Searching for a fun family activity that won’t break the bank? Come spend a few hours at two intriguing destinations just a stone’s throw from Murphy, NC. Take a visit to Ye Olde Goat Farm, where you can get up close and personal with quirky goats of all ages.
Or, dig for gems and pan for gold at the Salty Dog Gem Mine, located on the Wagonmaster Adventure Ranch premises. At either destination, you can soak up some mountain air while you unplug from technology and enjoy some time in the great outdoors.
YE OLDE GOAT FARM
702 Hughes Road, Murphy, NC (828) 837-0345
If you’d like to visit a real working farm, and you’re intrigued by goats’ quirky personalities and amusing antics, pay a visit to Ye Olde Goat Farm in Murphy’s Martins Creek community. At this small family-run farm, the hands-on owners are dedicated to raising quality Full Blood Boer goats. In addition, the husband-wife team provides valuable guidance to brand-new goat owners. Each buyer receives assistance before and after their purchase, and extended education is also available.
At Ye Olde Goat Farm, you’ll find males and females of varied ages, likely including several babies. As you might expect, baby goats are some of the most entertaining creatures on the planet. These charming little animals playfully run amok through their fenced pasture, their boundless energy making them seem like furry wind-up toys. In fact, baby goats are known to use hay bales, tables, and other baby goats as springboards for their games. Watching them can be a downright joyful experience.
Of course, baby goats do require considerable care, and Ye Olde Goat Farm’s owners regularly bottle feed these little creatures. From time to time, lucky visitors get the chance to assist, treating the tiny goats to a nutritious meal while showering them with attention. While you spend quality time with the babies (and their families), the farm’s owners will share their experiences of this decidedly different type of farming.
Elsewhere on Ye Olde Goat Farm, you’ll find a weathered old buck barn that has been transformed into an appealing gift shop. Stepping inside, you’ll see 100-year-old tongue-and-groove pine planks, topped off with a rustic tin ceiling that adds to the building’s vintage character. Looking around the shop, you’ll find locally made paintings and other crafts for sale, offering a reminder of your time in this peaceful spot.
If you’d like to experience Ye Olde Goat Farm firsthand, please call ahead to schedule your visit, as the farm’s owners are not always available to receive guests. By respecting the owners’ wishes, and choosing a mutually agreeable date and time, everyone can enjoy this goat farming experience together.
SALTY DOG GEM MINE
Wagonmaster Adventure Ranch
359 Adventure Ranch Road, Murphy, NC (828) 494-9521
Maybe gem mining has piqued your interest, and you’ve been looking for an opportunity to scoop up some colorful treasures of your own. Or, perhaps you’ve already done your share of hands-on gem mining, scrambling around scrubby hillsides and digging multiple holes in fields – only to come up empty-handed at the day’s end. Either way, Salty Dog Gem Mine, located on the Wagonmaster Adventure Ranch premises near Murphy, NC, offers some quality gem mining that will get your attention.
Digging for Gems
Simply put, Salty Dog Gem Mine invites each visitor to choose their own gem mining experience. Instead of digging in the dirt with no guaranteed payoff, you’ll buy a bag of dirt (and hidden gems) geared to novice gem miners or experienced rock hunters. In fact, the latter bag might contain sapphires, rubies, or emeralds. Or, select a fossil bag sprinkled with rough, unpolished gems. Kids will be especially delighted with their special treasure bags.
Panning for Gold
Or, let’s say you’ve always envisioned yourself panning for gold in the wilds of Alaska. Here at Salty Dog Gem Mine, you can experience gold panning firsthand, without springing for the pricey airfare and battling the region’s legendary mosquitoes. Salty Dog provides the equipment and instructions, and you’ll keep the gold you discover (and yes, it’s from a real gold mine).
After you’ve satisfied your urge for gem mining or gold panning (or both), enjoy an onsite picnic and show off your treasures. And as an added bonus, Wagonmaster Adventure Ranch doesn’t charge a blanket admission fee, so you’ll pay only for the experience you choose.
The Poltrock Team – REMAX Mountain Properties – Murphy NC – www.ILoveMurphy.com – Call us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – Murphy’s #1 Real Estate Team