This past Memorial Day weekend, I visited the three towns of Martha’s Vineyard as a day trip from Cape Cod with my husband and mother. We took our bikes over with us on the ferry so we could do some off-the-beaten-path exploration. It ended up being quite the adventure as we headed inland, away from the touristy coastal area and their well-marked bike paths. We were following Google Maps’ directions to the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, a large park at the center of the island, and ultimately found ourselves stuck in the sand with our ill-equipped road bikes. Lesson learned: don’t blindly trust Google Maps for its bike routes; just because it thinks something is a road doesn’t mean it’s actually bikeable.
Nevertheless, the trip was a memorable one and our route led us right by one of the crown jewels of Martha’s Vineyard: the Island Alpaca Company.
Curious alpacas watching us from afar
The Island Alpaca Company of Martha’s Vineyard
The Island Alpaca Company began in 2004 with eight alpacas and is now home to over 50 Huacaya alpacas in a variety of colors. As you can probably tell from their bobblehead appearance in my photos, the alpacas had just received their spring shearing when we visited. The alpacas get just one haircut a year; each one will produce between 3 and 13 pounds of fiber. The annual shearing is celebrated with an event that’s open to the public — for more info visit the company’s workshops and events page.
There is a surprisingly large gift shop just beyond the barn that sells a plethora of items crafted from alpaca fleece: scarves, hats, sweaters, and toy alpacas. If you’ve ever wanted a t-shirt with an alpaca’s face on it, this is your chance!
Toy alpacas made with alpaca fleece for sell in the gift shop
Not only are you guaranteed a close encounter with an alpaca, you may also learn a thing or two. There are lots of interesting alpaca facts lining the fence, sure to delight guests at your next dinner party, such as:
- Alpaca babies are called ‘crias‘.
- Alpaca usually have their babies before noon. Some think this is an adaptation from living in high mountain regions, giving the cria some time to dry off, stand and start nursing before the cooler night temperatures start to fall.
- Mothers make a clucking sound around their crias, particularly when they start to nurse, and sometimes as a polite warning.
The Island Alpaca Company has a breeding program, so if you’re lucky you might be able to see a cria or two!
Plan Your Visit
- GPS Coordinates: 41 d 25’23.09″ N 70 d 36’22.12″ W
- Hours: Open daily, 10 am-4 pm – Closed Christmas Day
- Admission Price: $5 per person from April 27 to November 1, otherwise a $5 per person suggested donation is welcomed
For those not heading to Martha’s Vineyard any time soon but in desperate need of an alpaca fix… Great news! You can watch a live stream of the farm on their website.
