Black Barn Alpacas
Some of the sweetest and fluffiest girls!
I’m sure you’ve heard, but in case you haven’t yet – Wilson County is now home to the sweetest and fluffiest herd of ALPACAS! This unique and fun attraction is sure to be a memorable experience for your entire family. It’s the perfect spot for date nights, family outings, and so much more. I have been out to see these cute “floofs” multiple times now but had the opportunity this summer to spend time walking around and getting to know the owners, Travis and Yussy. So let’s dive on in to their story, their goals, and of course some pics of the stars of the show (the pacas!).
Heading south on 181, you’ll find yourself a 16-acre ranchette that is the home of Black Barn Alpacas. The signature black barn and carefully thought-out acreage is home to the herd of about 50 alpacas of all shapes, sizes, fluffiness, and colors. Though the variety is large, Black Barn is working towards having a herd of blacks and greys, to provide premium quality coats for a multitude of reasons. But more on that in a bit!
Black Barn is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Travis and Yussy (you-see). Both grew up around animals, and this is evident in their demeanors with their herd. They adore their sweet alpacas and look forward to greeting them every single morning. Though they have a background with animals, I doubt either of them thought they would one day be raising this fluffy herd! Travis runs the day-to-day operations, alongside Ranch Manager Robert. While Yussy helps with the ranch operations as well, she brings her knowledge of design to the table from her company Y Interiors. With her company, Yussy creates quality home goods made from sustainably harvested alpaca fleece. This is one of the many reasons Black Barn is working towards a herd of blacks and greys. And if you’ve never felt the difference in fleece between varying alpaca colors, you’ll have to feel for yourself when you visit the ranch!
Travis, Ranch Manager Robert, Yussy, and one of the males from Black Barn.
Besides raising the alpacas for quality coats, Black Barn gives the unique opportunity to our community to come visit in many different ways! They currently have a Fall Fest happening each weekend in October, where the community has been able to enjoy pumpkin painting, hayrides, food vendors, games, and of course the alpacas. During regular operational hours/season, you can book a tour to come see the alpacas in a multitude of ways! You can do an hour long, interactive tour where you get to pet and feed the herd. Add on a “sip-and-spit” package to enjoy a curated dinner with wine pairings, while some alpacas roam around (and by no means spit) as you enjoy a one-of-a-kind dinner! To get the ultimate experience, Black Barn offers a “vacation” package, where you can stay on the ranch and learn first-hand what goes into raising a quality herd of registered alpacas. No matter what route you choose to go, you are sure to have the time of your life; I know I have every time I’ve been!
As Black Barn grows and continues to draw crowds and attention, it gives more opportunity for Travis and Yussy to chase their vibrant dreams for their ranch and their herd. The store on the property has already grown, and Yussy has so many wonderful ideas of design, curation, and expansion for their alpaca goods. Future picnic areas, herd changes, and many other ideas of brilliance came from them as we walked the property together. Watching them interact with their herd, the way the new each alpaca by name and loved on them fiercely, was a heart-warming experience to be a part of, as they told me of their dreams for the herd and for this community that they have so graciously chosen to bring the life to.
Black Barn and its owners dreams are an experience that you will want to be a part of and watch grow. You can book your own experience HERE to see what the talk is all about. Remember to follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date and to help show them support and spread the word. Thank you for continuing to help me support our local dream chasers and for being here on Homegrown.
XX, Hannah
