Agritourism In the High Country
Experience the best of the High Country's farms - meet the animals, explore the land, and connect with local agriculture, including vegetable farms, a working winery, a farmers market and a flower farm!
The American Farmland Trust lists Watauga County as 39th in farmland loss in the nation. Your support of the High Country Farm Tour helps keep our agricultural land in production.
Welcome to the High Country Farm Tour! Visitors will spend the day traveling across Watauga County to explore some of the local farms and their history. Learn more about these farms below to plan your day in the High Country!
Meet The Farms
Visit our unique mountaintop alpaca farm and store, and connect to what matters – yourself, your family, a real farm experience. Get up close and personal with the alpacas, donkeys, goats and other animals that work and play at Apple Hill Farm. Every animal has a specific job, and many have a story as well! Apple Hill Farm is also home to the largest selection of alpaca products in the High Country of North Carolina; yarn, socks, hats, gloves and more!
Topics: #Livestock/Dairy #Poultry/Eggs #Value Added Products
**For the animal lovers
applehillfarmnc@gmail.com//400 Apple Hill Road Banner Elk, NC 28604
Springhouse Farm is a female owned and operated farm located 10 minutes away from downtown Boone in Vilas, NC. Over the past 18 years we’ve grown a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and farm fresh flowers using organic methods.
We also offer events such as You Pick Flowers, Farm to Table Dinners, and farm tours. We invite you to visit our honor-based produce stand before you leave and take a little piece of Springhouse Farm home with you!
#Produce/Veggies #Horticulture/Ornamentals
**For the nature lovers and farming interests
springhousefarmnc@gmail.com// 433 Silverstone Rd Vilas, NC 28692
Heritage Homestead is committed to producing delicious goat cheese in small batches on a family farm. Nestled on 27 acres in historic Todd, NC, we cut hay and raise goats, chickens, and jersey cows, sharing our love for animals through our products. We keep a mixed herd of Saanen, Alpine, and Toggenburg goats. This season we are milking 22 does. We milk twice per day, and produce cheese two days a week. In addition to chevre, feta, and a manchego-style goat cheese, we make caramelized goat milk and fudge for dessert. Products which are available for purchase on the farm. Come meet our animals and see our production facility. While you are out this way, stop in 'downtown' Todd, just 2 miles away, to visit the historic Todd Mercantile, sit by the New River, or take a guided fishing trip with River Girl Fishing Co.
#Livestock/Dairy
**For the foodies and animal lovers
heritagehomesteaddairy@gmail.com // 188a Bernard Bledsoe Ln. Todd, NC 28684
Since 1872, the Shipley Family has been raising beef in the Southern Appalachian Mountains the same way: through hard work and great care for the land, the livestock and the community.
A tour at Shipley Farms will take you to a place where the past and present intersect. You will learn the farm's legacy as well as the history of agriculture in Watauga County and the surrounding areas. You'll pass through the pastures and learn about regenerative agriculture and how it benefits the land, the environment, and the livestock. Finally, you'll have the opportunity to see the cattle grazing in the pastures and meet Mr Bojangles and his friends in the Animal Kingdom.
Once the tour is complete, you can shop the farm store for pasture raised beef and pork, local honey, eggs and icecream, Shipley Farms merchandise, as well as a large selection of artisanal goods sourced from NC farms and producers, plus much more.
#Livestock/Dairy
**For the history buff, foodie, farming interests, and animal lovers
jennifer@shipleyfarmsbeef.com // 1699 Linville Creek Road Vilas, NC 28692
Against the Grain raises a broad spectrum of certified Organic and Real Organic Project vegetables intensively on a little under 2 acres. While at ATG, you can see small-scale vegetable production, learn about our honey bee hives and visit our small herd of Highland cattle.
#Produce/Veggies #Poultry/Eggs
**For the foodies and farming interests
atgfarm@gmail.com // 619 Camp Joy Road, Zionville, NC 28698
Founded in 2000 by Steve and Sally Tatum, Grandfather Vineyard began when a love for wine overshadowed the idea of a Christmas tree farm. What started as a family passion project blossomed into a flourishing estate, built on the craftsmanship of Steve, an expert woodworker who designed our Tasting Room, and the expertise of his son, Dylan Tatum. After studying viticulture and business, Dylan transformed the family’s grape-growing hobby into a world-class winery. Today, the legacy continues with Dylan and his wife, Nicole, who manages the guest experience in the Tasting Room and our Wine Club. Alongside their "Bordeaux Collies" and a dedicated team that feels like family, we invite you to experience the heart and soul of the High Country in every glass.
**For the wine enthusiasts
wineclub@grandfathervineyard.com; info@grandfathervineyards.com // 225 Vineyard Ln, Banner Elk, NC 28604
The Full Moon Farm Collective is a nonprofit Farm dedicated to growing and donating organically grown food for community members who lack access, creating beautiful healing spaces, and serving as a learning organization dedicated to teaching life skills. The farm uses regenerative practices such as no till cultivation, beneficial insect use for pest control, and volunteer power to increase farming knowledge. The farm is located 20 minutes east of Boone in the holler community called Triplett. They also offer equine therapy services as well as public gathering spaces to encourage connection with nature for the community.
#Produce/Veggies #Livestock/Dairy
**For the foodies and farming interests
fullmoonfarmer@gmail.com // 141 Rhymer Branch Rd, Deep Gap, NC 28618
Here is the map of the participating farms on the tour, where they are located, and how far away they are from each farm!
Sponsors
Mast General Store, Seven Peaks Family Medicine, Farm Bureau, Hip Camp, River Girl Fishing Company, Betty’s Biscuits, Watauga County Farmers Market, Blue Ridge Woman in Agriculture, Explore Boone, Empowering Mountain Food Systems, NC Extension.