One North Carolina Farm Serves Maple Walnut Ice Cream With A Few Friendly Alpacas Waiting Nearby

There’s a certain kind of magic in the idea of eating ice cream while friendly animals wander nearby. This North Carolina farm brings that experience to life with maple walnut as one of its standout flavors.

A few alpacas roam the property, greeting visitors before they even reach the ice cream counter. Regulars order the same flavor every visit, trusting the recipe to taste exactly like it did the last time.

Nothing about the process has changed since the farm first started making it. Portions stay generous, never treated as an afterthought next to the setting itself.

Kids often spend more time with the alpacas than actually eating their ice cream. This farm proved that sometimes the best outing comes with more than just dessert.

The Deep-Rooted Family Farm

Long before ice cream cones and alpaca selfies, this land was just farmland. William D. Buffaloe established the property back in 1878, and family members worked it for generations after that.

Fast forward to 2020. Dustin and Burton Buffaloe, sixth-generation members of the same family, decided the farm deserved a second act instead of a slow fade.

What they built keeps the agricultural bones intact while adding reasons for the public to show up. Pastures still hold animals.

Greens still grow. But now there is a market, a nursery, seating everywhere, and a steady flow of neighbors treating the place like a backyard.

That mix of old and new is the whole charm. A property with almost 150 years of history does not usually come with soft-serve and cornhole, yet somehow it works.

The layout feels intentional rather than thrown together. Little gathering spots are scattered across the grounds, so crowds spread out instead of bunching up in one spot.

Weekend hours run Friday through Sunday, which keeps things focused and gives the animals a break during the week. Weekdays are quieter, and the farm is closed Monday through Thursday.

Holl and Stone Farms sits at 920 Buffaloe Rd, Garner, NC 27529, a short drive from Raleigh and easy to fold into a day of local wandering.

Alpacas That Take Snack Time Very Seriously

Word travels fast among alpacas. The second someone grabs hay from one of the feed bins around the property, several fuzzy heads swivel in perfect unison.

Feeding the animals costs nothing. Hay bins sit at spots along the fence lines, and guests are welcome to grab a handful and hold it out.

Alpacas are the headliners, but they share the spotlight. Llamas, goats, and chickens fill out the roster, and a free-roaming rooster patrols the grounds with the confidence of a farm manager.

Goats get plenty of attention too, mostly because they will lean into a fence and stare directly into a person’s soul until food appears. Effective strategy, honestly.

Alpaca fun fact worth knowing: they hum. Not loudly, but when they are curious or content, a soft humming sound comes out.

Kids usually catch it before adults do. The animals are clearly well cared for and used to visitors, which makes interactions calm rather than chaotic. No one is chasing anybody around a pen.

Weekday visits mean shorter waits at the fence and more one-on-one time with the herd. Weekends bring bigger crowds and a lot more small hands offering hay.

Little ones should be reminded to keep hands flat and open. Alpaca lips are surprisingly gentle, but enthusiasm runs high on both sides of the fence.

Maple Walnut And The Hand-Scooped Lineup

Ice cream is the reason plenty of people first hear about this place, and the menu has grown since the early days.

Around ten hand-scooped flavors now rotate through the window, which keeps the line moving faster than it once did. Maple walnut lands squarely in the comfort category, all warm sweetness with a nutty crunch that holds up in a cone.

Black cherry has its own loyal following. Classics like mint chocolate chip and cookies-and-cream show up too, so picky eaters have easy outs.

Then there is the New Zealand-style soft serve, the thing that put the farm on the map. A creamy vanilla base gets blended to order with real frozen fruit and herbs grown right there on the property.

Blueberry basil is the one people talk about most. It sounds strange on paper and then makes complete sense on the first bite, with the basil adding a fresh, almost garden-like lift.

Strawberry mint follows the same logic. Flavors rotate with what is in season, so repeat visits rarely look identical.

Coffee is available nearby, which pairs suspiciously well with a scoop of maple walnut. The soft serve tends to sell out late in the day, so early arrivals have better odds.

Picnic tables sit close to the stand, making the walk from window to seat refreshingly short.

An Open-Air Market Full Of Local Finds

Plenty of visitors walk into the market planning to browse for five minutes and walk out twenty minutes later holding pottery.

The shelves lean handmade. Artisanal pottery, jewelry, books, and alpaca fiber products fill the space, including plush alpaca toys and keychains made with real alpaca fiber that are absurdly soft.

Food items share the room. Jams, jellies, honey, sauces, and fresh herbs sit alongside crackers and other snackable things worth carrying to a picnic table.

Produce comes from two directions. Hydroponic greens like bibb lettuce and arugula are grown right on the farm, and neighboring local growers supply the rest.

