If you’ve ever dreamed of living on a farm (or if you just need a break from the daily grind), consider booking an overnight farm stay at one of North Carolina’s farms or ranches that offer lodging with a bit of agricultural education to boot. North Carolina farm and ranch families across the state offer farm stays on their properties, welcoming guests to experience an unforgettable getaway on a working farm.
Many North Carolina farm stays offer interactive activities such as feeding animals, picking berries or collecting eggs for breakfast. It’s a type of agritourism that’s a win-win scenario for both farmers and their guests. Farmers benefit from a diverse, dependable source of income, while curious travelers get the chance to reconnect with their rural heritage and take a behind-the-scenes peek at where their food comes from.
–Jessica Mozo
Walnut Hollow Ranch, Hayesville
When you book a farm stay at Walnut Hollow Ranch in Hayesville, you’ll be immersed in the sights and sounds of a working cattle ranch. Walnut Hollow has a widespread following for its all-natural, pasture-raised Black Angus beef and invites overnight guests to stay in the Farm Lodge, which can accommodate up to eight people in two fully equipped rooms.
Guests can hike forested trails, go fishing (catch and release), enjoy bird-watching and embark on a guided farm tour to learn about how Walnut Hollow Ranch raises its Black Angus cattle in a responsible, humane way. RV owners can stay at Walnut Hollow’s RV Ranch with sites that boast pastoral mountain views. At the ranch’s Beef Store, guests can stock up on beef, pork and chicken to take home with them. Manager Brian Schmille bought the property in 2020 and says he loves giving farm tours because of the interaction with guests.
“The diversity of people we get here is amazing,” he says. “The people you meet and the stories they tell – it’s a type of wealth that is not monetary.”
For more information, visit walnuthollowranch.com.
See more: Plan a Visit to a Local Farm Using the Visit NC Farms App
