Are you open to the public?
Ocoee Riverside Farm may be enjoyed by the public, however advance reservations are required.
Can people visit without staying overnight?
Yes! While we are first and foremost, an experiential lodging farm, it is possible to enjoy several of the farm experiences and animal encounters as a non-lodging guest by making advance reservations through our website.
What are your operating days/hours?
Ocoee Riverside Farm hosts lodging guests year round, 24/7. We also offer a number of farm activities and up close animal encounters from 9am to 6pm.
These activities are offered Monday through Saturday for both lodging and non-lodging guests. Advance reservations are required. There are no farm encounters on Sunday.
Can you tell me what your availability is?
Our website offers live bookings for lodging and farm experiences which means our availability is always changing. For the most accurate information on availability, and to book your lodging and/or farm encounters that is done right here on our website.
Where are you located?
We are located directly on the Ocoee River in southeast Tennessee in the quiet country town of Benton. Benton, TN sits on the edge of the Cherokee National Forest just 71 miles southwest of Knoxville and only 36 miles northeast of Chattanooga.
What other attractions are near you?
Our farm sits on the outskirts of the Cherokee National Forest where you will find numerous hiking and biking trails including several waterfalls as well as the popular Parksville Beach on Lake Ocoee. The immediate area is most widely known for its whitewater rafting but we also have several zip lines as well as a glider port nearby. In nearby Chattanooga you can enjoy the famous Ruby Falls and Rock City, as well as the Tennessee Aquarium ranked among the top 10 aquariums in the US. We are also an easy day trip to shopping and attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge including Dollywood.
Do I have to pay for the encounter if I’m only watching/taking pictures?
Everyone who is present IS enjoying an up close animal encounter regardless of the degree to which they choose to participate. Additionally, encounters are limited in order to provide the registered, paying guests with a special encounter which would be lessened by overcrowding. For that reason we appreciate your understanding that EVERYONE present for the encounter must be registered for the encounter. Non-registered guests will need to remain at the check-in area.
Do I have to pay to do the encounter with my kids?
In most cases, yes. Any child under 16 must have an adult with them that is also registered for the encounter. The exception to this is our ‘Pony Rides & Petting Zoo’ encounter which allows one FREE adult with each paid child.
Do you offer Gift Certificates?
Yes, our gift certificates are a popular way to give the most unique gift ever and can be found on our homepage.
Are you handicap accessible?
Our lodging accommodations have staircases or ladders making them unaccessible for handicap use. We do, however, invite guests of all abilities to our farm for many of our various farm experiences and up close animal encounters. Please call us to tell us how we can best accommodate you!
Can we drive through the farm without a reservation?
Our farm is privately gated and for the safety of our animals, as well as the privacy of our lodging guests, we do not allow the public to drive through.
Do you offer lodging?
We offer 8 lodging options: The Barn Loft (sleeps 3), The Band Wagon (sleeps 4), The Chuck Wagon (sleeps 4), The Paddy Wagon (sleeps 4), The Prairie Wagon & Saltbox (sleeps 6), The Riverside Cabin (sleeps 6), The Sloth Suite (sleeps 10), and The Welcome Wagon (sleeps 4).
Is there a pool?
We are prohibited from offering our private residence pool to our guests however we are located directly on the Ocoee River with concrete boat ramp which makes entering and exiting the river for swimming quite easy.
Do you offer single night stays?
The state of TN prohibits us from offering single night stays without a hotel license and we are so much more than a hotel!
What is your minimum night stay?
We have a 2-night minimum stay with the exception of The Sloth Suite which has a 2-night minimum during the week and a 3-night minimum on weekends.
What are your lodging rates?
Rates will vary depending upon the accommodation you choose as well as the day of week and time of year you are traveling. To explore rates please visit the website and go to the booking calendar for the accommodation you are considering. From here the rates are shown by moving your mouse across the calendar or tapping dates with your finger if on a mobile device.
How do I check availability for lodging?
