Little Wills Creek Ranch

Little Wills Creek Ranch We are a small alpaca/llama farm and live steam railroad located in Buffalo Mills, Pa.

Our friends at the Everett Railroad Company are also working hard to restore an incredible piece of local history. Locom...
02/06/2025

Our friends at the Everett Railroad Company are also working hard to restore an incredible piece of local history.

Locomotive #38 once operated regularly here in our area on the Huntington and Broad Top Railroad which connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Bedford Branch. The right of way of the old PRR Bedford Branch went right passed the edge of our farm. We look forward to bringing back the sights and sounds of steam railroading, albeit on a smaller scale, to Bedford County, Pa as we look to connect future generations with their own local history! Maybe our collection of mostly historic coal fired live steam locomotives will be a trip up to Hollidaysburg/Everett & Bedford, Pa in the not too distant future. ❤️🚂

Our friends at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad have officially announced the full restoration of their steam locomo...
02/03/2025

Our friends at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad have officially announced the full restoration of their steam locomotive #734 which is an icon of our region here in the Alleghenies. We here at Little Wills Creek Ranch are proud supporters and fans of steam locomotive preservation (both big and small) and of preserving our history as well for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

Plus 734 just might happen to be our sweet alpaca Keke’s favorite train😅🚂🦙❤️

If you are interested in donating or just want to learn more about the project, visit: MountainThunder734.org

Our first public event of the 2025 season will be off-site this year with our friends at the Western Maryland Scenic Rai...
01/30/2025

Our first public event of the 2025 season will be off-site this year with our friends at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for their new Cottontail Comet. This is an exciting new twist on their wildly successful Spring Fling weekends which are packed full of family fun and a great train ride for just $10!

Our alpacas will be at the WMSR’s Canal Place Station in Cumberland. Cottontail Comet passengers will be able to interact with and feed the alpacas on the platform while waiting for their train and/or upon their return to the station.

We look forward to seeing you there and we know the alpacas will be super excited for their first treats and cuddles of the season.❤️🦙🚂

Get your tickets now at: https://wmsr.com/cottontail-comet-family-train-ride

01/29/2025

A wonderful video of our sweet boy Phoenix on the day he was born. He has grown so much and he is certainly looking forward to our 2025 season this summer!

To all our local alpaca owner friends in the region, we strongly recommend these wonderful folks for shearing this seaso...
01/27/2025

To all our local alpaca owner friends in the region, we strongly recommend these wonderful folks for shearing this season! We have never had such wonderful, gentle and kind folks shearing our animals before and we are forever grateful we found them. All our animals love them and behaved so well from the moment they met them and I’m sure yours will too. Last call to get on their 2025 spring shearing schedule. ❤️🦙

Some baby pictures of our boys Polaris & Obsession as well as where they are today (with Phoenix making a little photobo...
01/26/2025

Some baby pictures of our boys Polaris & Obsession as well as where they are today (with Phoenix making a little photobom)❤️🦙

01/24/2025

Some awesome footage of our steam locomotive #480 (which is currently undergoing a major overhaul) in early 2021 during one of her last runs back in her home country of New Zealand before being shipped here to the ranch. 🚂 With the project being roughly 75% complete at this time, we hope to have her back in service by early to mid summer 2025, however, we will not be giving any official dates until the overhaul is over 90% completed.

Our engine #480 is looking just a bit different these days as her major overhaul is roughly 75% complete. 🔧🚂🔩 #480 is ...
01/19/2025

Our engine #480 is looking just a bit different these days as her major overhaul is roughly 75% complete. 🔧🚂🔩 #480 is one of four coal fired live steam locomotives in our fleet here at the ranch.

Built in December of 1989 by Harold Sinclair of New Zealand and based on the K-36 Class steam locomotives of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad in Colorado, USA, our engine #480 has been working hard both in her home country of New Zealand and here in the United States for just over 35 years. She sure is a tough old girl and we are looking forward to having her back in service in the not too distant future.

The full size prototype of this locomotive can be seen in regular service today hauling tourist on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado.

