Take the kids or yourself on a farm day without leaving Charlotte. Cedarbrook Alpaca Farm is a small, family-owned urban farm at 7408 Cedarbrook Drive, Charlotte, right on the border with Mint Hill. This is just a 23 minute drive from the very center of Charlotte.
Owners Jay and Nicole maintain a small but growing herd of alpacas, as well as goats, chickens, two pigs, emus and ducks.
Cedarbrook Alpaca farm is hosting a special event, Goats & Pumpkin Decorating, on dates through October:
- Monday, October 10th, 2022, 2 p.m.
- Friday, October 14th, 2022, 1 p.m.
- Saturday, October 15th, 2022, 3 p.m.
- Monday, October 17th, 2022, 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 19th, 2022, 11 a.m.
- Friday, October 21st, 2022 1 p.m.
- Saturday, October 29th, 2022, 12 p.m.
The cost is $12 per person and you need to book in advance, as space is limited. While on the farm you can purchase a pumpkin for $7 and up. Please don’t bring your own pumpkin, for the safety of the goats, who will be helping with the projects by eating the pumpkin innards that you scrape out!
The farm will provide all the carving tools that you need.
It’s recommended that you wear long pants, because the goats will be right there with you and they might put their hoofs on you.
You might also be interested in our big list of animal encounter opportunities in the Charlotte area.
Fun facts about alpaca babies:
- Alpacas have just one baby at a time.
- The gestation period for alpacas is 242 to 345 days, so if you meet a very pregnant alpaca, be understanding — she’s been pregnant a long time.
- A baby alpaca typically weighs 18 to 20 pounds.
- A baby alpaca (or llama) is called a cria.
Emus grow to be six feet tall and 150 pounds. Emus are excellent guard animals, and when these two emus grow up they will have some herd-protecting responsibilities.
All of the animals are very friendly…especially if you have feed to offer, which is included in the price of the tour. Also, while you’re on the tour you don’t have to worry about taking pictures because Jay and Nicole will take pictures and share a gallery of photos with you afterwards, at no additional charge.
You might come for the alpacas, but the playful goats will steal your heart. They might also try to steal your shoelaces, so make sure that you’ve tied them securely!
Several varieties of chickens live on the farm, including a couple of roosters. There are also some ducks.
The two pigs, Chandler and Joey, are clean and friendly, and will even sit on command when motivated by treats. You can see this trick, as well as a chicken trick, in this sneak peek farm visit video.
The farm sells soap made from the goat milk, with several fragrances, and it’s wonderful — very soft and gentle. You can also purchase fresh eggs from the chickens, and other farm merchandise. You’ll eventually be able to buy items made from alpaca fleece.
Cedarbrook Alpaca Farm is offering farmhand tours. The cost is $15 a person, for people age 2 and up. Book a tour here.
The revenue from the tours, and from the farm products, help to feed the animals and provide their care.
The farm can sometimes accommodate tours at other times. Email them at nsparago@cedarbrookalpacafarm.com or message them on Facebook to talk to them about a tour at another time. Please be patient, as Cedarbrook Alpaca Farm is a 2-person operation, and tour times are limited.
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