Camp under the stars at Prairie Patch Farm and wake up to a friendly pack of llamas. Photo courtesy of Prairie Patch Farm
Writer: Jessica O’Riley
One word stopped my Instagram scrolling: llamacation. Wait. What? I was curious. The post was from Prairie Patch Farm in Cedar Rapids?! Now I was very curious. I set out to learn more.
Kahle (kay-lee) Atherton owns the farm. Her uncle Steve, a big conservationist for the state, bought the property in 1988. He was passionate about conservation — planting prairies, restoring wetlands, bringing back peregrine falcons — and he founded the Prairie Patch Seed Company. When he died unexpectedly in 2008, Atherton quit her job as a music therapist in California and moved to the property with her infant daughter.
Atherton grew up in Colorado and had seen lots of llamas as a kid. She had always loved them so she bought two of them as pets in 2019. Then she quietly started offering “llama hikes” through Airbnb. Her herd now includes 10 llamas and one alpaca (that acts like its bigger herdmates). One of the animals, Earl, is TikTok famous for his costumes, even rating a mention in one of People magazines “Stories to Make You Smile” back in 2022.
Fable, smiling for the camera. Photo courtesy of Prairie Patch Farm
Prairie Patch Farm offers llama hikes for the public April through November (these typically sell out) and for private groups year-round. The llamas are also available for virtual meetings and frequently travel offsite to nursing homes and care centers. They also provide stress relief for local college students. And they’re available for weddings. Seriously.
Once Atherton realized how trustworthy llamas are, she converted the property’s farmhouse into Iowa’s only true llamacation in 2021. The century-old, two-bedroom house sleeps six (humans). Since the backyard is part of the llamas’ pasture, guests may find they have company for coffee or happy hour. There is a two-night minimum for rental. Costs range from $180-225 per night.
In 2022, Atherton added a glamping tent, complete with stargazing windows, and plans to install another one soon. Available only in the summer months, the tents provide views of the llama pasture. There is a one-night minimum for rental. They’re $125 per night.
Kahle Atherton offers “llama walks” around the farm. Photo: Chelsea Kyaw
When people book a stay, they have access to walk the trails through the 49-acre preserve. Guests can add on a llama hike or more formal meet-and-greet at extra cost to either rental option. Weekends fill up fast, but Atherton said weekday guests have more opportunities with the llamas since they aren’t sharing them with weekend farm visitors. Either way, “you’re going to get your llama time,” she said.
A pack of people and llamas share a peaceful stroll in the woods at Prairie Patch Farm. Photo courtesy of Prairie Patch Farm
The farm also hosts “Llamaween” in the fall, Happy Llama Days in the winter and occasional llama yoga sessions, all available by appointment on the farm’s website.
Oh, and if you’re worried about llamas spitting on you, relax. Atherton said you’d have to do something to really upset them — like trimming their toenails — to prompt them to spit on you. Usually, they just spit on each other.
Contributing writer Jessica O’Riley of Pleasant Hill worked for nearly 20 years with Travel Iowa, the state tourism office, after a previous stint with the Iowa State Fair.
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