The Oak Mountain State Park Demonstration Farm will soon close, and the area will be developed into a dog park and event space.
The farm is scheduled to remain open through April 30, as park officials work to find retirement homes for the remaining animals.
“We understand that the Demo Farm has been a treasured part of Oak Mountain State Park for a long time,” said Scottie Jackson, Central District Superintendent for Alabama State Parks. “This decision was not taken lightly, but we want to do what is best for the aging animals by making sure we find them happy retirement homes. We’ve always kept the well-being of the animals as a top priority, and that’s why we’ve been careful about who we allowed to adopt these animals.”
Retirement homes for many of the most popular animals have already been secured. The famous donkey, Taylor, lives on an OMSP staff member’s farm and has a donkey friend named Polly, who he loves. Princess, the elderly mini horse, also lives with Taylor and Polly and is loving her other horse friends.
Many goats, cows and chickens have found forever homes with families. A few residents remain and are heading to wonderful, hand-selected homes selected by our staff, who are conducting careful vetting to find appropriate homes for the aging animals.
“We also realize that closing the farm will be disappointing to many of our longtime visitors,” Jackson continued, “but we must do what’s best for the animals and for the long-term future of Oak Mountain State Park. That’s why we’re also excited about creating a new amenity at the park for our visitors to enjoy.”
The iconic red barn located near the park’s main entrance will remain, and it will be renovated and become a rental venue for parties, weddings and other events.
The nearby area formally used by the demonstration farm will be developed into a dog park, including a small retail area for purchasing treats, toys and other items. The event space and dog park will be separated by fencing, and other new features will likely be added to the dog park over time.
Other nearby areas, such as the stables and facilities for guided horseback riding, won’t be affected by the changes.
There will no fee to use the dog park after visitors pay the Oak Mountain State Park entrance fee at the gate.
OMSP officials report an increasing number of visitors arrive with dogs, and the addition of a dog park will make it easier for dog owners to interact with their pets in a safe environment.
“We understand change isn’t always easy,” said State Parks Director Greg Lein, “but we believe this is in the best interest of the animals and for the future of Oak Mountain State Park. We hope everyone will embrace these new amenities as we continue to improve all of our State Parks.”
