Visit the Maryland Eastern Shore's Only Alpaca Farm

The colder winter months are the perfect time to cuddle together under cozy blankets. And when you must brave the elements, you'll need to bundle up in warm hats, gloves and scarves. During your winter getaway to Chesapeake City, you can make a stop at the nearby Painted Sky Alpaca Farm and Fiber Mill to pick up handcrafted winter accessories made from alpaca fiber or choose from their selection of colorful natural yards to craft your own blankets and apparel. While you're there, you can even meet the adorable animals who provide their fleece to make the beautiful fibers.

Located 12 miles south of our historic Inn at the Canal, Painted Sky Alpaca Farm and Fiber Mill is the only alpaca farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This 20-acre farm in Earleville is owned by Mitchell and Linda Dickinson, who acquired their first 11 alpacas in 2012. Today they breed, raise and sell Huacaya (pronounced whah-kai-ah) alpacas and currently have about 33 of them on their thriving farm. Visitors at the farm can see the entire life cycle of fiber processing from beginning to end.

It starts with the farm tour where you'll not only learn about the alpacas and how they are cared for, but you'll go right out into the fields and interact with these cute and social creatures. You'll get a chance to pet the alpacas and feel the softness and texture of these plush and puffy animals for yourself. It's an amazing hands-on learning experience!  These gentle teddy bears will evoke a sense of calm, and this natural aura of tranquility is sometimes referred to as "Alpaca Magic."

Next, you'll visit the fiber mill to see how the raw fleeces are transformed into beautiful alpaca yarns, rovings and batts. The fleeces come in 22 natural colors, plus the fibers can be overdyed, providing endless possibilities. The farm’s fiber shop has an impressive selection of colorful yarns to choose from, as well as a wide variety of alpaca-fiber products, including scarves, hats, gloves, socks and other apparel, plus children’s toys, teddy bears and fun alpaca novelties.

Tours at Painted Sky Alpaca Farm generally last 1 to 1-1/2 hours and are available Thursday through Sunday. You can schedule your tour online in advance of your visit. Be sure to bring home a handmade alpaca item as a reminder of this amazing animal adventure and your equally amazing getaway to Maryland's Eastern Shore.