This story is brought to you by Live in Everett Member Juanita "Nita" Dawson LMT/MMT

It’s 3:30am and across the yard, a rooster is apparently stuck on Daylight Savings Time. Despite Rooster McRoosterson, the night sounds and the rain plunking on our yurt lull me back to sleep. At the more reasonable hour of 7am, we wake and roll on our backs to peer out the plexiglass dome that crowns the structure, where we see gentle rolling fog and pops of blue sky.

We spent a drizzly fall night in Yurt 1 at Paca Pride Guest Ranch, a few miles past Granite Falls on the Mountain Loop Highway. The property is 17 acres of serenity, including a small herd of alpacas and llamas, a flock of chickens and roosters, a flock of turkeys, and two doggos who are fantastic greeters.

Owners David Capocci, his husband Glenn Budlow, and co-owner Tim Leingang started building Paca Pride in 2004 as a base camp for hikers who want to explore the many adventures the Mountain Loop offers. They built their beautiful log home that houses the trio, serves as the farm office and gift shop, and offers one queen-size guest room. They have also added 3 yurts, one large 730 square foot Roundhouse yurt that is ideal for larger groups (think: parties, family reunions, yoga and meditation retreats, or company events), and lots of space to set up tents, including a few covered tent platforms. Other accommodations include heated bathrooms with hot water and showers, a communal outdoor kitchen with a propane grill, a cooktop stove, and sink (with fantastic well water), and a communal fire pit. Future plans include a barrel steam sauna and hot tubs.

The farm also has a historic switchback trail that winds around the southern edge of the property. This trail was once part of the old Mountain Loop Highway. This short but beautiful trail allows guests to soak in the serenity and magic while nestling among the mosses.

At its heart, Paca Pride is a sustainable family farm that encourages the public to come and learn about permaculture, animal husbandry, sustainable land use, low-impact livestock, tilth building strategies, and the production of barley fodder microgreens which they grow for the herd’s feed. By creating a space with plenty of nitrogen fixers (plants that convert nitrogen gas in the air into organic compounds that nourish other plants), nutrient accumulators (plants that gather nutrients from the soil and store them in their tissues), and carbon sequesters (plants that absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store it in their biomass and soil), they have been able to cultivate and sustain this land that is situated on a mountain plateau.

Aside from educating the public on farming practices, Paca Pride also invites the public to other farm events, like the annual shearing of the herd in mid-to-late June. To stay informed of upcoming events, give them a follow on Facebook.

The farm also has a gift shop, which has a rotating stock of high-quality alpaca products like scarves, stuffies, gloves, hats, and socks. We can attest: the socks are fantastic.

Paca Pride’s owners are warm, kind-hearted, and welcoming. They will open their arms and doors to provide solace and shelter for community members who find themselves at a crossroads in their lives. They encourage visitors to unplug and recharge their spiritual batteries and they foster an environment where all are welcome.

Paca Pride is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Stop by to inquire about events and educational opportunities, book your stay, or buy a pair of alpaca socks...your feet will thank you.

Paca Pride Guest Ranch
28311 Mountain Loop Highway, 
Granite Falls, Washington 98252
360-691-3395

ADD EVEN MORE goodness TO YOUR LIFE, CONSIDER BOOKING A MASSAGE WITH Live in Everett member JUANITA "NITA" DAWSON LMT/MMT.

THANKS TO NITA FOR helping POWER THIS STORY!

Rachel Weatherholt is a long-time Everett resident who loves books, horror movies, cooking, and eating good food.