Katie’s Hudson Valley Travel Journal
Green Chimneys is a very special place for all who visit. The grounds are expansive and home to over 300 different types of animals and birds. The farm is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 10am-3pm. Your family can roam the barns and paddocks for free, interacting, petting or just viewing their impressive menagerie of animals.
The farm animals at Green Chimneys are very comfortable with human interaction and are very gentle; these animals are used for therapy by the residents and students at the school. You can see horses, goats, sheep, alpacas, camels and lots and lots of chickens and ducks! There are plenty of shaded areas to set up on a blanket while your kids run from fence to fence taking in all there is to see and explore! How often do you get up close and personal with a camel?
As if the farm animals weren't enough, The Wildlife Center at Green Chimneys is also home to a variety of endangered and rescued animals and birds. The maze of pathways are filled with large display and flight cages that allow you to view these birds in realistic settings. Your family can see bald eagles, owls, hawks and a variety of ducks and water fowl just to name a few! My daughter loves to see these large birds up close as you often don't see them in the wild. The center's goal is to release any injured animals back into the wild, but for those that can't, this becomes their home.
The Wildlife Center also features an education center that is home to a variety of snakes, turtles, tortoises and other creepy crawlies such as tarantulas and giant hissing cockroaches. If you dare they will allow you to touch and hold some of the center's inhabitants!
The farm and school host a variety of public events during the year. Little Folk Farm Days, held every year in May, for pre-schoolers-3rd graders, is such an amazing event. They have pony rides, birds of prey demonstrations, games and refreshments. The whole farm comes to life and there is no shortage of things to do.
Make sure to check their
calendar for more upcoming events!
Tips for visiting Green Chimneys:
- The whole campus is stroller friendly.
- It is a school so they are only open to the public on weekends, holidays and by scheduling a group tour in advance.
- Do not feed the animals.
- There is free public parking across the street.
- There is no fee to visit on weekends for self-guided tours.
- If you are bringing a group you must register for a tour for insurance purposes.
For more information visit Green Chimneys online.
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