The plantation is a family business with no full-time employees located 10 miles south of Sioux Falls . Spring and summer are spent planting and cultivating spruce, pines, and firs for both ornamental and Christmas tree production. Since the year 2000 deciduous trees and shrubs have been added to the nursery and field inventory. Christmas trees are sold as choose and cut trees during the Christmas season. In the spring, summer, and fall all trees and shrubs are sold to individuals, landscapers, and local nurseries as potted, balled and burlaped, or spade moved ornamentals.

All conifers begin as selected seed custom grown in styroblocks for several months and then planted into irrigated transplant beds where they remain for one to five years as they become acclimated to local prevailing weather and soil conditions. At 12 to 18 inches tall these transplants are field planted in a checkerboard pattern to allow mowing to be used effectively for weed control. All future Christmas trees are sheared annually; currently over 50,000 trees. Despite our best efforts, not all trees develop into premium Christmas trees. Those that do not are used in our rapidly growing greens and wreath operation with custom made fresh wreaths produced up to 6 feet in diameter and beautifully crafted door sized wreaths shipped nationwide.

In late fall, the “barn” at the plantation becomes a beehive of activity with visits from thousands of enthusiastic shoppers looking for that special fresh Christmas tree and wreath. Rides to the fields, saws, tree cleaning and tree wrapping are all provided and on special days horse drawn wagons are available for that real old fashion trip to the field and back. Our mascot, Billy Beaver, has greeted visitors for years and is a favorite to include in that unique tree picture that goes into (or in some cases becomes) a very special Christmas card. Betty Beaver's kitchen is always open at the plantation with free warm apple cider and the fixin's for a great lunch or snack.

At Beaver Creek Plantation we recognize Christmas as a real holiday that honors a real historical event. In the spirit of that season and that reason, we have always remembered those less fortunate and continue to offer $3 off all choose and cut Christmas trees to those customers who bring a nonperishable food item for donation. The hundreds of pounds of food collected each year are donated to food banks in the region. A big thank you to all who have participated over the years.