Most recently updated November 6th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
Winterpast Farm in Wake Forest is not your regular alfalpha and soybeans kind of farm.
And though this 10-acre family farm near Falls Lake has previously been a tobacco farm, a Christmas tree farm, and a horse farm, in it’s current incarnation Winterpast is a working animal sanctuary.
Winterpast provides a home for goats, sheep, emu, two mini donkeys, several types of ducklings, peacocks, a goose, pigs, lots of bunnies, hedgehogs, guinea pigs and many varieties of chickens.
And – luckily for us – Winterpast is now a place where families, students, scouts, and pretty much anyone can go to pet and play with all of the animals.
If you get really attached, you can rent a pet to take home for a week… or maybe keep fur-ever 🙂
Except maybe for the hedgehogs, because they’re hardly ever home. The hedgehogs are really popular…
These days, masks are required to visit – and never fear! There is a hand-washing facility with soap and bleach wipes available for your safety.
Anyway, if you want to visit the rest of the critters, all you have to do is look up the open hours for the week and text Farmer Mary to schedule a visit!
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I’ve known about Winterpast for several years now, and have visited a few times – on my own and with all of the local grandkids.
In fact, the photo of me on the I’d Rather Walk homepage was taken at Winterpast.
Baby Goats and Emu Eggs
One of my hiker friends saw that pic and said, “You look really, really happy in that photo with the baby goat. What’s going on?”
I said, “You see I’m feeding a BABY GOAT, right???”
Baby goat season is usually Fall to early Winter, and you can hold them on your lap and bottle feed them.
Right now several of the Mama goats are getting ready to give birth, so baby goats will be ready to visit soon 🙂
That’s just one of the fun things you can do at Winterpast.
You can also search for chicken eggs and Emu eggs.
In fact, the Emu are nesting now, so the Farmer’s Daughter is hosting nest tours in the pasture as the weather allows.
The Emus often take breaks from brooding, and get up and wander off to stretch their legs – so looking at the nest won’t piss them off.
I’d really hate to have one of these guys mad at me 🙂
You can purchase an Emu egg for $25, or if you’re not up for something that exotic you could search the barn for chicken eggs.
(Chicken eggs are for sale at $5/dozen.)
More About Emus
The emu is the largest bird in Australia and second largest in the world – the largist is the ostrich.
Emu are flightless birds, stand up to 6.2 feet in height and lay beautiful blue-green eggs.
In 1932, in their native Australia, the emu population had exploded, causing massive crop destruction. A military operation – devised to try to minimize the population – ended up being called the Great Emu War. (It was not successful.)
On the farm, Emus are known for warding off unwanted predators.
Emus have been known to stomp bobcats, opossums, snakes, and neighborhood cats to the ground.
Farmers use this behavior as added livestock protection, since emus get along well with horses, donkeys, goats, and small animals.
Winterpast Farm History
Tens of thousands of people have visited this 10-acre farm over the past seventeen years.
Winterpast owner Mary Droessler, a single mother of four adult children, has been living her childhood dream of providing a safe home for animals since moving to the farm in 2003.
It all began during a divorce, when the person known at Winterpast as “Farmer Mary” had never had a farm or even any animals other than a cat and dog.
Transforming her life from business suit, young mother, and corporate wife to single mom with shared custody of two young boys, farmer, and animal caregiver took some long hard years.
Finding and purchasing the land was the first step.
Mary focused her search in Wake County, and eventually found the ten acres that is now Winterpast Farm Petting Zoo.
Her first animals were some chickens given to her from a neighbor, and some pet goats.
Next she purchased a small herd of llamas, upgraded her chickens to sell eggs, changed to official milk goats and she made cheese for a few years.
Then about 15 years ago someone called Winterpast a “petting zoo” and the idea was born.
The Song of Solomon verse below was Farmer Mary’s inspiration during that time of her life, so she knew immediately the name of her farm would be “Winterpast”.
“For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.”
–Song of Solomon 2
The next summer she hosted two six year old Russian orphans.
They were only supposed to stay for six weeks, but Alex and Elizabeth stayed on and now have been her adopted children for many years!
They’re all grown up at this point, but Alex and Elizabeth are the reason that all adopted children who visit Winterpast Farm are admitted free of charge.
In 2019 Farmer Mary became an empty nester, with daughter Elizabeth coming home during holidays and summers from AppState to help out.
