Villa de Alpacas
Villa de Alpacas
5
About
Alpaca & Llama Clothing, Textiles and Gifts from Maryland’s Last Self-Sustained Bicentennial Farm Villa de Alpacas Farm at Historic Villa de Sales is a 200-year old family farm in Aquasco, Maryland and home to over 90 alpacas and llamas. We manufacture and sell some of the finest Alpaca clothing, products and gifts available in the United States. Our goal is to have every product made in the USA with our own animals’ fleece. Shop our historic Victorian showroom for alpaca: • Scarves & Shawls • Capes & Sweaters • Signature Vests • Gorgeous Blankets • Socks & Boot Insoles • Hand-Dyed Yarns in unique and vibrant colors • Blends with silk, bamboo, & other natural fibers Open 7 days weekly by appointment only, or watch our web site and facebook page for holiday open house events. One Farm, One Family, Five Generations.
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1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
8 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
CV Sells DMV H
1 contribution
Dec 2020
What a great place to visit. Angel and her friend Mimi were so gracious and hospitable. I really enjoyed learning about the yarns and the alpacas. I will definitely stop in for a visit soon. Thank you for taking such good care of us!
Carmen/Zoe/Vanessa and Abuela Maria
Carmen/Zoe/Vanessa and Abuela Maria
Written December 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jennifer S
Beijing, China63 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
I wanted to go to this farm in Maryland since seeing a beautiful scarf woven from the alpaca fleece. The alpacas are cute and the products in the farm’s store are incredibly beautiful, in vibrant colors and stunning color combinations. In addition, the fleece is so soft, you won’t believe it. The items for sale include throws and blankets, scarves, hats, gloves, socks, sweaters, and jackets. Even better, the owner is very hospitable and kind, and on a chilly day, the hot apple cider she gave us was quite welcome. There were other treats, as well, offered on the back porch of the farm’s house. Totally enjoyable and worth the trip. The worst part of the day was trying to choose what to buy from all the lovely wares.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Biceman
Aquasco, MD34 contributions
Dec 2019
Angel and Tom have created a wonderful environment. You come as guests and leave feeling like family. All of the products are brilliant in color and design. Come and visit - you will not be disappointed.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jogtheworld
Washington DC, DC149 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
I went to Villa de Alpaca in December before Christmas. My husband fell in love with house dating back to 1870’s. The owner had hot apple cider, coffee, cookies, hot soup etc. I need not say how much fun we had that cold day.
Fast forward to this week. I took 17 members of our CALVERT American Art and Antique Association. A few member had been to this historical home. The house from the outside is red brick with the most wonderful gingerbread slate roof. It has four floor plus a widow’s walk. Again the owner had placed a buffet of goodies for visitors. The furniture, most original are beautiful. The house has been in the family for hundreds of years. The ownership dates back to the 1600’s , starting with a thousand acreas. Now it is down to 50.
Stained glass chandeliers are beautiful. The bathroom is painted blue with peacock, Asian and modern decorations. One could have a sleeping party in there and there would still be enough room to dance. Angel, the owner, has made this old family home into a gem. Well worth the ride and visit. It is open on weekends. In the winter it is open on Friday -Sunday, October thru March, and on St, Patricks day. Other times of the year it behooves visitors to call ahead.
In order to fund the up keep of this gorgeous home she uses the Alpaca fibers to make clothing, gloves, scarves. Angel designs the coat and sweater etc. All are quite chic. Her husband keeps up the crown molding. Each door, window, glass pane are different sizes thus making it impossible to buy a door off the rack at a hardware store. Thank god for men who can still work in cabinetry.
The Alpaca wool is soft like silk but warmer and more compact than sheeps wool. I bought a sweater, coat and hat. Also, gloves for my husband and liners for my boots as the cold is brutal this winter. The colors chosen for her clothes and scarves appear to come from Angels’s hobby...... peacocks! This fabulous gem site is a delightful location to bring friends and visitors.
Children will get enthusiastic about the animals.
