Fur, Feathers, and Fun on the Farm: Local Animal Experiences

BLESSING CREEK FARMS

LAFAYETTE, GEORGIA

Across the state line, tucked into LaFayette’s wooded hills, awaits Blessing Creek Farms – one of the closest Highland cow experiences to Chattanooga. And the best part? Owners Wendel and Tammy Lamason and Chad and Emily Hall have made it to where there are no fences separating visitors from the fold.

“At Blessing Creek Farms, visitors don’t just look at animals through a fence, they get to be with them,” says Tammy. “Our signature experience is our Highland cow cuddle sessions, where guests can sit with our gentle Highlands, brush them, and take in that shaggy, unmistakable Highland charm up close.”

Due to the large amounts of socialization they receive, Blessing Creek Farms’ Highland cows are very affectionate. “Coco, one of our Highlands, loves to lick people,” Tammy laughs. “Highlands are a very docile species. As you work with them, they grow closer to you and learn to exist alongside humans. But really, every animal at Blessing Creek has a personality all its own, and the best way to see it is to come out and experience it for yourself!”

Guests can also enjoy guided hands-on encounters with miniature donkeys, goats, pigs, dogs, kittens, and bunnies, as well as on-site photography sessions with or without the animals. With the farm’s mobile petting zoo service, a curated group of animals can even travel off-site for events, including birthday parties, school visits, and more.

Prioritizing purpose and care for the animals and land, the Lamasons and Halls hope the farm they proudly call home allows guests to take a break from the busyness of life.

“At Blessing Creek, we want people to experience the peace and calm that come from stepping away from the city and slowing down with some time on the farm,” Tammy finishes. “Whether it’s a child feeding a goat for the first time or an adult sitting quietly next to a Highland cow, we hope people leave a little more grounded than when they arrived.”

OCOEE RIVERSIDE FARMS

BENTON, TENNESSEE

Have you ever wanted to room with sloths? At Ocoee Riverside Farm in Benton, Tennessee, you can do just that!

Located on the second floor of the farm’s exotic animal barn, the Sloth Suite offers 24-hour views into a two-story sloth enclosure, as well as three master suites outfitted with king size beds and Narnia-inspired bunk rooms with glass floor windows looking down into camel and kangaroo stalls below. Guests can also glamp along the Ocoee River in all-season covered wagons, with excellent fishing right outside the door, however, “The Sloth Suite is by far our most popular accommodation on the farm,” says owners John and Donna Warner. “Guests love that they get to room and hang out with our sloths Zoey and Cash. And we also offer sloth cuddle encounters for both lodging and non-lodging guests.”

Ocoee Riverside Farm, voted the 2025 Tourism Property of the Year by Tennessee Tourism and Hospitality, has something for everyone. As a USDA licensed facility, the 30-acre farm is home to over 100 native and exotic animals. John and Donna, along with their staff, diligently care for and guide encounters with sloths, kangaroos, camels, spider monkeys, Scottish Highland cows, fennec foxes, and more.

“We are not a zoo where you just come to see animals. We have nearly 20 different encounters allowing guests to see, pet, play with, hold, hand-feed, bottle-feed, and ride animals during their visit to the farm.” John explains. “On our Farm Tour, you’re going to interact with animals big and small, from a 20-gram micro squirrel to a 1,300-pound camel and lots of others in between.”

Though the farm opened in 2019 with only a few horses and a small flock of chickens, John says he and Donna felt a call to expand the farm and provide a destination where people and animals can interact in a safe and ethical manner.

“We’ve had the opportunity to host guests from all 50 states and over 30 different countries here on the farm.” John says. “It’s a privilege to be here, and we want to continue to be a quiet place for people to make memories with their family and friends for years to come.”

ROSIE MAE’S ALPACA FARM

WILDWOOD, GEORGIA

In 2022, Maegan and Maxwell Lewis never would have guessed that their 3-year-old’s Christmas wish for a pet alpaca would turn into a full-blown interactive alpaca farm and café; but it did. Now, the region is invited to share in their family’s appreciation for the domesticated camelids.

“Rosie asked for alpacas for Christmas when she was 3,” recalls Maegan. “We originally told her no, but that we would visit some farms. She absolutely fell in love with them; we all did, really. During those visits, we learned that alpacas are hypoallergenic. With all my anaphylactic allergies, we weren’t able to have other animals, so they were a perfect fit for us.”

