Crimson Skye Farm, situated in Schwenksville, Pa., provides distinctive chances to discover more about alpacas and interact with them.
After owner Karen Nace moved from the Philadelphia Main Line suburbs a few years ago, Crimson Skye Farm came to life. The 24-acre farm offers various types of alpacas.
Nace runs the farm with the help of her other family members.
Nace said the origin of how the farm officially began dates back to National Alpaca Day, which is celebrated annually on September 26. “One day I took my granddaughter to a National Alpaca Day [event], and ended up getting three,” Nace said. “Now I have 43 [alpacas].”
Since 2019, the farm has showcased their award-winning alpacas. “We have six championship animals on our farm right now,” Nace said.
Around the holidays, they offer various ways to uniquely celebrate festive times, while including the alpacas. “We offer a lot of events from November to December,” Nace said. “We had an open house where kids got to make crafts and also see the alpacas.”
Outside of the holidays, locals have the opportunity to schedule tours or to enjoy a unique experience walking an alpaca.
“We do tours in the summer and we are planning to start doing picnics in our fields with the alpacas, as well as yoga with them,” Nace said.
Walking tours will be available in the springtime.
“In the spring we will do tours where you can actually walk an alpaca,” Nace said. “We put a halter on them and you can walk them around the pastures.”
Additionally, the farm includes a gift shop, offering soft alpaca products, stuffed animals and other unique items. “Some of the items we get through co-ops, where we give the alpaca fiber to them and they make products from it,” Nace said.
Nace believes there are some characteristics of alpacas that many people do not know.
“A common misconception is that alpacas spit and are not friendly, but that is usually not the case,” Nace said. “They usually only spit at each other.”
Where these animals come from too are also unique. “They are imported from Peru,” Nace said, “and now here in the United States these are the bloodlines we are developing now.”