Elk Ravine Farm

My recent visit to elk ravine was an absolute joy, and I can’t recommend it enough for animal lovers! Our main reason for coming was the cows, and they did not disappoint. The herd was full of character those big, soulful eyes and gentle moos made for great memories. I loved learning about their daily care from the friendly staff, and getting to interact with a few was the highlight of my trip. They were so calm and curious, it felt like they were just as interested in us as we were in them That said, the horses completely stole the show as an unexpected bonus. I wasn’t planning to focus on them, but their grace and energy were captivating. They were so well cared for, and such distinct personalities! The farm itself was clean, and the staff were knowledgeable and eager to share their passion for the animals. Overall, it was a fantastic day, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit. If you’re an cow lover, this place is a must

The entire experience went above and beyond what we expected. The farm itself was absolutely beautiful, peaceful, well kept, and full of charm. I’ve never had such close interaction with so many animals in one place. The Highland cows were definitely my favorite, especially getting to brush and hug them. It was such a special moment. I had also never seen water buffalo in the U.S. before, so that was an unexpected and really cool surprise. The emus were fascinating and full of personality, I even got to brush them, which was such a unique experience. The baby goats were a joy to hold, playful and curious. And the horses were massive and beautiful, a really majestic part of the farm. A a huge shoutout to Kathy. She was amazing, so friendly, full of knowledge, and shared fun little facts throughout the tour that made everything even better. Jim runs the place like a legend. Super down to earth, knows everything about the animals, and you can tell he really loves what he does. Would absolutely recommend the tour.

We came up from NYC for a very fun day trip to see the farm animals. The two-hour "meet the animals" tour was both informative and very hands-on. The couple running the farm did a great job of acclimating the animals to petting and contact with visitors. We took the Metro train up from the city to Southeast, then transferred up to Wassaic. Others doing this trip should arrange a round trip taxi service from the train station to the farm well in advance.

It's such a beautiful farm. A unique experience. Jim and Kathy were wonderful people and were able to explain and educate us about the care of their beautiful animals. 100% recommended. You won't regret it. 🩷 …

My sister, her 1 year old and my 19 year old visited the farm this weekend on Saturday. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and even snapped some pics for us. The property is beautiful. Seeing so many different kinds of animals and getting to be up close was amazing! Reminded me of Catskill Game Farm a bit. Each of us had a favorite part. I loved the baby goats and my daughter loved the water buffalo. All in all, a perfect way to spend the day with family. We are all animal lovers so thoroughly enjoyed every minute and learned some things too. If you are on the fence, I would absolutely not hesitate to book a tour. Great local spot in Dutchess County - minutes outside of Village of Millbrook and approx 2 hours from NYC. Thank you to all involved for making our day so special!

Our visit to Elk Ravine Farm was unforgettable. We booked a private tour and were lucky to have Nancy and Kathy guide us through the farm’s impressive facilities for over two hours. Their passion and care for the animals really showed, and we learned so much along the way. We got to meet a whole range of animals—KuneKune pigs, sweet farm dogs, massive and majestic Belgian draft horses, curious emus, chickens, pigeons, a stunning peacock, playful water buffalos, Nigerian Dwarf goats, donkeys, and of course, the stars of the show: the Highland cows. The Highland cows were my absolute favorite—so fluffy and gentle, with huge horns but incredibly calm and friendly personalities. They loved neck scratches and were just a joy to be around. The water buffalos were also very sociable (one even tried chewing on my dress!), and the emus stole the show with their sassy personalities—curious, playful, and eager to investigate our bags and clothes. Every moment was full of laughter and awe. To top it off, Nancy kindly gave us a ride to the train station when we couldn’t get an Uber back. Just the nicest, most generous people. We had the best time and couldn’t recommend this experience more highly—whether you’re an animal lover or just looking for something special and heartwarming to do in the area.

We had an amazing time last weekend during our tour at elk ravine! Made my 6 year old son’s dreams come true getting to cuddle with the highland cows! Loved everything about our tour and would do it again in a heartbeat! 10/10!

My girlfriend and I booked a tour at Elk Ravine Farm, and it was truly one of the best experiences of our lives! The staff were incredibly accommodating—they picked us up from the train station, and even stopped for us to grab pizza on the way back! The farm had a wonderful variety of animals to interact with: pigs, goats, emus, bunnies, horses, buffalo, and of course, the charming Highland cows. Upon arrival, we took a tour of the farm on a horse-drawn carriage, where we learned all about the history of the place. Next, we went around to visit the animals we had seen during the ride, enjoying the chance to pet, scratch, and groom them. The highlight of the tour was definitely meeting the Highland cows. I had so much fun grooming them that I didn’t want to leave. They were so sweet, gathering around for more attention—it seemed like they didn’t want me to leave either! Everyone at the farm made the experience feel personal and special, and I’m confident no one will be disappointed by a visit here. Thank you so much for hosting us!

If you’re looking for a hands on, educational, up close and personal tour of a farm with the sweetest animals, Elk Ravine Farm is where you want to be. As a cow lover, my fiancé surprised me with a trip to Elk Ravine and it was the best two plus hours I’ve ever had. We started our private tour brushing the cows, meeting the babies and mamas completely immersed in farm life. Francesca was a highlight who loved head scratches and giving cow licks! Phoebe was very knowledgable about every cow and answered all of our questions. We got to spend a wonderful amount of time with them without ever feeling rushed to move on to the next part. To keep the tours private they have you switch to another staff member who brings you to the next set of animals. We met the donkeys, baby goats and sheep with Nancy. And we can’t forget Sacha the beautiful guard dog! Nancy placed baby goats in our arms the moment we got in the pen and had so much time to hang out with them and learn about their lives on the farm. Next we met Jim the owner of the farm. He showed us the pigs and the gorgeous horses. Jim has so much knowledge and is so kind and hilarious. He makes you feel right at home on his farm. We even got to see a horse going into labor and learned more about what goes into birthing a horse (congrats Tinkerbell!) we ended the tour with a carriage ride through the farm and on the open road with Kathy who told us more about the farm and the start of the tours. We had the absolute BEST time at Elk Ravine and we will most definitely be back again!

This place does private tours of their animal farm reserve. Our guide was so nice and took our family on a horse-drawn carriage tour around the area and then back to the farm to interact with the animals. There are shaggy long horned cows, dwarf donkeys, Imus, exotic birds, water Buffalo, some of the most gigantic horses I have ever seen and more. The cows are the highlight as they are very friendly and you can hug and groom them. I highly recommend.