Hodges Hidden Highlands Farm in Middleburg, Florida, is combining animal encounters, educational programming, and glamping accommodations as it offers visitors an opportunity to experience farm life through day visits and overnight stays.
The eight-acre property, operated by co-owners Jack and Debbie Hodges, features free-roaming farm animals, including Highland cattle, along with weekly activities designed to introduce guests to farming and animal care. Programs include animal story time and educational sessions such as beekeeping demonstrations.
“They just roam around the property. We don’t cage anybody. We let everybody free roam,” said Debbie Hodges, co-owner of Hodges Hidden Highlands Farm.
The farm’s approach centers on allowing visitors to interact with animals in an open setting rather than observing them solely from designated enclosures. Guests can feed and pet the farm’s Highland cattle and encounter other animals while exploring the property.
The Hodges opened the farm with the goal of sharing their interest in animals while providing visitors with opportunities to learn about agricultural life.
“They get to experience something they normally wouldn’t get to and see a side of farming that they may never even know about,” co-owner Jack Hodges said.
For visitors who want to stay longer, the property also offers overnight accommodations in glamping-style yurts. The climate-controlled tents are equipped with household comforts while placing guests close to the farm’s animals.
“So, you get to spend the night here, and the animals stay in the campsite with you all night long,” said Heather Culbreth, manager of Hodges Hidden Highlands Farm.
The overnight model extends the farm’s daytime programming into an accommodation experience, with animals able to move around the camping area throughout the night. Culbreth said the setup is intended to make farm experiences accessible to visitors who may not otherwise have regular opportunities to interact with animals.
“I like that people from the city can come. They can be comfortable; their children can interact with animals. And we also share a lot of knowledge and education while we do host our guests,” Culbreth told SpectrumNews13.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the property illustrates one way agricultural attractions can be incorporated into an overnight stay to create activities beyond the accommodation itself. Combining scheduled programming with animal encounters can give guests reasons to remain on-site during the day and provide additional opportunities to build an experience around the property’s existing resources.
Hodges Hidden Highlands Farm hosts weekly events, including animal story time, with reservations for visits and overnight stays made online. The farm is located in Middleburg, approximately 2 1/2 hours north of Orlando and about three hours north of Tampa.
The operation reflects a broader model in which farms and rural properties use glamping accommodations and educational programming to diversify visitor offerings while maintaining agriculture and animal experiences as central elements of the guest experience.