Because it is open-air, the market never feels stuffy. Breeze moves through, and the whole thing reads more like a covered farm stand than a gift shop.

S’mores kits live here too, which matters later in the day when the fire pits get going. Grabbing one early is smart planning.

Maker’s markets pop up periodically, bringing in local artisans with crafts that change the inventory completely. Those weekends give regulars a reason to circle back.

Price ranges vary widely, so small souvenirs and bigger statement pieces both have a place. Alpaca-themed items make especially easy gifts for anyone who just spent an hour at the fence.

Perennials And A Nursery Worth Browsing

Gardeners tend to lose track of time here. The nursery focuses heavily on perennials, the kind of plants that come back year after year instead of demanding a fresh purchase every spring.

Native North Carolina plants get real shelf space, which is great news for anyone trying to build a yard that actually likes the local climate.

Herbs are stocked too, and some of them are the same varieties used in the soft serve. Basil and mint pull double duty on this property.

Succulents and flowering varieties round out the selection, along with unusual finds that do not turn up at big-box garden centers.

Pots and planters take up an impressive amount of room. Terracotta, glazed ceramic, oversized statement planters, small tabletop options the whole range is represented.

Beginners will not feel out of place. The mix covers easy starter plants right up to selections that reward more experience.

Pairing a plant with the right pot on the spot saves a second shopping trip, which is a small convenience that adds up.

Anyone planning to buy something leafy should leave a little trunk space. Perennials and a large planter take up more room than expected, especially after a market haul.

Wandering the nursery rows with a cone in hand is a perfectly acceptable strategy.

Slow Evenings Around Fire Pits With Smores

Late afternoon changes the mood completely. Fire pits scattered across the property start getting used, and the energy shifts from busy to unhurried.

Seating circles the flames, making the spots natural gathering points for families and groups of friends. Sitting down usually turns into staying longer than planned.

S’mores kits from the market turn the whole thing into an activity. Marshmallow, chocolate, graham cracker, open flame, zero complicated instructions.

Fall is the sweet spot. Cooler air makes the fire pits genuinely appealing rather than just pretty, and the crowds thin out slightly compared to peak summer.

Summer visitors should think about shade. Umbrellas and tented seating have been added across the grounds, and more coverage has been going up over time.

Hats are a reasonable call on bright days. The property is open by design, which is lovely for views and less lovely for anyone sensitive to direct sun.

There is also an upper mezzanine with couches and larger tables, built over a container bar area. Views from up there stretch toward Lake Benson and the park across the road.

Cornhole boards are set up for anyone who wants something to do between bites. Competitive streaks tend to surface quickly.

Closing time on open days is 6 PM, so plan the fireside portion accordingly.

Food Trucks And Weekend Bites

Ice cream is not the only thing worth eating here. Food trucks roll in on Saturdays and Sundays, adding real meals to the equation.

Taco trucks and wood-fired pizza trucks have both made appearances, which means lunch and dessert can happen in the same visit without leaving the property.

Coffee is available on site, a small detail that matters for anyone dragging themselves out for a morning visit. Warm drinks also pair nicely with cool weather and a fire pit.

Snackable items like cheese and crackers are stocked too, perfect for a low-effort picnic at one of the tables.

Seating is genuinely plentiful. Large picnic tables have been added across the grounds, along with covered options and the upper deck for anyone wanting a view with their meal.

Because the whole setup is outdoors, meals feel casual and loose. Kids can wander toward the animals between bites without anyone getting stressed.

Truck lineups change, so checking the farm’s website or social pages before heading out helps set expectations for the day.

Weekends draw the biggest crowds, which is exactly when the trucks show up. Arriving earlier in the open hours generally means shorter lines and easier parking.

Bringing an appetite is the only real preparation required.

Plan A Smooth Visit Events Weddings

Some people come for a cone and end up booking a wedding. The farm hosts private gatherings, bridal and wedding showers, and full celebrations on the property.

Rolling landscape, greenery, and animals in the background give events a look that indoor venues cannot copy. Llama appearances with a handler have been part of some celebrations, which is a memorable detail.

Seasonal happenings run throughout the year, from maker’s markets to holiday-themed weekends. Repeat visits rarely feel like reruns.

General visits require no admission fee and no reservation. Show up during open hours and wander.

Parking gets tight on busy weekends. The lot fills up, and the farm has been working on expanding capacity, but arriving earlier in the day remains the smartest move.

Location helps stretch the outing. The farm sits between White Deer Park and Lake Benson Park, and there is a playground within a short walk plus trails and a lake nearby.

That makes it easy to build a half-day plan. Ice cream, alpacas, market browsing, then a walk around the lake to work off the cone.