Unearth The Voyage
There is a farm tucked into the foothills of North Carolina where you can stand nose-to-nose with a shaggy Highland cow, scratch a Nigerian Dwarf Goat behind the ears, and walk away with a soy candle named after your new favorite animal. I had no idea a single afternoon could pack in that much charm.
The animals are calm, the hosts are genuinely passionate, and the whole place feels like a world away from everyday life. By the end of my visit, I had already pulled up the calendar to book my next trip back.
Where to Find This Farm and How to Get There
Crooked Creek Highlands sits at 4147 Somers Rd, Hamptonville, NC 27020, right in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Yadkin County. The drive itself is a reward, with winding country roads and wide open skies that make the whole trip feel like a mini escape from the city.
The farm is roughly an hour and a half from Charlotte and about two hours from the Raleigh-Durham area, making it a solid day-trip option for a big chunk of North Carolina. Some visitors have driven three hours just to get here, and nearly every single one of them said it was worth every mile.
Once you turn onto Somers Road, the landscape opens up beautifully. You can reach the farm by phone at 980-258-3301, and their website at crookedcreekhighlands.com has booking details, upcoming events, and all the practical info you need before you go.
Booking in advance is highly recommended since tours fill up fast, especially on weekends and around seasonal events.
The Story Behind the Farm
Crooked Creek Highlands is a family-run operation, and that fact shows in every corner of the property. The owners, Megan and Evan, built this farm with a clear love for their animals and a genuine desire to share that love with anyone willing to make the trip out to Hamptonville.
The farm started as a personal passion for Highland cattle, a breed that originated in Scotland and is known for its long, flowing coats and surprisingly gentle personalities. Over time, the herd grew, the property expanded, and the couple began opening their gates to visitors who wanted a hands-on experience with these remarkable animals.
What makes the backstory especially touching is how deeply personal it all feels. The cows each have names like Bubba, Cotton Candy, Lydia, Footloose, Willow, and Strawberry.
Calves are born right on the property, and the team tracks every milestone with care. The farm has grown into a full community experience, hosting events, tours, and even the occasional surprise proposal, but the heart of it has always stayed the same: a family sharing something they truly love.
Meeting the Highland Cows Up Close
Nothing quite prepares you for the first moment a Highland cow leans into your hand and closes its eyes in pure contentment. These animals have long, shaggy coats that come in a range of colors, and their bangs hang so far over their eyes that they look perpetually unbothered by the world around them.
During a farm tour, guests get to pet, brush, and feed the cows directly. The brushing part is a highlight because the cows absolutely love it.
They will press their enormous heads toward you and hold perfectly still, which is both hilarious and oddly moving when you realize just how trusting they are.
The herd includes cows of all ages and temperaments. Bubba is a fan favorite for his calm, sweet energy, and the newer calves add an extra layer of excitement to every visit.
The team walks you through each animal’s personality and history, so by the time the tour ends, you feel like you have actually made friends rather than just seen animals behind a fence. That personal connection is what keeps people coming back again and again.
The Nigerian Dwarf Goats You Will Not Stop Thinking About
The Nigerian Dwarf Goats at Crooked Creek Highlands have a way of stealing the show even when there are Highland cows nearby, which is no small feat. These tiny, compact goats are full of personality and seem completely convinced that every human on the property is there specifically to pay attention to them.
A group nicknamed the Golden Girls has become a particular crowd favorite, with guests regularly asking about them by name. The goats are friendly and curious, and some visitors have even gotten to hold baby goats during their tours, which is the kind of experience that tends to live rent-free in your memory for a very long time.
What makes the goat encounter especially fun is the contrast with the Highland cows. You go from standing next to an enormous, fluffy cow to suddenly crouching down to meet a goat that barely reaches your knee.
The farm does a great job of letting visitors spend quality time with both species, so you never feel rushed or like you are missing out. These goats are small in size but enormous in charm, and they know it.
Donkeys, Ponies, Sheep, and More Surprise Residents
Highland cows and Nigerian Dwarf Goats might be the headliners here, but Crooked Creek Highlands has a supporting cast that deserves its own spotlight. The farm is also home to donkeys, ponies, horses, sheep, and Hereford cattle, making the property feel more like a full animal sanctuary than a single-species operation.
The donkeys, in particular, tend to catch visitors off guard in the best possible way. They are social, expressive, and surprisingly affectionate once they decide you are worth their time.
The sheep add a quieter, fluffier energy to the mix, and watching them wander around the pasture while you are brushing a cow is the kind of peaceful moment that resets your whole mood.
The variety of animals means that every tour has something new to offer, even if you have visited before. Families with kids especially appreciate the range because there is always an animal at the right height and energy level for even the youngest visitors.
The farm manages all these different species with obvious care and attention, and the animals across the board are calm, healthy, and clearly well-loved by the people who raise them every single day.
What a Farm Tour Actually Looks Like
A standard farm tour at Crooked Creek Highlands runs about an hour, and visitors consistently describe it as much longer in the best possible way because there is so much to take in. The tour covers more ground than most guests expect, with a property that turns out to be significantly bigger than it looks from the road.
Evan leads many of the tours himself, and his combination of genuine enthusiasm, deep knowledge, and easy humor makes the whole experience feel more like hanging out with a knowledgeable friend than attending a formal tour. He covers the history of the breed, the specifics of caring for Highland cattle, and the individual stories of each animal you meet along the way.
One of the most memorable stops is the area the farm calls the calfé, a small enclosure where only the calves can enter and guests can stand inside with them as they eat and drink. It is an unexpectedly intimate moment that turns a good tour into a great one.
Brushes are provided, photo opportunities are plentiful, and the pace is relaxed enough that you never feel like you are being rushed through something worth savoring.
