Meet Capybaras And Other Exotic Creatures Up Close At This Ohio Animal Encounter

A two-toed sloth, a pair of otters, and a capybara family all live on one farm. That farm sits in rural Ohio, and you can hand-feed almost all of them.

The guest list keeps getting stranger. There’s a lavender skunk named Jolene and a zebra named after Abraham Lincoln.

An armadillo answers to Johnny Cashew.

I love that every visit is private. No crowds, no shoving for a view, just you and a guide moving from one animal to the next.

Tours can run up to two hours, and nobody hurries the moment.

I can’t imagine a better way to spend a day with curious kids or curious grown-ups. The catch is the waiting list, which can stretch for months.

So how fast can you book?

The Capybaras Run The Show Here

Winnie and Winston are the stars at Westmeister Farms – By Private Appointment. Their family recently grew, too, with a baby capybara joining the crew in August 2026.

Capybaras are the largest rodents on Earth, but they act more like calm, chunky puppies. During an encounter, you can hand-feed them snacks and give them gentle pets.

Vegetables are the currency here. Offer a crunchy treat, and you’ll quickly earn a fuzzy new friend with very relaxed manners.

The farm also respects each animal’s mood. If a capybara wants to rest on its platform, nobody forces an interaction.

Want something even sillier? Capy Hour Yoga lets you stretch and breathe while capybaras wander nearby, totally unbothered by your downward dog.

Around Valentine’s Day, the farm runs Capy-grams. Capybaras munch on personalized messages written on edible paper, which is one sweet way to say hello.

Picture sending a love note that literally gets eaten. Honestly, it might be the most memorable card your sweetheart ever receives.

Capybara slots are popular, so plan ahead when booking. Wear closed-toe shoes, and leave dangling jewelry at home before you visit.

Curious little noses can find shiny things fast. A little planning keeps the whole visit smooth for everyone.

Yes, You Can Actually Swim With Otters In Ohio

River and Sailor are Asian small-clawed otters with huge personalities. They’re also part of a first for the state.

Westmeister Farm was the first USDA-approved facility in Ohio for swimming with otters. That’s a bragging right few farms can claim.

Guests ages 10 and older can join the otter swim. Expect quick paws, whiskery faces, and plenty of splashing from two very busy swimmers.

Otters rarely sit still for long. They zip, tumble, and explore, so the experience feels lively from start to finish.

Not into getting wet? Painting with the otters is a dry and clever alternative that still puts you close to the action.

Here’s how it works. Paint gets splattered on a canvas sealed inside a Ziploc bag, and the otters play on top of it.

The result is a colorful, one-of-a-kind piece of art. Your fridge has never looked this fancy.

Otter experiences are among the most requested at the farm, so book early. Check the age rule before you plan a family trip.

Younger kids can still enjoy the painting session and the regular farm tour. Nobody gets left out of the otter fun.

Slow Down And Say Hi To The Sloths

Patience pays off with a two-toed sloth. These tree-dwellers move at their own pace, and that pace is extremely slow.

Eleanor is Westmeister Farm’s current resident two-toed sloth and the star of its private sloth encounters.

The guided experience lasts about 30 minutes and is built around Eleanor’s comfort. Guests can gently pet her, offer treats, learn about sloth behavior, and pose for photos.

Watching a sloth stretch or reach slowly for a snack is oddly relaxing. It feels like nature switched into slow motion for a few minutes.

A fun detail about two-toed sloths is that the name refers to the two claws on each front limb. Their back limbs have three.

The farm emphasizes letting Eleanor set the pace, so every encounter can unfold a little differently.

Sloth sessions are private and available for all ages, but dates can fill quickly.

Bring a phone with plenty of storage. A slow blink or lazy reach has a habit of turning into another photo.

The Animal Names Are Half The Entertainment

Johnny Cashew is a three-banded armadillo. Once you hear that name, you know this farm has a serious sense of humor.

Jolene is the lavender skunk, while Clyde adds a prickly personality to the porcupine side of the farm.

The kangaroo names continue the playful theme, with residents carrying names inspired by music and pop culture.

Then there is Lieutenant Dan, a rabbit who gets around on two legs and has become one of the farm’s memorable personalities.

Leroy and Pippa are prairie dogs, Ruby is the raccoon, and Oscar is the African sulcata tortoise.

Each name gives visitors something easy to remember long after the tour ends.

Learning those names also makes the experience feel more personal. You are not simply seeing an armadillo or a skunk.

You are meeting Johnny Cashew and Jolene.

That small touch is part of what makes a private tour here feel different from walking past anonymous enclosures.

A Zebra, An Ostrich, And Kangaroos Walk Into A Farm

Lincoln the zebra was named after Abraham Lincoln. With those famous stripes, he certainly looks presidential in his own way.