We want to thank our friends at BMG Railroad Contractors, LLC/Plumcove Studios in Gloucester, Virginia for all their hard work in helping us get #480 back on the rails so she can once again pull train loads of happy families and create priceless memories that will last a lifetime for generations to come. ❤️🚂

With a soft opening in the planning stages for mid summer 2025 and a grand opening currently in the works for the weeken...
01/18/2025

With a soft opening in the planning stages for mid summer 2025 and a grand opening currently in the works for the weekend of September 27th-28th, Little Wills Creek Ranch, LLC has so much to offer visitors! 🦙🚂⛰️

-Alpaca, Llama, Pygmy Goat and Babydoll/Jacob Sheep encounters.

-Train Rides on our ranch’s very own narrow gauge railroad pulled by Authentic Miniature Coal Fired Live Steam Locomotives.

-On-site Farm Shop complete with model trains and alpaca products made from the fiber of our own animals.

-Beautiful Hand Crafted Model Train Layouts on display and in operation during farm store hours and select public open house events.

-Monthly Public Open House Days/Weekends.

-Available for Private On-site Events such as birthday parties, private farm tours, alpaca yoga sessions, company picnics, etc.

-Off-site Public Event Days/Weekends at select venues. Animals and Steam Trains are also available to hire for private off-site events (each individual request for off-site hire is subject to availability, logistics, location/distance from farm and weather).

-Special Public Events throughout the year such as National Alpaca Farm Days, National Train Day, Alpaca Pumpkin Patch and North Pole Express just to name a few.

Website coming soon: littlewillscreekranch.com

01/07/2025

Mr. Chicken Nugget’s first time seeing and playing in “real” snow. At first he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, but by the end of the afternoon he found that motorboating the snow with his mouth was the greatest thing in the world. 😅❤️🦙❄️

The steam locomotives are tucked away safely in the engine house until spring and the alpacas are enjoying the cool wint...
12/31/2024

The steam locomotives are tucked away safely in the engine house until spring and the alpacas are enjoying the cool winter weather as we look back on a wonderful year here on the ranch. We are excited to be opening our farmsite to the public in summer 2025 with special open house days as well as the ability for folks to reserve private tours and parties. There are a lot of amazing new experiences to be had at the ranch in the coming year!

From all of us here at Little Wills Creek Ranch, we wish you and your family and safe and wonderful New Year.

From our family to yours, we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ❤️🎄🎅🏻🦙🚂
12/24/2024

From our family to yours, we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ❤️🎄🎅🏻🦙🚂

12/21/2024

Alpacas in HO scale?!! That’s right folks, we finally have true to scale alpacas for our HO train layout. This layout will be in operation in our on-site shop building during store hours as well as public open house/special event days starting in mid-late spring 2025! In addition, the layout will be available for private parties/events.❤️🦙🚂

In light of the tragic events that have recently unfolded in Pecos, Texas, we want to share this very important railroad...
12/20/2024

In light of the tragic events that have recently unfolded in Pecos, Texas, we want to share this very important railroad safety information that you not know about.

This little blue sign, which can be found on every railroad crossing in the United States, can save your life, the lives of the train crew and possibly even your entire community.

If you ever find yourself or notice someone who is stuck/stalled on or near the tracks:

1. Call the phone number on the blue sign which is the railroad company’s emergency hotline.

2. Give the operator answering the crossing identification number which is unique to each railroad crossing.

3. Tell them the tracks are blocked and they need to stop all trains.

4. Make sure that you and/or those involved are out of their vehicles and move a safe distance away from the tracks.

Remember that trains are fast, heavy and can’t stop quickly. There is no use in trying to flag a train down, so this little blue sign is literally a last line of defense.

A few highlights for this weekend’s Lights on the Lake at Rocky Gap.This was Chicken Nugget’s first public outing and he...
12/09/2024

A few highlights for this weekend’s Lights on the Lake at Rocky Gap.

This was Chicken Nugget’s first public outing and he was thrilled to get all the attention, cuddles and love.

As for the steam train, the cold weather mixed with high winds coming off the lake on Friday and Saturday evening provided an operational challenge, but the locomotive made a great static photo prop for families as well as a visit for Santa and Mrs. Clause on Friday night in the Hawks Nest.

Sunday evening ended the weekend with a bang as the weathered warmed up and wind died down enough for engine #7 to pull passengers up and down the event, making it the only steam locomotive operating for the general public in Allegany County this holiday season.❤️🚂🎄🦙🎅🏻

12/09/2024

An absolutely perfect end to a magical weekend at Lights on the Lake 2024 (Second Weekend)❤️

We want to give a huge thank you to the Western Maryland Jaycees, Rocky Gap State Park and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for making this possible.

