Operating on an appointment only schedule at the present time, the Round Mountain Creamery is a working 28-acre goat farm founded by Linda Seligman in 2002. This unique destination also offers scrumptious tastings of their farm-made goat cheese in addition to a farm tour and an introduction to the resident stars, the goats. This farm’s offerings are so delicious that they hold the designation of being North Carolina’s first ever grade A Goat Dairy, which is a title it won in 2008.
What began as five goats and a dream dreamt by Linda years ago is now a little big farm with over 60 goats who call it home and an abundant dairy. There is also a protective dog who loves to visit guests in addition to doing his job of keeping the goats from predators. These loving, gregarious goats all have their own unique personalities, are named, and some even boast some pretty impressive hairstyles.
The foundation of Round Mountain Creamery’s farmstead and subsequent products are all second to the well-being and overall health of the herd of goats. The herd consists of two different breeds of goats: the LaMancha Dairy Goats and Alpine goats. During farm tours, guests will see their full personalities on display as they happily interact with guests and say hello.
LaMancha goats are most easily recognized by their ears, or better-said lack thereof. They actually do have fully functional ears, but they are sized extremely small, making it seem as if they don’t have any at all. Interestingly enough, this goat breed has ancestral ties to South America and Spain but was developed in America. In fact, this is the only breed of goat developed in the US, and they are known as excellent milk producers with fun, energetic, and curious personalities. They were made a registered breed of the American Dairy Goat Association in 1958.
The other breed of goat that calls Round Mountain Creamery home is the Alpine breed, which originates in the Alps, hence its name. These goats are known for producing large amounts of milk in virtually any climate. They are hardy, independent, curious, and friendly. Alpines are divided into various categories based on coloring and originating region. The French Alpine is the most prominent line and is recognizable by its black and white coat.
In addition to creating cheese for taste tests during farm tours, this working farm also produces cheese for various locations throughout Western North Carolina. Round Mountain Creamery farm cheese can be found in various restaurants, such as in the Biltmore Estates, and other notable restaurants in the area, as well as in local grocery stores. Of course, all the products produced by the farm are stocked in the Farm Store, which can be accessed when visiting the farm for a tour.
In the past year, Round Mountain Creamery offered more than just farm tours and cheese tastings. They ventured out and offered goat yoga sessions. The participants, of both the human and four-legged variety, loved the experience. It was made possible through Asheville Wellness Tours.
Visiting the Round Mountain Creamery has been well-reviewed by previous guests. They mention that it is obvious during the farm tour that the goats are not only well taken care of by the owners, but they are loved and known individually. Many guests made note of the fact that the guides knew each goat by name, along with their unique personality traits.
Round Mountain Creamery is an affordable way to spend a few hours enjoying the beauty of Western North Carolina and to learn a bit about the cheese industry by seeing how goats are milked and how the cheese is made. Hanging out with some goats and then following that up with cheese tasting of the farm’s delicious soft cheese is a great way to enjoy the beauty of Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Insider Tips:
-Give yourself extra time driving up to the farm as the road is windy, with sharp turns and a low speed limit of 35 mph.
-Keep in mind that Round Mountain Creamery is a working farm. This means that there could be mud and will most certainly be excrement on the ground. So, dress accordingly.
-Post Helene Hurricane, the farm is being operated by two people, so be patient when making plans to visit until the farm is fully restored.