Nearby, Franklynn the ostrich keeps watch with that tall neck and curious stare. Ostriches are the largest birds alive, and seeing one up close is a real jaw-dropper.

The kangaroos add another layer of surprise. You don’t expect to spot hopping marsupials in the middle of farm country.

All told, the farm is home to around 24 animal species. That variety keeps every stop on the tour feeling fresh.

Guides share facts about each animal as you go. You’ll learn about diets, habits, and the unique stories behind many of the residents.

Kids get a mini science lesson without even realizing it. Adults usually pick up a surprising fact or two as well.

Bring questions, because the guides love answering them. The more curious you are, the richer the tour becomes.

Also, keep your camera ready. A zebra next to an Ohio cornfield is the kind of photo that confuses your friends in the best way.

Expect plenty of double takes from everyone in your group.

Owls, Quills, And A Tortoise That Loves A Good Scrub

Massage a tortoise? At this farm, Oscar certainly seems to appreciate a good brushing.

Oscar is an African sulcata tortoise, one of the largest tortoise species in the world. His shell and slow, deliberate movements make him an easy animal to stop and study during a tour.

Samson and Delilah bring a completely different presence. These Eurasian eagle owls are among the farm’s striking bird residents, with large bodies and bright orange eyes that are hard to miss.

The farm’s guides use encounters like these to talk about animal behavior, adaptations, care, and the differences between species.

Porcupines add another lesson in natural defenses. Their quills make a good starting point for explaining how these animals protect themselves without needing dramatic demonstrations.

Shells, feathers, and quills each tell a different story about how animals are built for the lives they lead.

That educational side helps make the tour more than a chance to snap close-up photos. You leave knowing a little more about the animals you just met.

Fluffy Highland Cows Bring The Classic Farm Charm

Shaggy bangs, long horns, and a sweet face make Scottish Highland cows instantly lovable. The farm has a whole herd.

Millie, Lloyd, Daisy, Archie, and Amelia live here, plus a new calf. Their thick coats look like they just stepped out of a salon in the Scottish hills.

Traditional farm animals round out the tour nicely. Pigs Ruth and Otis bring plenty of oinking personality.

Donkeys and goats also call the farm home. They add a friendly, familiar feel between the exotic stops.

One chicken even gets around in a wheelchair. That detail says a lot about the care these animals receive.

For younger kids, these classic animals are a comfortable warm-up. A goat feels less intimidating than a kangaroo at first.

Mixing barnyard favorites with exotic species keeps the day balanced. You get the wow moments and the cozy moments in one visit.

Highland cows are known for being calm and handling cold weather well. Their double coat works like a built-in winter jacket.

Ohio winters suddenly don’t seem like such a problem for them. Honestly, they make chilly days look stylish.

A Backyard Hobby That Turned Into Something Big

Westmeister Farm started with a love of animals and a collection that grew right at home.

What began in the family’s own backyard gradually expanded to include unusual residents such as sloths, zebras, kangaroos, otters, capybaras, and other species.

Lynn and Shawn Westmeister later opened the farm for private animal encounters, and the experience quickly found a much larger audience.

Social media played a huge role. Videos from the farm went viral, with some attracting millions of views and sending animal lovers from well beyond Ohio looking for appointments.

Today, Westmeister operates as a USDA-licensed, appointment-only animal encounter facility.

The private format remains a big part of the idea. Instead of public crowds moving past enclosures, each group gets a guided visit designed around close interaction, education, and the animals’ comfort.

Money from the farm and merchandise goes back toward animal food, care, enrichment, habitats, and other needs.

What started as a backyard passion project has become one of the more unusual animal experiences in Ohio.

Book Early Or Get Comfortable On The Waiting List

Planning ahead isn’t optional here. Westmeister Farms – By Private Appointment works strictly on reservations, and dates fill quickly.

Bookings often happen months in advance. If the experience you want looks full, keep checking for new openings.

You’ll find the farm at 4097 Plymouth Springmill Rd, Shelby, OH 44875. The setting is quiet and rural, which suits the animals perfectly.

A non-refundable deposit secures the appointment for one person. Additional guests pay their admission when they arrive.

Private guided tours can last up to two hours. That’s plenty of time for petting, feeding, and asking every question on your list.

Smaller groups usually get the most hands-on time. Keep that in mind if you’re planning a big family outing.

Dress smart for the farm. Closed-toe shoes are a must, and valuable or dangling jewelry should stay home.

Bring a charged phone for photos and a little patience for animals with their own schedules. Some critters nap when they want to nap.

Once you finally score that date, the countdown begins. Few trips in Ohio come with a capybara waiting at the end.