Lodging availably can be easy viewed by visiting our website and looking at the booking calendars.
Do the covered wagons have heat/air conditioning?
Yes! Our covered wagons are 4 season wagons offering nice cold air-conditioning in the warm weather months and comfortable heat in the winter.
Can our family of 5 stay in one of the covered wagons?
Our covered wagons are equipped to accommodate a maximum of 4 persons. Your larger group may consider reserving The Prairie Wagon & Saltbox which sleeps 6 with the added tiny house. For larger groups you would want to book multiple wagons.
Does The Barn Loft have heat/air conditioning?
The Barn Loft is an open air environment which has you sleeping in the barn with the horses and does not offer heating or air-conditioning.
Can our family of 4 stay in The Barn Loft?
The Barn Loft is equipped to accommodate a maximum of 3 persons. Your family of 4 is encouraged to check out our covered wagons that off a king sized bed and set of bunks.
Where can I find the “House Rules” for lodging?
At the very top of the page for each accommodation you will see “PLEASE NOTE: WHEN BOOKING BELOW YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE HOUSE RULES”. The link provided there will take you straight there.
What is your cancellation policy for lodging?
ALL CANCELLATION / RESCHEDULE REQUESTS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING VIA EMAIL and will incur fees equaling a percentage of the “TOTAL” due for the booking as follows:
- 30+ days prior to check-in =10% fee to cancel / NO fee to reschedule
- 20+ days prior to check-in = 25% fee to cancel / 5% fee to reschedule
- 10+ days prior to check-in = 50% fee to cancel / 10% fee to reschedule
- There are NO REFUNDS for cancellations made less than 10 days prior to check-in however we will still allow re-scheduling up to 7 days prior to
check-in for verifiable emergencies, as approved by management, for a re-scheduling fee of 15% of the total rent. Rescheduled bookings may include a rate increase and must be paid in full, including the rescheduling fee, take place within 180 days of the original check-date, are NON-REFUNDABLE, and are not eligible for subsequent rescheduling. This policy can be found by clicking the “info” button immediately following the name of the accommodation on each listing page.
Are the activities included in the lodging?
We have not raised the rates on our accommodations to cover the significant expense and upkeep of the over 100 animals that call our farm home. Additionally, lodging costs do not cover the employee salaries required to offer the guided, interactive animals encounters that we offer. For this reason all activities are offered ‘a la carte’, allowing guests to pick and choose what, if any, animals encounters that they would most enjoy.
What is your closest airport?
Approximately 40 minutes away, the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport is the closest airport to our farm and many major carriers fly in and out of Chattanooga. Many guests, however, opt for the Atlanta International Airport, just 2 hours away, as fares can be significantly lower. Knoxville and Nashville are also airports that our guests have used.
When we stay on the farm will we still see animals even if we don’t book an encounter?
You will ABSOLUTELY see animals just by virtue of being on the farm! Do keep in mind that some of the more exotic animals, that live in special climate controlled enclosures inside our Exotic animal barn, are not visible the way our pasture animals are. Pasture animals do include zebras, camel and some of our kangaroos.
Can we camp on the farm?
No- sorry there is no camping available on the farm which would require a Primitive Camping Permit in the state of TN.
Do you have RV hookups?
No- we do not have RV hookups.
Do you serve food/meals or is there a restaurant on the farm?
We do not serve meals nor is there a restaurant located on our family farm. You may choose to prepare your own meals or enjoy the many wonderful mom & pop restaurants all located within a 5 mile radius of the farm. For more info see our guest “Guidebook” which can be found on our website.
What do people do for meals?
Our guests have several options with regard to meal time. All accommodations offer private fire pits and a selection of cast iron cookware for preparing food over an open fire. Many accommodations also offer charcoal grills and all offer use of either a gas grill or Blackstone. Some guests enjoy our many local mom & pop restaurants while most do a combination of all the above.
How far away is the nearest grocery store?
Our nearest grocery store is just 3 miles farm.
Can we pay over the phone?