She can always use volunteers of all ages to help her continue to care for and to feed and water all the animals at Winterpast Farm.
Please read the Volunteer section of the website to find out how you can help.
Becoming a Non-Profit
Winterpast Farm has been an official 501(c)(3) non-profit since November 7, 2019 (EIN 84–3620099).
The farm has undergone multiple routine inspections by Wake County Animal Control, and has never received a negative report from them.
Winterpast has taken in many animals for Wake County Animal Control, and the officers appreciate the number of animals Farmer Mary personally keeps out of overcrowded animal shelters.
Winterpast Farm also complies with all requirements for Agritourism under N.C.G.S. § 99E-30(3).
What’s an Animal Sanctuary?
The dictionary defines a sanctuary as “a place of refuge and safety”.
Winterpast Farm is a sanctuary for many unwanted animals.
Examples are:
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- A pig born without a back left foot,
- Helen Keller the blind bunny, donated by a breeder when she began to show signs of visual impairment, and
- Dutchess the bunny, who has a stripe the “wrong” width so breeders found her flawed.
- Pet pigs are frequently donated when they grow larger than promised.
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Recently, there’s been a trend of local teen girls buying baby ducklings, and then donating them to Winterpast Farm when the birds are no longer small and fluffy.
Animals are regularly left at or even thrown over the fence at the front gate of Winterpast Farm.
And they are taken in with no questions.
Winterpast Farm is also a sanctuary for teens with anxiety, depression, special needs and others who find purpose volunteering and caring for the animals at Winterpast Farm.
Special Animal Care and Training
Providing shelter and caring for such a diverse animal population is like maintaining a constantly shifting Rubik’s cube.
For instance, all animals at the farm need to be housed in enclosures suitable to their size, and the weather.
Many rabbits, for example, live in spacious professionally-constructed two and three-story hutches.
In winter small animals are moved to a heated garage. In summer the deep shade combined with frozen water bottles help keep the small animals healthy.
Regular maintenance tasks at the farm include:
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- Water buckets are cleaned out and replenished every day.
- Pens and enclosures are cleaned regularly. In winter the pens and barn are filled with layers of straw to insulate the animals. The straw is regularly replenished and then moved to a compost area in the Spring.
- Round bales of hay are provided for food, as well as extra hay in three hay feeders in the barn.
- Nursing mothers in maternity pens get special hay, feed, and extra care.
The food treats brought by farm visitors and food donated by Friends of the Farm are only a fraction of what the animals eat.
Farmer Mary routinely purchases large loads of feed at Tractor Supply and Southern States, and stores cans of each food in a huge feed tent.
Special Animal Care
A professional shearer is brought in to shear the sheep once per year.
It’s not warm enough yet this year – and with lambing so late – to shear the sheep. Farmer Mary doesn’t allow shearing of hugely pregnant sheep nor sheep who have recently given birth.
Sheep may also look a little bedraggled right now due to the constant rain and mud. 🙁
Farmer Mary is trained in animal hoof care and regularly trims the hoofs of the goats and other animals as needed.
She also works directly with professional farriers twice per year to make sure everyone’s hoofs are always cared for.
Plan Your Visit
So you can see how busy Farmer Mary is. It follows that you shouldn’t just drop by for a visit. Visitors may come by appointment only.
There may be a private group at the farm, the weather may be crappy, Farmer Mary may be worming the goats or birthing piglets – or even be at an away event.
Just text 919-244-1800 between 8am-10pm to set up a visit for a specific day and time in advance.
Read “your visit” at www.winterpast.org to learn all about making an appointment to visit the farm.
Always double- check for any change in status – due to COVID restrictions, adverse weather, or any other reason before you go.
How Long Does a Visit Last?
On your visit you may choose to have a tour (the animals and farm exhibits are always changing) or you may wander around and feed animals, swing on swings.
The average time of a farm tour is about an hour, although you’re welcome to stay longer after Farmer Mary moves on to welcome another group.
Most visitors who choose to are able to hold bunnies, guinea pigs, chicks when available, chickens, baby goats and whatever else is small and cuddly.
NOTE: Adults must stay with their children while they hold the animals.
Some groups choose to bring lunch or a picnic dinner.
There are picnic tables in a “chicken free” zone by the barn, and another picnic area is inside the gate where chickens and other animals will be very close to you.
(Please do not leave trash on the tables or ground.)
