Meet Whitney & Tom
Founders of Durrant Farms Estate
Whitney and Tom are the heart behind Durrant Farms Estate, a place where nature meets elegance and unforgettable memories are made. What started as a dream of sharing their love for alpacas, the outdoors, and meaningful gatherings has grown into a charming farmstay and wedding venue in the rolling hills of Leicester, NC.
Beyond running the farm, Whitney and Tom love traveling near and far, practicing yoga, and watching live music. Their days are filled with the simple joys of farm life—whether it’s tending to their alpacas and llamas, designing new guest experiences, or enjoying quiet moments outdoors. In 2024, they welcomed their first child and are now embracing the adventure of raising him on the farm, surrounded by fresh air, open spaces, and plenty of four-legged friends.
With a shared passion for hospitality, sustainability, and adventure, they take pride in creating experiences that feel warm, personal, and truly special. Whether it’s hosting breathtaking weddings by the pond, leading llama treks through scenic trails, or welcoming visitors for a peaceful retreat, Durrant Farms Estate is a place where every visit feels like coming home.
Meet Stella, Land & Garden Manager
Stella is the Land and Garden Manager at Durrant Farms Estate.Stella graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary biology with a focus in Genetics, and Woman and Gender studies. She came to beautiful Western North Carolina in the summer of 2022, drawn in by the dazzling biodiversity that the Blue Ridge and surrounding temperate rainforest has to offer. Past jobs in trail maintenance, lab work, and various restaurants has Stella excited to take on the challenge of managing the 100+ acres at Durrant Farms Estate. Stella spends most of her time hiking, growing herbs and flowers, and indulging her inner child with silly crafts. On the farm you can find her taking care of the chickens and alpacas, removing invasive species found on the property, working to make the trails more walkable and enjoyable, or maybe working to reduce erosion around the property.
Meet Grace, Hospitality Manager
Grace is the Hospitality Manager at Durrant Farms Estate. Grace graduated from the University of Kentucky with degrees in Environmental Sustainability and Sociology with a minor in International Studies. Grace loves to spend her free time singing, dancing, being outside, and connecting with her community. Grace moved to Western North Carolina from Kentucky in the fall of 2022, seeking adventure and deeper connection to the land. Along the way, she met the Durrants and began as their Farm Assistant, helping them grow their land and their business. Grace has been with Durrant Farms Estate for almost 2 years now and has loved every minute of it. With Grace’s passions for sustainability, connection, and inclusion, she is ecstatic to be working to take the utmost care of our guests and animals while helping to coordinate events and experiences around the farm. If you have any inquiries on our special experiences or are interested in having your next event at Durrant Farms Estate, do not hesitate to reach out to Grace!
Our Alpaca Boys
Micah
Born: October 19, 2018
Micah, our second oldest boy, is 5 years old and is a bit more shy and reserved than the rest of the herd. Alpacas, while curious and gentle animals, are not known to be openly friendly and cuddly. Since they have little to no defense mechanisms, they often prefer to stick with their “own kind” and not interact with humans too much. However, many others in our herd differ from that norm and will get up close and personal with you, especially when food is involved!
Hotline and Micah tend to stick together. They share the same bowl during feeding time and can get a little competitive with each other. Micah is usually the first one to spit when any other alpaca tries to take his food. We love our little nervous guy!
Ralph
Born: September 1, 2022
Ralph is one of our youngest alpacas and he has a huge personality! He just turned one in September of 2023. He is cuddly and sociable, which is rare for these shy breeds of animals. He will be the one of the first ones to try and approach you in the field or along the fence line.
Ralph is a Huacaya Alpaca, which means his fiber is more fluffy and cotton-like than Hotline or Micah’s. He is also an appaloosa, meaning he has white fiber with brown spots. We love the brown heart-shaped markings around his face. Isn’t he darling? Come visit Ralph and get some alpaca cuddles at our farmstay this season.
Hotline
Born: September 9, 2014
Hotline is the oldest in our herd being 9 years old. Hotline is a friendly fella, but tends to keep his distance unless food or treats are involved. Both Hotline and his buddy, Micah, are Suri Alpacas, which means their fiber is more smooth and silky compared to the fluffy Huacaya (pronounced wah-KI-ya) alpacas. Hotline is gelded (castrated) which allows him to maintain the luster of his fiber for longer in life as well as having the advantage of being less stressed out by male hormones. Overall, Hotline is a very chill alpaca and we are so glad to care for him at Durrant Farms.
