On a ranch in Bartonville, TX a 150-year-old pecan tree is the tableau for an annual spectacular light display every Christmas. The locals call it the “OMG Tree” – and with good reason!
It began as a suggestion back in 2005 from Bill Rathburn, owner of the Christmas Light Company in Dallas who the ranch owners, Barbara Nunneley and her partner, Jan Deatherage, had hired to outline the roof of their house with Christmas lights.
He noticed the huge, lone pecan tree out in their pasture and told them it’d make a spectacular light display. But at the time, Nunneley thought it was an extravagance that was a bit too expensive.
Her mind was changed two years later when her dad, who always said Christmas was his favorite time of year, was losing his battle to the terminal stage of prostate cancer. She decided the display would be an appropriate tribute to her father, so she called Rathburn and told him: “Let’s do it!”.
It takes a crew of up to eight workers from the Christmas Light Company about 20 hours to string the over 60,000 LED lights used to cover the tree. And because the pecan tree is so tall, they have to use a huge cherry picker in order to reach the top.
Nunnelly planned the inaugural lighting of the decked out old pecan tree as the featured event for the family’s annual Thanksgiving gathering at the ranch. But sadly, her father was not able to make the 70-mile drive from Nocona to Bartonville for the festivities. Sadly, he passed away the very next day.
Nunnelly said about the inaugural lighting: “It took my breath away.” And given the background for its inception she recalls: “It was a little spiritual, a little emotional.” But she philosophically adds: “My daddy did not ever see it from Earth, but I’m real sure he saw it,” casting her eyes skyward.
The tree brought them such joy they decided they would make it an annual tradition to honor her dad. And its notoriety has grown so that now folks from all over the South and Southwest travel to enjoy the light show.
So, let’s also join in for some of its mystical delight …
As its fame has grown, she notes that sunset is the most popular time for visitors to enjoy the light display.
And Nunnelly notes that over the years it’s become a favorite romantic setting for the younger folks in the area to stage their proposals – which is perfectly understandable …
Nunnelly admits she gets a kick out of the irony that over a dozen young men have asked her permission to “pop the question” under her pecan tree, in light of the fact that she’s a divorce lawyer. But adds she does have a personal rule that she’ll never take a case of someone who proposed under her tree.
If any of you folks in the area ever make it to the ranch, I’d enjoy hearing about your experience. Until then, I’ll just have to enjoy it vicariously …
RESOURCES:
GIFs are from CBS:
Pecan tree decorated for Christmas draws visitors from hundreds of miles away – CBS News
Story is largely from Texas Monthly:
An Old Pecan Tree Is a Beacon of Hope at the Holidays – Texas Monthly
https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/bartonville-pecan-tree-lights-holidays/