Farm Rules
There are just a few rules for visitors at the at the farm:
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- Don’t chase the animals
- Don’t pick up the chickens
- DON’T OPEN THE ANIMAL PENS! Please keep an eye on your children and do not allow them to open cages, close cages (some pens are open until animals put themselves to bed there at night).
- Don’t take fake lizards from the forest path or take displayed peacock feathers. Feathers found on the ground are free for you to take home. (Peacocks molt their long tail feathers every fall and selling their feathers pays for their food. Peacock feathers are for sale for $5 each.)
Handwashing
There is a sink with hot running water, Dawn dish soap, antibacterial liquid soap, hand sanitizer, paper and clean cloth towels, and Clorox wipes located next to the parking lot for visitors to use.
A stool is provided for small children so they can reach the sink.
There’s a sign at the exit gate directing visitors to stop and wash their hands on their way out.
Field Trips
Winterpast Farm has hosted field trips for pre-schools, Scout groups, Mom groups, Homeschooler groups and public school groups.
There’s plenty of parking and school buses can get in and out easily.
Most school groups stay 2-3 hours. Some stay for a picnic lunch. Some ask to do service projects.
A campground is available for Scout and church groups in the back field.
The site includes bonfires, rocket launching, fresh eggs from the barn for breakfast and occasional really early wakeup calls from the roosters – who are all named “Bob”. 🙂
Take A Hike to Winterpast
The Falls Lake Trail (also the MST), Shinleaf section, passes along very near to Winterpast at Ghoston Road.
If you park at the Shinleaf access, it’s just a few miles hike on the MST to Ghoston road.
From there, it’s just a short walk along the shoulder to get to the Winterpast entrance.
Be sure to schedule your Winterpast visit before you go!
Another nearby park is Blue Jay Point County Park.
They’ve got short trails, and playgrounds for the kids, as well as picnic facilities.
Farm Info
Contact
Texting (919-244-1800) between 8am and 10pm is the best way to get in touch with Farmer Mary to schedule a farm visit or party or to ask more questions or request more photos.
Texting is the ONLY way to set up visits, pet rentals, birthdays, field trips, etc.
NOTE: Texting only – not voice mail, FB messaging, or email as these are not checked very often.
It will helpful to look at the posted farm schedule before you text to see when the farm will be open to visitors.
Farm Schedule
The farm is open, usually, several weekdays including most holidays and most weekends.
That said, the OPEN schedule does vary widely week to week due to weather and off-site events.
Open dates and times, which vary greatly, are regularly updated at the Winterpast.com homepage and the farm FB page.
Farm Address
12936 Ghoston Road Wake Forest 27587
Located at the end of Six Forks Road just past Highway 98 at Falls Lake
Please look for the well marked entrance at 12936 Ghoston Road.
NOTE: Don’t turn down Farmer Mary’s neighbor’s private road behind the old tobacco barn even if your GPS tells you to 😉
Cost of Admission
Farm visits are $10 per person, all ages. (Adopted children visit at no charge.)
The admission price covers some of the cost of feeding the animals and the ongoing rescue work Farmer Mary does with unwanted pets.
Please plan to pay with exact change in CASH ONLY. (Farmer Mary doesn’t make change.)
Please pay on arrival. Otherwise it’s easy to forget and to leave without paying.
Feed the Animals
You can bring items to feed the animals from home (see the list of foods on the website) or you can purchase a bucket of food at the farm for $5. Cash only.
Items for Sale
There are items to purchase including peacocks feathers, and unique clay ornaments made by Farmer Mary all at $5 each which you can use to “make change” if necessary. Cash only.
Take home some fresh eggs! Chicken eggs are $5 per dozen. Cash only.
Farmer Mary also rents pets by the week. Read the PET RENTAL tab on the Winterpast web site for more information.
I hope this post has inspired you to visit Winterpast Farm and spend some time with the animals.
If you’re interested in visiting other local animal sanctuaries, you can read more here about the Carolina Tiger Rescue, and all the animals at Apple Hill Farm.
If you have a question drop me an email and I’ll reply as soon as I can.
Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ
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LJ has spent much of her free time as a single Mom – and now as an empty-nester – hiking in the US and around the world. She shares lessons learned from adventures both local and in exotic locations, and tips on how to be active with asthma, plus travel, gear, and hike planning advice for parents hiking with kids and beginners of all ages. Read more on the About page.