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 public city park and petting zoo located in Hampton, Virginia, at 60 Pine Chapel Road. It is designed to resemble a working farm, and features farm animals and fowl of all types, and wild animals native to Virginia. Visitors can buy food to feed the animals.
The 60-acre (24 ha) park includes a playground, picnic areas, a small lake, and the Azalea Trail. The Azalea Trail features rare azaleas. The farm displays modern and antique farm equipment. The original Hampton train station and an old family cemetery also are located at the farm.
Bluebird Gap Farm is also home to the city's volunteer master gardeners' demonstration garden.
History
Opening in 1966 under the name Old MacDonald's Farm, it is one of the city's oldest parks. It was then home to 105 donated and "loaned" domestic animals. Originally located on the site of the nearby Hampton Coliseum, the Farm moved to its current location on Pine Chapel Road in 1969, and sought to show animals in a farm setting to children from a city environment.
Animals
Current
- Domestic rabbits
- Tortoise: African spurred tortoises
- White-tailed deer
- Emus
- Camelids: alpacas, llamas
- Cattle: Hereford, mix-Angus, miniature-Tarentaise
- Donkey
- Goat: pygmy goats
- Horses: Thoroughbred horse, Appaloosa pony, miniature horse
- Sheep
- Swine: pot-bellied pig, Duroc-Hampshire cross domestic pig
- Chickens and bantam chickens
- Peafowl: Indian peafowl, white peacock
- Turkeys
Former
Events
Each year in late October the park hosts Boobird Spooktacular, a one-day event connected with Halloween. Starting in 2010, the Bluebird Gap Farm sponsors a 4-H Club for youths 5–18 years old.
On Fridays at 11am in late June, all of July, and early August, Storytelling in the Park occurs. Performers put on a show on a hand-built theatrical stage to read and even act out favorite stories. Sometimes puppets are used or costumed characters take part.
Storytelling in the Park is free and open to the public.