Fast forward to this week. I took 17 members of our CALVERT American Art and Antique Association. A few member had been to this historical home. The house from the outside is red brick with the most wonderful gingerbread slate roof. It has four floor plus a widow’s walk. Again the owner had placed a buffet of goodies for visitors. The furniture, most original are beautiful. The house has been in the family for hundreds of years. The ownership dates back to the 1600’s , starting with a thousand acreas. Now it is down to 50.
Stained glass chandeliers are beautiful. The bathroom is painted blue with peacock, Asian and modern decorations. One could have a sleeping party in there and there would still be enough room to dance. Angel, the owner, has made this old family home into a gem. Well worth the ride and visit. It is open on weekends. In the winter it is open on Friday -Sunday, October thru March, and on St, Patricks day. Other times of the year it behooves visitors to call ahead.
In order to fund the up keep of this gorgeous home she uses the Alpaca fibers to make clothing, gloves, scarves. Angel designs the coat and sweater etc. All are quite chic. Her husband keeps up the crown molding. Each door, window, glass pane are different sizes thus making it impossible to buy a door off the rack at a hardware store. Thank god for men who can still work in cabinetry.
The Alpaca wool is soft like silk but warmer and more compact than sheeps wool. I bought a sweater, coat and hat. Also, gloves for my husband and liners for my boots as the cold is brutal this winter. The colors chosen for her clothes and scarves appear to come from Angels’s hobby...... peacocks! This fabulous gem site is a delightful location to bring friends and visitors.
Children will get enthusiastic about the animals.
Written February 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hi, Jogtheworld! Thanks so much for your positive and enthusiastic review! We're so happy that you enjoyed our home and alpaca products. Please stay tuned to our web site and facebook pages as our Holiday Open House events will be every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am–3pm beginning Friday after Thanksgiving. The Open Houses will run through Jan. 6, 2019. Hope to see you again soon!
Written October 4, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Seamaid2
Henderson, NV83 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
This is a lovely gem of a place out in the countryside in Aquasco, Maryland, close to the Brandywine region! My girlfriend and I had a Groupon reservation for the P.A. Bowen Farm Tour, which I have also reviewed for TripAdvisor. We noticed some colorful gorgeous blankets and a few brochures about the Villa de Alpacas Farm at the store and visitor center at the P.A. Bowen Farm. We wondered what we would find there, so we decided to drive over to the Villa de Alpacas Farm after our arranged farm tour. Both farms are located fairly close to each other, but do follow your GPS on these small roads.
We drove up a private road passing by many curious llamas and alpacas in a fenced in area before we saw a very large and lovely Victorian style home and some outbuildings, definitely a working farm. We were wonderfully greeted at the porch with mulled cider, coffee and sweet treats! Although it was cold outside, the house was toasty warm and inviting. On display were a large array of blankets, hats, jackets, ponchos, gloves and socks, all made from llama and alpaca fleece. It was such a hidden treasure finding this place! We were extremely lucky to choose that day, because Villa de Alpacas happened to be hosting an open house!
We met the kind and knowledgeable owner, Angel Forbes Simmons,and immediately connected with her. Simmons, this former Miami, Florida city girl, inherited this several decades old farm and had to literally reinvent the wheel to keep this family farm sustainable. I highly recommend visiting Villa de Alpacas, but bear in mind that this farm, one of only four farms recognized in 2007 by former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley as continuously operating family businesses for over 200 years in the State of Maryland, strictly schedules their open houses. Please check their website on availability. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!
We drove up a private road passing by many curious llamas and alpacas in a fenced in area before we saw a very large and lovely Victorian style home and some outbuildings, definitely a working farm. We were wonderfully greeted at the porch with mulled cider, coffee and sweet treats! Although it was cold outside, the house was toasty warm and inviting. On display were a large array of blankets, hats, jackets, ponchos, gloves and socks, all made from llama and alpaca fleece. It was such a hidden treasure finding this place! We were extremely lucky to choose that day, because Villa de Alpacas happened to be hosting an open house!