Scully
Born: October 30, 2022
Scully is our youngest cria (baby alpaca) born just after Ralph. Therefore, Ralph and Scully have known each other since birth and have become really good friends! Scully is a mixed gray and white fiber Huacaya alpaca and we love his sweet and shy personality. He might not let you touch or pet him, but he will melt your heart with his big eyes and adorable grin. A fun fact about Scully is that he is especially skilled at twirling straw in his mouth and he is obsessed with peppermint treats!
Our Trusted Guard Llamas
Brinkley
Born: October 19, 2021
Brinkley is one of our guard llamas. He’s a 2-year old gelding, meaning he has been castrated. He is meant to protect our alpacas from predators such as bears and coyotes, but he intimidates other animals too like stray cats and wandering deer. One thing you might notice about Brinkley is his size. He is nearly 250 lbs and still growing. He is a curious and aware guard and can come off a bit intimidating, but in reality he is a big softie.
When we first brought him to the farm, we thought he would become the dominant llama in no time, but it turns out his buddy, Heartbreaker, is the head guy in charge. Brinkley is still an amazing guard though! He constantly monitors the perimeter and when he sees a potential threat, he will either stalk the potential intruder or alert his partner, Heartbreaker, to go take a look.
Llamas are known for being 1.5-2x bigger than alpacas and we originally thought his size would give him an advantage of being the head of the pecking order, but actually when Brinkley sees the threat, then he goes to stay with the alpacas, while Heartbreaker intimidates the intruder. Together, they are a great team and the alpacas trust them!
Heartbreaker
Born: October 30, 2022
Heartbreaker is also about 2 years old and a llama gelding. He has black fiber and is a bit smaller than Brinkley, coming in at about 190 lbs. Heartbreaker is the dominant llama, meaning he usually leads the way and gets to eat first. He is the one who generally attends to threats at the fence line, while Brinkley gathers up the alpacas in their shelter. Heartbreaker is super friendly and will happily eat out of the palm of your hand. We love his quirky face and floppy ears!
Heartbreaker has a full Bolivian bloodline, which is quite rare in the llama world. Even though llamas are not normally kept for their fiber, Heartbreaker actually has really high quality fiber and is the only one on our farm to produce black fiber. We shear all of our llamas and alpacas once a year and send their fiber to a climate beneficial fiber pool. From that, we have products made such as yarn and finished goods like blankets, throws, socks, sweaters, dryer balls, and more. Check out the Durrant Farm’s Farm Store for all of our fiber products!
What Our Customers Say
The Guesthouse is adorable with plenty of space and amenities. We loved the homemade bread and fresh farm eggs! The porch on the back provides a great view of all the boys (Alpacas and Llamas). We recommend that you sign up for an add-on. We chose the Happy Hour and it was so much fun. We plan to be a repeat customer. Thank you Tom and Whitney!
Jo Ann Winn
We loved Brunch with the Alpacas and Llamas! Whitney and Tom were super easy to communicate with, showed us the ropes, and left us to enjoy the furry crew in the pasture. The biscuits were delicious and the alpacas/llamas were endlessly amusing with their own charming little personalities. We enjoyed walking the property after brunch and just enjoying the gorgeous views. I will definitely return!
Debbie Johnson
I had an unforgettable stay at Durrant Farms! Whitney and Tom were exceptionally friendly and made us feel right at home. The highlight of my stay was happy hour, where we enjoyed snacks in the pasture with the llamas and alpacas. It was wonderful to meet each of them by name and appreciate their unique personalities! After a comfy sleep, the next day began with feeding the llamas and alpacas their breakfast snacks, all while taking in the stunning, morning fog-draped mountain views. Next, we enjoyed the refreshing sauna and cold plunge, setting the tone for a rejuvenating day. Walking back into the apartment, the aroma of homemade bread, farm-fresh eggs, milk, butter, and coffee welcomed us. The breakfast was fantastic and added a unique, personal touch to our stay. Durrant Farms was the perfect couples' retreat, but I can also see it being a great spot for a friend's trip! It's convenient to Asheville, making it easy to venture into the city for a nice dinner if you choose. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a charming, unique, and memorable getaway!
Amy Norris
My husband and I really enjoyed our stay at Durrant Farms. The guesthouse is so cute, comfortable, and cozy. We met Tom (the host) and he introduced us to all the adorable alpacas and llamas! This was my favorite part! The hosts also provided fresh eggs, milk, and a homemade loaf of bread. So lovely! Such a wonderful and peaceful stay! Definitely recommend!
Ash Martin
We had such a nice brunch! The farm is peaceful and beautiful, and we loved getting to know the personalities of each alpaca and llama as we handed out treats. We'll definitely be back and have already referred many friends. Thanks for being great hosts!
Ashley Little
