ALPACAS. NATURE. WELLNESS.
"Our vision for the farm has always been rooted in love, care, and connection - both for our animals and the people who visit. Lost Mountain Alpaca Ranch is first and foremost a sanctuary for our animals, where they are safe, respected and deeply loved. We welcome everyone to experience this special space as a place to unwind, reconnect with nature, and simply breathe. Whether you are here to enjoy quiet time with the animals, participate in one of our wellness offerings or celebrate a milestone with friends and family, we hope your visit brings peace, presence, and a sense of belonging." - Dave & Tina Ellsworth
OUR SANCTUARY MODEL
We operate with a limited and intentionally curated visiting schedule rather than traditional open farm hours. Most public tours, wellness offerings, and private events take place on weekends, with typically one experience hosted per day. This allows our herd to interact calmly without becoming overwhelmed, while preserving their natural rhythms of grazing, resting, and herd bonding. Occasionally, we reserve select weekday visits for pre-scheduled groups such as school organizations, elder and assisted living communities, and special needs or neurodivergent populations. These visits are thoughtfully selected and scheduled sparingly to ensure the wellbeing and comfort of our herd. All public tour dates, wellness experiences, alpaca picnics, camps, and special holiday events are listed here on the website under the "Farm Visits" tab, where guests can view availability and reserve their visit in advance. Private events such as birthday celebrations, corporate gatherings, and larger group experiences are scheduled directly with us so we can thoughtfully plan each experience together. We encourage guests to book their visits early, as tour and event availability often fills quickly.
HOW ALPACAS CHOSE US
One of the most common questions we hear from guests is: "How did you end up becoming alpaca ranchers?" The truth is, alpacas seemed to find us long before we ever imagined this life. When our kids were young, we took regular trips out west to places like Colorado, Utah, and Oregon. Time and again, we'd stumble upon alpacas - almost like magic. There was something about their calm presence, gentle curiosity, and quirky charm that stayed with us. They made us smile. They brought peace. We didn't know it then, but they were planting a seed. Years later, we found ourselves rethinking how we were spending our time. Still relatively young and full of energy, we felt a strong pull to live differently - to give back, to offer something meaningful, to create a space where people could come to relax, reconnect, and feel safe. And always, in the back of our minds, were those alpacas. After years of searching for the right piece of land, we finally found it in 2021 - a quiet corner of the world that felt just right. We rolled up our sleeves and spent nine months restoring an old farmhouse, reviving pastureland, and breathing new life into a beautiful old barn. Our dream was beginning to take shape. We traveled across the country to meet with experienced alpaca owners, asking questions, learning everything we could, and preparing ourselves to be thoughtful stewards of these animals. In July 2022, our first four alpacas arrived - three of them expecting babies. We had no idea what we were doing at first. But we leaned into mentorship, joined associations, read, researched, and learned by doing. And in October 2022, we opened our gates to the public for the first time - not knowing if anyone would come. To our amazement, they did. And they kept coming. From late 2022 through summer 2023, our first crias (alpaca babies) were born right here on the farm. That year, we made the leap and retired early from our careers in healthcare to dedicate ourselves fully to this new path. We poured our hearts into creating a true sanctuary - not just for the animals, but for every visitor who steps onto our land. Today, Lost Mountain Alpaca Ranch is home to 12 alpacas (six male, six female), four sheep, four cats, and one very loyal Maremma livestock guardian dog. Over 10,000 guests have visited our farm to unplug, learn, celebrate, and experience the charm and energy of some of the most magical animals on the planet.