We met the kind and knowledgeable owner, Angel Forbes Simmons,and immediately connected with her. Simmons, this former Miami, Florida city girl, inherited this several decades old farm and had to literally reinvent the wheel to keep this family farm sustainable. I highly recommend visiting Villa de Alpacas, but bear in mind that this farm, one of only four farms recognized in 2007 by former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley as continuously operating family businesses for over 200 years in the State of Maryland, strictly schedules their open houses. Please check their website on availability. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed!
Written April 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marcia W
Maryland150 contributions
May 2019 • Business
This was the highlight of a business meeting outing touring local attractions. We all wished we had more time to spend at this beautiful location. The owner is creating a loving tribute to her family by restoring the buildings on this bicentennial farm and maintaining a working alpaca farm. She served treats on the porch while we toured the house and shopped fiber products. Gorgeous blankets and clothing. And of course, we all fell in love with the animals! Her husband runs a wood shop which is also extremely interesting. He's worked on several high profile architectural projects. Recommend a visit!!
Written May 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steve Q
Pasadena, MD32 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Villa de Alpacas is unlike any shopping experience you'll ever find. Tons of quality made alpaca items are all on display in an historic, restored Victorian home--full of family heirlooms from days gone by. Angel and her staff could not be more friendly, helpful, and welcoming. The alpaca products are exquisite, very reasonably priced, and their warm hospitality is simply a thing of the past. We liked that many of the alpaca products for sale have been made from the fiber of the very alpacas living on the farm.
Angel's family is more than happy to share the history of their family farm that has been in continuous operation for over 200 years (recognized by the State of Maryland). On the farm, you'll find a large herd of alpacas and llamas, the restored Victorian home/alpaca product store, as well as the last Victorian carriage house and stable in Prince Georges county, now lovingly converted to house Angel's fiber shop as well as her husband's custom millwork shop, Sterling Millworks. I'd allow at least 1 to 3 hours for shopping and touring the farm. Definitely worth finding!
Angel's family is more than happy to share the history of their family farm that has been in continuous operation for over 200 years (recognized by the State of Maryland). On the farm, you'll find a large herd of alpacas and llamas, the restored Victorian home/alpaca product store, as well as the last Victorian carriage house and stable in Prince Georges county, now lovingly converted to house Angel's fiber shop as well as her husband's custom millwork shop, Sterling Millworks. I'd allow at least 1 to 3 hours for shopping and touring the farm. Definitely worth finding!
Written December 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your kind review! Note for TripAdvisor readers, we are open every Saturday and Sunday through Feb. 18, 2018 for winter and Valentine's gift shopping. Outside of those Open House hours, we also schedule personalized shopping appointments, too! Just call ahead and speak with Angel. Thank you!
Written January 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PollyPP
Washington DC10 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
Villa de Alpacas is a nice roadside stop in beautiful southern Maryland. We went during the fall so the leaves were beautiful red, yellow and orange colors. The house and weaving room are beautiful Victorian structures that have been well maintained. The house is open during the weekends and is really beautiful. She has arranged the first floor as a showcase for alpaca goods but really done a lovely job decorating the house. It is a treat for the eyes and hands. There were snacks and beverages on the porch to enjoy while watching the alpacas roam the fields.
Written November 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thanks, Polly, for your kind review! Note for TripAdvisor readers, we are open every Saturday and Sunday through Feb. 18, 2018 for winter and Valentine's gift shopping. Outside of those Open House hours, we also schedule personalized shopping appointments, too! Just call ahead and speak with Angel. Thank you!
Written January 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Villa de Alpacas (Aquasco) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Villa de Alpacas
- Hotels near Villa de Alpacas:
- (8.26 mi) SpringHill Suites by Marriott Prince Frederick
- (6.07 mi) Brictoria Cottage at Charlotte Hall
- (8.23 mi) Holiday Inn Express Prince Frederick, an IHG Hotel
- (9.13 mi) Serenity Acres Bed and Breakfast
- (9.75 mi) Master Suites Hotel
- Restaurants near Villa de Alpacas:
- (0.34 mi) Hardesty Haven Cafe
- (9.39 mi) Jerry's Place
- (6.48 mi) Bowen's Grocery
- (9.94 mi) Chesapeake Grille and Deli
- (6.08 mi) Mexico