The Old Farmhouse at Willet Ponds Farm, LLC in Todd offers...More than a place to stay: an Appalachian farm experience.It's all about the farm, and the peaceful, enriching experience your family will have here.
We offer both the Old Farmhouse (located right in the middle of the farm) and the Willet Nest (which is a secluded, high elevation home at the very top of our property) . Both afford you the opportunity to interact as desired with our farm animal favorites: Lucy the pot-bellied pig, Solomon the long-eared donkey, several horses and our very friendly dogs. A week in the country is worth a month in town. Treat yourself to the simple joys of life and discover why we have an extremely high guest return rate. Join us in feeding our flock of 30 chickens, gathering eggs, and waking to the rooster's crow--it's therapeutic! “This was the best week of my life,” said one 4-year-old guest, speaking for most of the children who have experienced our farm and fallen in love with the “Little House on the Prarie” style Old Farmhouse. Indeed, what we hear time and time again is that Willet Ponds Farm is the perfect vacation spot for any animal lover or country romantic who needs a break from the suburbs. This quaint, century-old farmhouse offers an excellent venue for experiencing the Appalachian countryside: fresh mountain air, babbling brooks, nature at your doorstep. Tucked away on a dead-end road with extensive hiking trails right on the property, the Old Farmhouse takes one back to a slower day, a simpler time. Generous decking wraps around three sides, ending in a covered porch from which unfolds the brilliant green valley and a pastoral scene that will keep you dreaming wistfully from the porch swing. The house has been well lived in and well loved for generations. It's authentic—not a log cabin kit popped up on a hillside. There is spirit and character here. The Old Farmhouse is picture perfect in every way your imagination tells you a quaint Appalachian farmhouse should be. Antique furniture, rustic wormy chestnut cabinetry, knotty pine and hardwood floors, handmade quilts, and vintage photographs will convince you of its Appalachian heritage. A spacious, well-equipped kitchen, comfortable family room, and attractive sunroom with double French doors give you plenty of space to relax inside. The farmhouse has two charming bedrooms on the ground level, each with a double bed, plus two upstairs “attic” bedrooms (two single beds each) that will enchant your children—they absolutely love it here. Willet Ponds, our 100-acre farm, is 5 minutes from historic Todd (the famous General Store and Mercantile bakery), and the scenic New River (tubing, canoeing/kayaking/rafting, fishing, & swimming, not to mention easy bike riding along the river), 15 minutes to Elk Knob State Park, and only 20 minutes to either Boone or West Jefferson. From Boone you'll have easy access to the ski slopes, Tweetsie, shopping in Blowing Rock, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Grandfather Mountain. But be sure to schedule in some down time to just enjoy the profound serenity of the property, to watch the horses graze. The adventurous can work up an appetite hiking the 3-mile loop trail over our private mountainside, taking in awesome views of a 100-ft. waterfall cascade and of the valley below, then enjoy the thrill of fishing in the trout pond to put dinner on the table (fishing poles provided). You can explore two mountain streams on the property that are just the right size to play in, then roast marshmallows at the convenient bonfire pit. As dusk falls, the spring peepers begin to sing a chorus while countless fireflies rise from the pasture, performing a natural light show rivaled only by the brilliant night sky that's so full of stars, it can only be imagined from the city.Cozy in Winter: While the house does not have a usable fireplace, the Toyostove heater features the glow of a fire and keeps the house cozy on the coldest nights.
In addition to our horses, friendly dogs, chickens, peacocks, pot-bellied pig, rabbits, donkey (and whatever else the cat drug home), we also live on this, our dream farm, in a house across the way (not too close). We personally manage our 2 rental houses on the farm, making them clean and comfortable, in hopes that you'll feel that you're staying in a home, not a generic rental cabin. Our other house sleeps 6, so a party of up to 14 could be accommodated by renting both houses. We make sure to take care that you have everything you need, be it a cup of flour or freshly lain free-range eggs.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We've made room for you here, too.Favorite Things to Do on the Property: 1) Roast marshmallows at the fire ring.2) Walk the hiking trail up to the seldom-seen falls.3) Feed the chickens and gather eggs.4) Search for treasures hidden around the farm.5) Fish in the trout pond.6) Help with barn chores.Horse Rides: many guests ask about riding our horses. While we're not a riding stable open to the public, we do offer guided trail rides and/or riding lessons to our guests. We charge $50 per horse per ride (kids can share one horse). Because we need to arrange our schedules for horse activity, please let us know your interests in advance, whenever possible.