Located in Wildwood, Georgia, the farm invites guests to enjoy a treat at the café, shop the boutique, and pet the alpacas for free during business hours. “Guests can buy feed for $2 if they want to feed them,” explains Maegan. For a more hands-on experience, the farm offers private tours that allow guests to enter the enclosure with the alpacas.

For Maegan, her favorite part of the job is seeing their distinct personalities shine. The alpacas are so unique that the family even named signature lattes after them in the café.

“It’s funny how different each one is,” she laughs. “Cosmo is definitely our most chill; Tiny Dancer is the mischievous trouble maker; Theo was born on the farm and thinks he is half human; Vanna and Rosie have the most amazing relationship; Velvet loves food but is not much for cuddles; Crystal Rose is chill and calm; as the oldest, Miss Fine is the boss lady; and Rainmaker is the boss man. Well, he and Theo fight over that title, but he is definitely our most vocal; he sounds like Chewbacca.”

Alpacas are native to South America, but the Lewis family’s alpacas came from Mississippi, Foster’s Trail and Alpaca Farm in Cleveland, Tennessee, or were born at Rosie Mae’s. Caring for the alpacas has given their family a common passion and brought them even closer together – and Maegan says that’s the heart behind the farm.

“We do this so that others can see how amazing alpacas are,” she finishes. “And we love that we get to share our babies with the world!”

LITTLE TAIL FARMS

DUNLAP, TENNESSEE

By combining animal encounters and conservation efforts, Little Tail Farms in Dunlap, Tennessee, takes approachable farming to a new level. Not only are guests invited to vacation on the farm, but owners Laurie and David Bizzell ensure that “every visit is hands-on and immersive.”

“We offer two unique farm stays,” says Laurie. “Our Highland Cottage experience allows guests to stay in a cozy cottage and wake to the sight of Scottish Highland cattle just outside their door, while the Farm Stay experience lets them wander the pastures, enjoy animal interactions, and experience what life is like on the farm!”

With more than 50 animals, guests can enjoy petting and feeding Scottish Highland cows, Nigerian dwarf goats, baby doll Southdown sheep, alpacas, miniature horses, donkeys, KuneKune pigs, chickens, and Great Pyrenees dogs. Because the farm’s main goal is heritage breed conservation, Laurie says 90% of the animals are born on the farm.

“What truly inspired Little Tail Farms was the desire to preserve these remarkable breeds while creating a place where people could connect with them up close,” she explains. “A blend of conservation, education, and hands-on experience has shaped us into a space where visitors not only meet the animals, but leave with new knowledge, meaningful memories, and a deeper appreciation for heritage livestock.”

Every Saturday morning in March through October, Laurie and David also lead guided farm tours and animal interactions. Though they love their work, they admit their favorite part is seeing families connect and laugh together.

“We love seeing families forget about schedules for a while,” Laurie says. “Watching baby goats bounce from ground to dog to tree almost always gets everyone laughing, and guests love when a Highland cow quietly walks over for scratches. Our animals truly have a way of bringing out curiosity and joy in people of every age. Being able to share that every day is incredibly rewarding.”

Laurie says that every guest who visits learns something new about the animals and their respective species, opening guests’ eyes and hearts to new experiences with animals. 

“We love helping visitors replace old stereotypes with firsthand experiences,” she finishes. “Before long, guests will find their favorite animal and leave talking about them as if they’ve made a new friend. That’s why we say, ‘it’s not just a stay, it’s a story.’”

CREATURE FEATURES

ATHENS, TENNESSEE

Imagine driving eight hours to pet and hand-feed a capybara named Wallace. At Creature Features in Athens, Tennessee, co-owners Topher Kyle and Kylie Clark often receive visitors who have done exactly that.

“People drive incredibly far distances to meet a specific species here at the farm,” says Topher. “I love seeing their faces light up when they finally get to pet and feed the animals; it’s similar to when someone sees a famous landmark they’ve heard of all their life, like the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower.”

Creature Features is an exotic animal rescue and interactive petting farm with more than 50 furry, feathery, and scaly residents – including tarantulas, Eclectus parrots, coatis, wallabies, a kangaroo, Arctic foxes, a capybara, muntjac deer, baby doll sheep, emus, and more. “The purpose of Creature Features is all about educating people about these animals in a hands-on and impactful way,” Topher explains.

Offering fully interactive tours, visitors can enter the enclosures to pet and bottle- or hand-feed the animals. Additionally, the team visits local schools and businesses as a mobile zoo for on-site education. With a wide array of personalities, Topher says that each animal encounter is unique.