We also want to thank all the guests who came out to support Lights on the Lake and chose to make wonderful holiday memories with us in Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland❤️🏔️🎄🎅🏻🦙🚂

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Buffalo Mills, PA

Telephone

+18149792922

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Videos

Mr. Chicken Nugget’s first time seeing and playing in “real” snow. At first he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, but by the end of the afternoon he found that motorboating the snow with his mouth was the greatest thing in the world. 😅❤️🦙❄️

Alpacas in HO scale?!! That’s right folks, we finally have true to scale alpacas for our HO train layout. This layout will be in operation in our on-site shop building during store hours as well as public open house/special event days starting in mid-late spring 2025! In addition, the layout will be available for private parties/events.❤️🦙🚂

An absolutely perfect end to a magical weekend at Lights on the Lake 2024 (Second Weekend)❤️ We want to give a huge thank you to the Western Maryland Jaycees, Rocky Gap State Park and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for making this possible. We also want to thank all the guests who came out to support Lights on the Lake and chose to make wonderful holiday memories with us in Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland❤️🏔️🎄🎅🏻🦙🚂

Our steam locomotive #7 was fired up this evening at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s yard in Ridgeley, West Virginia for a final check before Lights on the Lake this weekend. Other than engine #7’s 100+ year old steam whistle not liking these cold temperatures, the locomotive is ready to roll with water and coal being graciously donated by the WMSR. ❤️🚂🎄 Come join us at Rocky Gap State Park this weekend in beautiful Allegany County, MD and make some unforgettable Christmas memories!

Late last night under the cover of darkness, our steam locomotive #7 left the ranch and headed through Hyndman, Pennsylvania, crossing over the CSX (former B&O) rail line on her way to Allegany County, Maryland as Lights on the Lake draws ever closer. She is ready to make some holiday magic for you and your family during Lights on the Lake!❤️🚂🎄🎅🏻

Mr. Nugget is officially big enough and his fleece full enough to go out in the main pasture full time with his mama Libby, Aunty Rosie and the rest the girls. He is absolutely loving it and the vet is very pleased with his progress. However, he will likely have to come inside for a couple months during the worst parts of this upcoming winter, but other than that, he is finally ready to have a normal life with the herd. ❤️🦙

Mr. Chicken Nugget has reached 17.8lbs this evening! In addition, his special winter cria coat has arrived. Considering we will be having a week of slightly warmer weather, Mr. Nugget will be joining his mama and aunty Rosie in the mini pastures for a few hours each day to help him integrate into the big girls herd. He is loving every second of it and has endless zoomies!❤️🦙

Today was Mr. Chicken Nugget’s first out door play time/meet the herd session since the day he was born. He is having a ball as he runs, jumps, plays and chases butterflies around the small winter pens. He reached 13.2lbs this afternoon. ❤️🦙

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for your weekly Chicken Nugget update! Over the last 48 hours, Mr. Nugget has increased his daily weight growth from 0.2lbs to 0.4lbs reaching an amazing 12lbs on the dot early this morning. He is very energetic, playing and thriving in every way. As the weather clears up this weekend, it’s looking like he will finally be getting some herd interactions, albeit supervised for an hour or so at a time. We want to thank everyone for their love, support, thoughts and prayers as Mr. Nugget has made a remarkable turn around in a very brief period of time. ❤️🦙

Last night while we had our steam locomotive #7 fired up, Mr. Chicken Nugget took his first train ride! He was very curious, not nervous at all and had a wonderful time on the short ride. He then insisted on getting a little love and cuddles from his Aunty Tina who was running the engine.

Other than a couple of small projects such as some minor adjustments to the engineer’s side (right side) cylinder cocks, reattaching the loco’s “cowcatcher” style pilot and wiring up the engine’s headlight, steam locomotive #7 (the Holly Marie) is ready to roll for this holiday season. Stay tuned here to our page for some exciting updates!

Yesterday afternoon/evening our two operational coal fired steam locomotives were fired up for their final steam tests in preparation of our fall and Christmas holiday special events. Both locomotives performed very well and made for an impressive display of steam and steel that the Fossilville/Hyndman area has not seen in decades as history came alive again in the Allegheny Mountain valley surrounding Buffalo Mills, Pa!

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