Events Throughout the Year That Keep People Coming Back
The farm tour is just one way to experience Crooked Creek Highlands. Throughout the year, the property hosts a rotating calendar of events that give visitors a reason to return even after they have already done the standard tour.
The lineup includes canvas painting nights, hot cocoa evenings, cows-and-coffee mornings, seasonal celebrations, and larger community events like Fall on the Farm.
Fall on the Farm, in particular, draws a crowd with local vendors, a welcoming atmosphere, and the added bonus of being surrounded by Highland cattle while the leaves change color around you. It is the kind of event that feels both festive and grounded, rooted in the land and the animals rather than gimmicks or spectacle.
The painting classes are also worth highlighting because they offer a slower, more creative way to connect with the farm’s atmosphere. You paint, you relax, and you occasionally look up to see a cow peering at you from across the fence.
The events are well-organized and clearly thought out, and the team manages them with the same warmth and attention to detail that defines every other part of the Crooked Creek Highlands experience year-round.
The Atmosphere and Setting of the Farm
There is a specific kind of quiet that settles over you when you step onto the Crooked Creek Highlands property. The farm sits in a stretch of countryside that feels genuinely removed from the noise of everyday life, with rolling fields, clean air, and the kind of sky that reminds you the world is actually quite large and mostly beautiful.
The property is well-kept and clearly loved. The pastures are clean, the fencing is solid, and the animals look healthy and at ease in their environment.
That level of care creates an atmosphere that feels welcoming rather than commercial, more like visiting a neighbor’s farm than paying for a packaged experience.
Photographers especially love the setting because the natural light, the animals, and the landscape combine into something that photographs beautifully in almost every direction. Several visitors have used the farm as a backdrop for maternity shoots, engagement photos, and other personal milestones, and it is easy to see why.
The whole place has a visual warmth that feels effortlessly photogenic without trying too hard, and every corner of the property offers something worth pointing a camera at.
The Gift Shop and Farm Store
Before you leave Crooked Creek Highlands, there is one more stop that tends to extend the visit by at least fifteen minutes: the farm’s guest house and gift shop. It is a small but thoughtfully curated space that carries products connected directly to the farm and its animals.
The soy candles are the standout item. Each one is named after one of the farm’s cows, and the scents are genuinely impressive.
Multiple visitors have mentioned walking in just to browse and walking out with a candle they could not stop smelling on the drive home. It is the kind of souvenir that actually makes sense because it ties back to the experience you just had.
The shop also carries apparel, including sweatshirts that have developed something of a fan following among repeat visitors. The products feel intentional rather than generic, and the quality is noticeably higher than the average farm gift shop fare.
Even if you are not typically a souvenir buyer, this shop has a way of changing your mind. Everything in it feels connected to the heart of what Crooked Creek Highlands is all about, right down to the smallest item on the shelf.
Buying a Highland Calf of Your Own
For those whose visit sparks something deeper than admiration, Crooked Creek Highlands also sells Highland calves. The farm has a thoughtful and transparent process for buyers, starting with an in-person visit to ensure the buyer feels confident and comfortable before any commitment is made.
After a deposit is placed, the farm sends regular updates as the calf grows, adjusts to human interaction, and eventually weans from its mother. That level of communication is rare and genuinely reassuring for first-time Highland cattle owners who want to know exactly what they are getting into before the animal arrives at its new home.
One buyer shared that her calf, named Elton, turned out to be friendly, lovable, and everything she had hoped for, and she credited the farm’s preparation and transparency for making the whole process smooth and stress-free. This side of the business reflects the same values that run through every other part of Crooked Creek Highlands: honesty, care, and a real investment in the wellbeing of the animals and the people who love them.
Calves are born on-site, so the lineage and early care are always known quantities.
Tips for Planning Your Visit
A few practical details can make the difference between a good visit and a great one. Booking in advance is essential because tours are offered in private or small group formats and spots fill up quickly, especially on weekends and around seasonal events.
The farm’s website at crookedcreekhighlands.com has the full booking system and a current events calendar.
Wear clothes you do not mind getting a little dirty. This is a working farm, and while it is clean and well-maintained, animals are animals.
Closed-toe shoes are a smart call, and layers are helpful if you are visiting in the cooler months, since the farm has even welcomed guests in the snow.
Arrive on time and read the pre-visit instructions the farm sends out, because multiple visitors have noted how thorough and helpful those materials are. Bring a camera because photo opportunities are everywhere and the farm actively encourages guests to document their time there.
Children are welcome, and the farm is a genuinely family-friendly environment. The staff are patient, knowledgeable, and clearly happy to be there, which sets a tone that makes the whole visit feel easy and enjoyable from the very first moment you walk through the gate.
Why Visitors Keep Coming Back
A five-star rating across 134 reviews is not something that happens by accident. Crooked Creek Highlands has built that reputation through consistent quality, genuine hospitality, and a commitment to making every single visit feel personal rather than transactional.
People drive two and three hours to get here, and they leave already planning their return trip.
Part of what keeps visitors coming back is the animals themselves. The herd changes over time as calves are born and grow, so even a repeat visitor will meet new faces and have new moments.
The rotating events calendar also means there is always a fresh reason to make the drive, whether it is a painting class, a seasonal celebration, or simply a quiet morning with the cows.
The deeper reason, though, is the feeling the farm creates. There is something about standing in a pasture with a Highland cow that is genuinely restorative, and the Crooked Creek Highlands team understands that and protects it carefully.
They have built a place where the animals are happy, the guests feel welcome, and the whole experience adds up to something that is hard to replicate anywhere else in North Carolina or beyond.
