How To Visit The Adorable Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm
All About Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm & Coffee Shop 🦙☕
Did you know there’s an alpaca farm with a coffee shop near Chattanooga, Tennessee? Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm is only 15 minutes from downtown, just over the state line in Wildwood, Georgia. It’s the most adorable family owned farm and a must-visit for all ages!
Not only can you pet and feed 8 adorable alpacas, but you can order fresh coffee + pastries, shop alpaca products + local goods, and entertain your little ones with a play area. Plus, there is no entrance fee, so you can visit and see the alpacas for free. If you want to feed them, the alpaca feed is only $2.
This alpaca farm is truly one-of-a-kind, and a GREAT stop for families visiting Chattanooga. I’ve visited the alpaca farm countless times and have all the insider tips for your visit below!
Where is Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm located?
The alpaca farm & coffee shop is located in Wildwood, Georgia, just 15 minutes away from downtown Chattanooga. Yes, Georgia really is that close to Chattanooga!
📍Address: 550 Old Birmingham Highway, Wildwood, GA 30757
GPS will take you right to it — It’ll come up on the left side of the road and they usually have a red “OPEN” flag up by the road when they are open. You’ll see a small white building that says “Rosie Mae’s” and be able to park either right in front of it in the gravel or in the grass on the left side of the entrance driveway.
If you’re visiting other local attractions in the area, here are some nearby points of interest:
– Ruby Falls or the Incline Railway: 15 minutes away
– Point Park or Rock City Gardens: 20 minutes away
– Cloudland Canyon State Park: 23 minutes away
When is Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm open to the public?
Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm is open everyday of the week, but the hours vary so make sure you check before you go! The hours listed below are in Eastern Time (EST).
- Monday through Thursday 10:00am to 2:00pm
- Friday & Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm
- Sunday 12:00pm to 5:00pm
What kind of coffee does Rosie Mae’s have?
Rosie Mae’s has their own special blend from Mean Mug, a local Chattanooga coffee roaster.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, try an amazing chai from Cheiman Tea or get a hot chocolate for kids. They also usually have frozen treats available, and pastries like muffins, cookies, or danishes.
You can order the coffee however you’d like, but their specialty drinks are aptly named after all of their alpacas! My personal favorite is the iced Crystal Rose (Latte) with almond milk & vanilla syrup. They have a variety of flavors you can add in and three types of milk options: whole milk, almond milk & oat milk.
What kind of items are in the gift shop / boutique?
The shop has alpaca products such as socks, leggings, and headwear made from real alpaca fiber (highly recommend!) A couple of their top selling products are key chains with little alpacas on them and super soft stuffed alpaca animals. They have lots of children’s toys and baby items, as well as stickers and handmade items from several local vendors. These make super unique gifts! In fact, we have done some of our Christmas shopping here every year.
What’s it like to feed the alpacas? Do they spit on you?!
If you wish to feed the alpacas, you can buy alpaca food for $2 inside the coffee shop. Then you’ll head to the outside of their fence (or their barn area if you don’t see them in the field – it’s the other white building in the back) and feed the alpacas the food from your hand. The alpacas are most active and likely to eat in the mornings. If you visit later in the day, they might not be as active or hungry!
The alpacas *usually* don’t purposefully spit at humans, but you might get in the cross-fire of them spitting at each other. This may happen if you’re feeding one alpaca and another gets jealous, and spits at the other. You don’t have to worry about them biting because they don’t have upper teeth – just a palate! However, some of the male alpacas are excited, aggressive eaters — so you may feel a pinch.
Female alpaca named Crystal Rose
Female alpaca named Miss Fine
**IMPORTANT NOTE** There is no access inside the fence with the alpacas unless you are there for a private farm tour (more info on those below). Be respectful of this family owned property by not opening the gates and throwing away or returning your food bags when done 🙂
You may notice some of the alpacas are more outgoing than others. Most people go directly for their fluffy heads to pet them, but a lot of the alpacas don’t like that. Instead, try to pet them on their necks or bodies while feeding them with your other hand.
The females & males are separated into different fields — there are 5 female alpacas & 3 male alpacas. The boy alpacas are usually more likely to let you pet their heads than the girl alpacas, but the boy alpacas tend to be more hungry. They might eat your bag of food a lot faster than the girls!
Male alpaca named Cosmo
Male alpaca named Theo with his twin, Ryan!
Does Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm offer private tours?
Yes! There are two different private tour options, depending on your interests and group size.
Option 1: The alpaca farm owners, Max & Meagan Lewis, offer their own private tours of the farm. You’ll get to visit with the alpacas after hours, learn all about the alpacas, get a behind-the-scenes tour & history of the farm, order coffees, and feed the alpacas. They can accommodate large groups of all ages and it’s ideal for both locals and visitors. You can contact them via email or phone to book (see bottom of this page for contact info!)
Option 2: The alpaca farm also partners with Experience Chattanooga — a local guided hiking tour company — to offer an exclusive, private tour when the farm is closed to the public. This is ideal for tourists visiting the city such as families, couples, solo travelers, and small groups.
The tours are available on weekday mornings (Monday-Friday) and include a guided hiking tour & sightseeing in the mountains near Chattanooga after driving to the alpaca farm.
Experience Chattanooga will pick you up from your Airbnb or hotel downtown and take professional photos both on the hike & at the alpaca farm. You also get a free coffee included with your tour and are able to go behind-the-scenes and get up close with the alpacas!
If you’re visiting Chattanooga from out of town with your family or loved ones, this is the best way to experience the farm without the crowds and have the alpacas to yourself.
You can view more info about the tour here.
Professional photo from Experience Chattanooga
Alpaca selfie on a private tour!
The Story Behind Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Rosie who begged her parents for an alpaca for Christmas. Due to her mother’s severe anaphylactic allergies, they weren’t allowed to have any other animals or pets in their home. However, they discovered that alpacas are hypoallergenic thanks to having fiber instead of fur. Soon after, they ended up coming home with a few alpacas and the rest is history!
The Lewis family officially opened their coffee shop in November 2022. However, in spring of 2023 I posted this Instagram reel after visiting for the first time. To my surprise, the video went absolutely viral with over a million views and the farm quickly established into a must-visit Chattanooga attraction. The farm has been published in local news, magazines, and news articles. They have had customers from all 50 US states and several other countries.
Rosie Mae with her alpacas!
Insider Tips for Visiting
- Go early in the day! The alpacas are most active & hungry in the mornings. They also aren’t huge fans of heat, so if you visit in the summer they may not be interactive, or in their barn instead of out in the field.
- Check their Facebook page for events. Sometimes the farm hosts weekend festivals with live music, food trucks, and local vendors. It’s really cool to listen to music outside with alpacas!
- Bring the whole family. There is something for everyone at Rosie Mae’s between good coffee, boutique shopping, cute animals, and time outdoors. They have a great kids play area!
- It’s free to simply visit & see the alpacas. However if you wish to feed the alpacas, it’s only $2 for a bag of food. Plus, you can order coffee or shop local gifts while you’re there.
- Don’t see any alpacas in the field? Go to their barn in the back! If the alpacas aren’t in the field, they will be in their barn (the other small white building in the back). This could be due to weather like rain or extremely hot days.
- Outdoor seating only! Be aware they have no inside seating. They have a spacious, newly built outdoor deck and picnic tables in the lawn for seating.
Farm Contact Info
Owners: Max & Maegan Lewis
Phone: 423-645-6002
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.rosiemaesalpacafarm.com
Visit their Facebook page or Instagram for the latest updates.
Have you been to Rosie Mae’s yet? Send this to someone who needs to go here!
