The People’s Tree – From Tree to Shining Tree

Gary Amoth Trucking is honored to be selected to transport the 52nd U.S. Capitol Christmas tree!  The tree will travel from the Payette National Forest to the West lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Gary Amoth, the owner of the trucking company, will personally plan to haul “The People’s Tree” along the 4,000 mile route.  The route will include 28 stops across the United States, including several states. The Idaho Potato Commission’s Big Idaho Potato truck will also join them on the journey.  Chris Niccoli, who is responsible for tending the tree, will also join the journey.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, an 80′ Englemann Spruce, will be cut on November 2nd and gently placed in a custom-built 80′ cradled trailer, ready for transportation to McCall, Idaho. The preparations will include providing the tree with an 80-gallon bladder to feed it 20-40 gallons of water a day. A custom graphic-designed curtain will also protect the tree, which the gathered crowds can sign and view at the community stops.

The celebration will begin on November 5th with a special ceremony in downtown McCall, Idaho, from 5 pm-7 pm to send off the tree. Additionally, over 18,000 ornaments handmade by local Idahoans will be transported to decorate the tree. The last time Idaho provided the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree was in 2003, with an Englemann Spruce from the Boise National Forest.

Join us at one of our scheduled stops and see the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree in person! For more information on community stops, please refer to our previous blog titled U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Route. If you cannot join us at a community stop, follow the tree’s journey here or on Facebook to celebrate with us.