A Little About Lakeside Alpacas
Lakeside Alpacas is located near Shelton, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula about 25 miles NW of Olympia, Washington. Actually, we are 6.3 miles SE of Shelton overlooking a small lake named Forbes Lake. We took the name Lakeside Alpacas because our alpacas can graze in the fields and look at the lake. It is a quiet rural community and the farm is off our main road 600 feet so we do not have a thoroughfare for traffic. We had cleared the land and built our house ourselves in 1980's. We had property, just not alpacas at that time.
People ask us how we got into the alpaca industry and like most things, it comes with a story. Both of us worked in the construction industry in Alaska and commuted from our home in Shelton. On the trips both coming and going the Alaska Airlines travel book would occasionally have an article on alpacas or an add depicting them for some farm in the lower US. They seemed to have a call that reached us both. In 2003, we started looking at alpacas in shows and made some alpaca farm visits. On one farm visit, a beautiful, young female alpaca walked us and tossed her head with spirit. She captured our hearts and l asked my wife if she would rather have a special anniversary ring or the alpaca. Of course, the alpaca won out and we entered into the alpaca industry with our lone alpaca. We rather quickly added more and then had to get ready for their arrival.
People ask us how we got into the alpaca industry and like most things, it comes with a story. Both of us worked in the construction industry in Alaska and commuted from our home in Shelton. On the trips both coming and going the Alaska Airlines travel book would occasionally have an article on alpacas or an add depicting them for some farm in the lower US. They seemed to have a call that reached us both. In 2003, we started looking at alpacas in shows and made some alpaca farm visits. On one farm visit, a beautiful, young female alpaca walked us and tossed her head with spirit. She captured our hearts and l asked my wife if she would rather have a special anniversary ring or the alpaca. Of course, the alpaca won out and we entered into the alpaca industry with our lone alpaca. We rather quickly added more and then had to get ready for their arrival.
We built our first barn, kept it relatively small at 24 ft X 36 ft, and quickly added gates and fences around the pasture. We had a deadline of just over two months to get them ready before the alpacas arrived. It was a proud moment when our first alpacas set foot at their new home and we were thrilled beyond words. We have gone on over the years and have added another barn and two large shelters plus more fencing for additional pastures.
We try to keep our alpacas to the current level of 45 alpacas. Each has its own name and personality and often it is difficult to remember all of their names and linage. Our alpacas have been awarded many ribbons at alpaca shows and the offspring continue to be recognized. Please feel free to contact us and set up a time to look and enjoy our precious alpacas.
We try to keep our alpacas to the current level of 45 alpacas. Each has its own name and personality and often it is difficult to remember all of their names and linage. Our alpacas have been awarded many ribbons at alpaca shows and the offspring continue to be recognized. Please feel free to contact us and set up a time to look and enjoy our precious alpacas.
