
48
Years in
Same barn, same sign
Chapter Three · The Trees

Six varieties.
One just for you.

All trees are field-grown at Riverwind and priced by type — no height charge, no haggling. Saws and twine are free at the barn. Bring a tape measure and a sense of humor.

I.
Fraser FirMost loved · 6–8 ft
Soft, sturdy needles and that classic Christmas scent. Holds ornaments like it was born to. Our most-requested tree for a reason.
FragrantSoft
$85
6–8 ft
II.
Balsam FirOld-fashioned · 5–7 ft
Deep green, intensely fragrant. The tree your grandmother had, and hers before. A proper New England Christmas tree.
FragrantClassic
$75
5–7 ft
III.
Blue SpruceShowstopper · 6–8 ft
Silver-blue needles with a slightly prickly handshake. Tidy pyramid shape. Looks incredible lit from behind in a bay window.
BlueStiff
$95
6–8 ft
IV.
White PineFamily favorite · 6–8 ft
Feathery, long needles — gentle on little hands and sweet on the wallet. Keep ornaments light.
SoftBudget
$65
6–8 ft
V.
Canaan FirHolds through New Year's · 6–8 ft
A cousin of the balsam with better needle retention. Rich color, lovely fragrance, still gorgeous in January.
Long-lasting
$85
6–8 ft
VI.
Grand FirFirst harvest · 7–9 ft
Glossy dark needles in neat horizontal rows. Soft to the touch. New to Riverwind this season — small supply.
NewLimited
$95
7–9 ft
Chapter Four · After the Cut

Stay a while.
Stand by the fire.

We built a bonfire pit out behind the barn because nobody ever wanted to go home. Weekend evenings from 3 PM, we feed it until dark. Hot cider, marshmallows on sticks, the smell of wood smoke in your coat for days. Bring a blanket.

Chapter Five · Plan a Visit

How a Saturday
at Riverwind unfolds.

I

Pull in at the red barn

Turn in off Route 70 by the white fence. Grab a hand-saw, a wagon for the kids, and a cup of cider from the barn. No reservation needed most days.

II

Walk the rows

Take your time. Our fields are walkable in any boots. Weekend tractor rides run 10–3 if little legs get tired. Dogs are welcome, on-leash.

III

Find the one

Argue nicely. Cut it down together. We shake the needles, bale it up, and tie it to your car — then we remember the story for next year.

TodayOpen 9–5
Temperature34°F
Snow depth2.5 in
Tractor ridesRunning
Cut today94 trees
Chapter Seven · Kind Words

Postcards from
the rows.

"

We've been coming since our kids were toddlers. They're in college now, and we still make the drive. Some traditions don't change — and they shouldn't.

— The Alvarez family · Worcester
"

Took us an hour and a half to pick. The baler boys laughed. Best Saturday of the year, every year.

— Meg C. · Cambridge
"

My grandfather bought his tree here in 1985. I bought mine here last Sunday. The farm looks exactly the same. Somehow.

— D. Whelan · Groton
Chapter Eight · Good to Know

Answers,
before you ask.

If your question isn't here, call the barn at (978) 555-0140 and Ruth will pick up. Probably. She's also making wreaths, so give it a few rings.

Do I need a reservation?
Walk-ins welcome every day of the season. Saturdays before Dec 14 fill fast — if you're coming with a big group or want a guaranteed tractor ride, reserve a timed slot online and skip the line.
Do you supply the saw?
Yes — hand-saws are free at the barn with an ID deposit. No chainsaws on the fields, please. Bring gloves if you have thin ones; we've got spares if not.
Can we bring the dog?
Absolutely, on-leash. We have a water bowl at the barn and a very opinionated barn cat named Percy. Your dog will meet him.
What if it snows?
Then it's perfect. We only close for ice. Dress warm, wear grippy boots, and bring a thermos — the fields are most beautiful with a fresh couple of inches on them.
Do you deliver?
For folks within 15 miles of Lancaster, yes — $40 flat. Call the barn Monday–Thursday to schedule. We do not ship trees.
Will it fit on my car?
Almost certainly. We've tied trees to sedans, convertibles, one Vespa (true story), and every SUV ever made. Twine is free, lessons are free, no judgment.
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Stay in touch

A letter, every first snow.

One email a year, in November. Opening-day news, new varieties, and a little note from the barn. That's it — we promise.

Tweaks
Make it yours