Smith Mountain Lake Farm Alpacas

Taking a side trip while at Smith Mountain Lake often means venturing into the countryside for a different view of life. Without driving too far, nature and more await, like that found at Smith Mountain Lake Alpaca Farm. We heard about this farm from another boater out on the lake and decided to call and make reservations for a tour before leaving the area. It turned out to be a treat, and we learned so much about alpacas that we even considered starting a small farm of our own one day.

A husband-and-wife team owns and operates the farm located in the Hardy countryside. Here, they house between 50 and 80 alpacas, making it one of the largest agriculture tourism facilities in the country.

What makes this alpaca farm a standout is that the couple does everything. That everything includes breeding of their alpacas, turning fiber into fashion, leading farm tours, and coaching those who wish to become future alpaca farmers. It is also a handicap-friendly facility.

There is a small gift shop on-site offering gorgeous alpaca sweaters, socks, and pillows. The farm also creates its own designs, recognizable by the Pendleton label. These and more are also for sale at the Harvest Moon Marketplace, which the owners also helped to create.

Smith Mountain Lake Farm Alpacas: Fun Facts & Cool Features

The tour times include:

• Saturday tours: 10:30, 12:30, and 2:30
• Daily weekday tours: 10:30, 12:30, 2:30
• Sunday: 12:30, 2:30 (or 1:30 and 3:30)

These fill up quickly, especially on weekends, so reserve your spots as soon as you know your preferred date.

The admission fee is $10 per person, with children under 2 free. Included in this fee is a portion of grain that you can feed to the alpacas.

The alpaca farm tour takes about an hour and a half and is highly educational and interactive for all ages. You’ll learn about the history and science surrounding all things alpaca from a passionate and knowledgeable guide. Along the way, you may even get to hug an alpaca or hold a baby one. Everyone is given a portion of feed upon admission and can also feed the alpacas.

It’s not a petting zoo-type experience, but rather a natural history talk and walk. One of its goals is to raise awareness about the benefits of alpaca fibers. Another desire is to share what it's like to run an alpaca farm and raise them. The owners are clearly passionate about alpacas and their work.

For groups of ten or more, the farm offers educational tours tailored to groups. Ask about the “Behind the Scenes Tour" of the Alpaca Nursery area. This package is ideal for small children and anyone with walking difficulties.

An Advanced Tour, called Alpaca 101, is really a training session that you have to call and schedule. This hands-on learning experience covers such topics as alpaca anatomy, basic veterinary care, and managing practices.

The owners and operators of Smith Mountain Lake Alpaca Farm are big on education and sharing what they know with others. They pride themselves in having the top educational facility in the country while also specializing in the breeding and selling of their show-quality alpacas. The alpacas on the farm come from high premium bloodlines found across the US, and on any given day, you can find up to 70 or 80 of them across the landscape.