Live on a Horse Farm, Kids Ride Horses, Gather Eggs, Hike, Fish, Swim, Sauna

Willet Ponds Farm in Todd, NC offers...More than a place to stay: an Appalachian farm experience. The Old Farmhouse is one of three houses we rent on the farm. If it is booked for the time you want, ask us about our other houses: the Willet Nest and The Pioneer Homestead. You'll find more about them at WilletPondsFarm.com

It's all about the farm, and the peaceful, enriching experience your family will have here. A week in the country is worth a month in town. You may simply choose to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery right from the porch. Or you are welcome to join us in the daily workings of the farm, taking care of the donkey, the pot-bellied pig, bunches of bunnies, a herd of horses, and a diverse flock of fowl (including peacocks!). Wake to the rooster's crow and help gather eggs. Treat yourself to the simple joys of life and discover why we have an extremely high guest return rate.

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—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 remind 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 and the scenic New River (tubing, canoeing/kayaking, 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 a refreshing swim in our spring-fed pond and the thrill of fishing for trout to put dinner on the table (fishing poles provided, stocked trout are sold per pound). 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 menagerie of animals, we also live on this, our dream farm, in a house across the way (not too close). We personally manage the Old Farmhouse, making it clean and comfortable, in hopes that you’ll feel that you’re staying in a home, not a generic rental cabin. We make sure to take care that you have everything you need, be it a cup of flour or freshly laid free-range eggs.

Many guests ask if they can ride our horses.
While we are not a riding stable open to the public, we try to accommodate your interests and offer custom trail rides, arena lessons for beginners, and lead line rides for kids. Please let us know in advance if you want to book such horse activity.

Other memorable experience upgrades include renewing in our world-class rustic sauna, and baking in our Old World pizza/bread oven. View our web site for details.

Bed linens, towels, detergents, and soaps are provided as well as a starter roll of paper towels and toilet paper. Ample wood for the fire pit is available at no cost, but you might want to bring charcoal for the grill. Old play shoes or boots might be wise to bring for those who want to spend time in and around the barn.

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) Harvest apples and blueberries.
7) Explore the Fairy Forest and build a fairy house.
...the list goes on and on...