Bluebird Gap Farm facts for kids
The livestock barn at the farm
|
|
| Date opened | 1966 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hampton, Virginia, United States |
| Land area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Coordinates | 37°02′01″N 76°23′16″W / 37.0337°N 76.3877°W |
| No. of animals | 250 |
| No. of species | 25 |
Bluebird Gap Farm is a fun public park and petting zoo in Hampton, Virginia. It's designed to look like a real working farm! Here, you can meet all sorts of farm animals and fowl (like chickens and turkeys). You'll also see wild animals that live in Virginia. A cool part is that you can buy special food to feed the animals!
The park is huge, about 60 acres (24 ha)! It has a playground where you can play, and nice picnic areas for lunch. There's also a small lake and a special path called the Azalea Trail. This trail is known for its beautiful and rare azalea flowers.
At the farm, you can see both new and old farm equipment. There's even an old train station from Hampton and an old family cemetery on the property. Bluebird Gap Farm also has a special garden where volunteer master gardeners show off their skills.
Contents
Farm History: How It Started
Bluebird Gap Farm first opened in 1966. Back then, it was called Old MacDonald's Farm. It's one of the oldest parks in the city! When it first opened, it had 105 animals. These animals were either given to the farm or loaned for a while.
The farm wasn't always in the same spot. It started near the Hampton Coliseum. But in 1969, it moved to its current home on Pine Chapel Road. The idea was to let kids from the city see what a real farm and its animals are like.
Meet the Animals at Bluebird Gap Farm
Bluebird Gap Farm is home to many different animals. You can see both wild animals and farm animals.
Wild Animals You Can See
- Domestic rabbits
- Tortoises: Look for the big African spurred tortoises!
- White-tailed deer
- Emus: These are large, flightless birds from Australia.
Farm Animals Living Here
- Camelids: This family includes alpacas and llamas.
- Cattle: You might spot Hereford cows, mix-Angus cows, and even tiny miniature-Tarentaise cows.
- Donkeys
- Goats: Including cute pygmy goats.
- Horses: Such as Thoroughbred horses, Appaloosa ponys, and miniature horses.
- Sheep
- Swine: Like pot-bellied pigs and other domestic pigs.
Birds on the Farm (Poultry)
- Chickens and smaller bantam chickens
- Peafowl: See beautiful Indian peafowl (peacocks) and white peacocks.
- Turkeys
Fun Events at the Farm
Bluebird Gap Farm hosts several exciting events throughout the year.
Boobird Spooktacular
Every year in late October, just before Halloween, the park has a special event called Boobird Spooktacular. It's a one-day event full of Halloween fun!
4-H Club
Since 2010, Bluebird Gap Farm has sponsored a 4-H Club. This club is for young people aged 5 to 18. It's a great way to learn about farming, animals, and leadership.
Storytelling in the Park
During late June, all of July, and early August, you can enjoy Storytelling in the Park. These shows happen on Fridays at 11 AM. Performers use a special stage to read and act out favorite stories. Sometimes they use puppets or dress up in costumes to make the stories even more fun! Storytelling in the Park is free for everyone to enjoy.