We do not take payments over the phone, but rather ask that guests book online through our secure payment server.
Do you do birthday parties?
We offer 3 different party packages and each package offers additional add-ons so that we can help you create the perfect birthday celebration. For more details please go to Birthday Parties under the Events tab on our home page.
How much are your birthday parties?
Because each birthday party is uniquely yours prices will vary depending on the party package and add-ons you choose. For more details please go to Birthday Parties under the Events tab on our home page.
Do you do field trips?
Our field trips are a blast! Not only are they fun; they are also educational. Step into our outdoor classroom as we provide interactive opportunities to learn about a wide variety of animals here at Ocoee Riverside Farm; both domestic and exotic.
How much are your field trips?
Field trips, offered to groups of 50 to 100 students, are just $12/person and include our interactive Farm Tour & Animal Encounter, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, playground and picnic area where you can stay and enjoy your packed lunch.
How much is it just to come to the farm?
The cost of your trip to the farm will depend on the farm actives and animal encounters that you choose to participate in. Everything here is a la carte so that your experience is uniquely yours! We do have bundling discounts that can be found on the Farm Tour & Animal Encounter page.
How do I check availability of activities?
Our website is open to bookings 24/7 making it the best place to find up to the minute availability for our many farm experiences and up close animal encounters.
Do you offer horseback riding?
Horseback riding was the very first activity ever offered here on the farm and continues to be a guest favorite! At this time, it remains one of the few farm experiences that is still a ‘lodging guests only’ activity.
Do you have a mobile petting zoo?
Our animals are just too happy here on the farm where they gets lots of attention from our guests who come from near and far to see, pet, cuddle, and interact with them. For that reason, we do not offer a mobile petting zoo
How much is your petting zoo?
Our petting zoo is included with our Hump Day event, our Pet, Play, & Picnic event, as well as our Farm Tour & Animal Encounter experience. Please see our website for details on each.
What kind of animals do you have?
Ocoee Riverside Farm is home to both domestic and exotic animals of various kinds. Horses, ponies, miniature donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, Scottish Highland cows, camels, kangaroos, sloths, coatimundi, micro squirrels, sugar gliders, chinchilla, swans, geese, parrots, llamas, alpaca, zebras, zonkey, geckos, bearded dragons, and even a 5 foot iguana are among the animals you will find here.
Do you have any bundling discounts?
Bundling discounts can be found on our Farm Tour & Animal Encounter page where you can add such things as Camel Rides, Pony Rides, and Kangaroo Encounters at a significant discount over purchasing them as stand alone experiences.
Do you do weddings?
Weddings here on the farm are super popular among those that are more of the do-it-yourselfers. For that reason we don’t charge a venue fee which also makes our farm a very affordable option for those looking to have a small wedding of around 75 guests or less. In lieu of a venue fee, our requirement is a 3-night minimum stay on the accommodation that they choose to have the ceremony at. Your options are The Riverside Cabin for something on the river, or The Camel Condo if you’re looking for more of a barn theme. The potential for larger weddings would exist if more accommodations are reserved and bridal parties have often reserved the entire farm which can sleep up to 37 overnight guests. Please see “Weddings” under the Event tab on our home page and call us for more details
Are we allowed to fish?
Guests are welcome to fish from our private property.
Do you have any animals for sale?
We offer the sugar gliders and micro squirrels on a regular basis, chickens and peacocks seasonally, and other animals on an occasional basis.
Are you hiring?
We are not currently doing any direct hiring however, when we are, all new hires come through our volunteer program. To be a volunteer here, you must have a driver’s license and your own transportation, you must live within 30 miles of the farm, you must commit to four hours per week, other restrictions apply. you are invited to email us for more info at ocoeeriversidefarm@gmail.com
Do you offer internships?
Yes! We offer both paid and unpaid internships throughout the year. Please contact us for more information. Internships here are particularly valuable for those who plan to apply to veterinary school later. Two of our recent interns were accepted into competitive programs following an internship here at our farm.