Droessler bought the 10-acre farm about 15 years ago as a divorce present to herself and opened it to the public about 10 years ago. She has two miniature donkeys that came to the farm after a 4-H organization shut down, a miniature horse that came via the SPCA from a hoarding situation, lots of sheep and goats and tons of chickens. “I always tell kids they are welcome to count them, and if I knew the number I would be tired,” said Droessler, aka Farmer Mary. Mary Droessler doesn’t know how many animals she houses on Winterpast Farm. Our series appears online and in print each Monday through Labor Day. 6, open only Saturdays and Sundays through May. Open during the summer Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. If any of them decide to spit at you, please don’t use your child as a shield. “Llamas are taller with the flat back, whereas alpacas are shorter with a rounded back. “To the right you will see some of the llamas and alpacas,” said tour guide Katie Talton. Visitors can also take a 20-minute guided ride around a back pasture and throw some bread to a variety of mainly hoofed animals. The zoo offers “keeper talks” where people will have a chance to pet reptiles, skunks, goats and pigs. So when she came to Aloha, “we told her we would never tie her up again,” Moore said. It became embedded in her neck and had to be surgically removed. Peacocks also wander the property, along with a pig named Molly.Īt one time, Molly was tied to a tree with a rope. “We pretty much take in anything and everything that was neglected, rejected,” said Kristen Moore, Aloha’s exotic animal care manager. To review reports on Aloha and other facilities go to bit.ly/USDAreports.Īloha Safari Zoo visitors will find Bengal tigers, a grizzly bear and spider monkeys. The zoo, along with other facilities across the state that exhibit exotic animals, is inspected annually by the U.S. He took in animals from closing zoos, bought exotic animals before they reached hunting ranches and took in wolves, a bear and tigers. Crutchfield, who also raises and trains miniature horses, spent two weeks in Las Vegas working with trainers before bringing the monkey home.Īt home, though, the monkey continued to be the wild animal that he was, and Crutchfield started looking for a new home.Īfter being appalled by the conditions of the sanctuaries he explored, Crutchfield decided make room on his farm for discarded animals. You learn more about their history, and it seems pretty intimate.Īloha Safari Zoo owner Lee Crutchfield’s road to housing 436 animals on his property at 159 Mini Lane traces back to a capuchin monkey he received as a gift in the 1990s. “It’s amazing,” said Lauren Updyke of Cary, who was visiting Aloha with her son Ryan. Facilities such as Aloha, Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk and Winterpast Farm in Wake Forest offer an opportunity to get a little closer and connect with animals by holding a guinea pig, petting a baby goat or learning about the fine fiber produced by an alpaca. Still, such experiences, along with affordability ($12 for everyone over 2), are what make small zoos and farms worth a visit. Just a word of warning from 8-year-old Ryan Sinor of Fayetteville, who fed Stretch carrots by hand: It can be a little slimy. Stretch lived in a small barn in Ohio and was used for promotional videos and photography before he got too big and was moved to Aloha Safari Zoo in Cameron. And if you’re not careful, he’ll steal your hat and sunglasses while you’re trying to pet or feed him or give him kisses. The classes are held in an outdoor pasture if the weather allows, or a small enclosed barn when it rains.His name is Stretch. Remember to bring your own mat or blanket and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little chewed on! The main event of course is having baby goats nudge, nip, and nuzzle you while you settle into a pose. The class is an easy, beginner-friendly flow that incorporate some simple Vinyasas and stretching. Join us for this fun yoga class outdoors and connect yourself with a farm experience and sweet baby goats to play with. Avery Community Yoga is honored to be a part of this mission by bringing our love of yoga to the farm! Their purpose is to provide education, joy, and moments of connection to our beautiful community. Avery Community Yoga and Apple Hill Farm are teaming up for another season of baby goat yoga this summer! Our neighbors at Apple Hill Farm are a family-owned working fiber farm who pride themselves on inspiring a deep bond between people and animals.
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