Willowdale Bend Farm Sanctuary

We need your help for us to stay warm and safe this winter!!

Willowdale Bend Farm Sanctuary began in 2019 with a giant leap of Faith. When the pandemic hit, we had to close in the winter of 2020 & 2021. We are in dire need of a new barn, fencing, feed & vet care. As winter approaches, we will need to shut down or limit our hours of operation due to inflation & the continuing pandemic. We want to be able to move some of our farm animals into a larger, warmer building safe from predators and frigid temperatures. Kind of like an Ark! If you go to our Facebook page or web page, willowdalebend.com, it will give you an idea of what a special place this is and our mission for these animals and the community. The farm was built in the 1800s and was in complete ruins. We decided instead of tearing it down to renovate it & have created a place of Peace, Love and Joy where the public and animals can come and feel happy and safe. So many people have said it’s their happy place.

Our most important goal is rescuing farm animals headed to slaughter or just some that needed a sanctuary to live out their lives. One baby pig I named Gordy jumped out of a truck in the city of Auburn. He was rescued by a school resource officer and even rode in the back of a police car. (All on video and photos). He now has learned to sit for treats and is almost famous. All of our animals have unique stories, the bison from Rosamond Gifford Zoo and our 17-year-old bull Marshmellow and Walter White the ram. One of my favorites is Bonnie & Clyde, the Chinese swan goose pair that took in a Canadian baby goose named Bella. They can't fly, but she can and doesn't know it yet. We have taken in Texas long horns, black & red Angus, holsteins, Alpacas, Black Welsh mountain Rams, sheep, fainting & San Clemente goats, pigs, emus, geese, turkeys, ducks, migratory birds, a tortoise, cats, mini horses and mini donkeys. It is a place the public can come and feel at home. Elderly, adults, children and pets love it. Families and schools bring disabled groups & we have met many veterans with PTSD. They love to feed the animals & it calms them. The farmhouse is set up like a farmhouse with cozy couches and rooms you can relax in. The other goal of ours is for the children. The front of the store is filled with food, snacks, candy and an ambiance for the adults like no other. The children & adults can purchase snacks for the animals to feed and pet them and learn about the unconditional love they give back. We have a giant sandbox for children to play in that the parents love so they can sit, relax, listen to acoustic music and enjoy the day. We have contests for the kids and adults. The coloring contest of farm animals is my favorite & the stuffed animal adoption is so much fun. The community donated the stuffed animals & we had some we rescued throughout the years. We encourage people to bring their pets and even have Halloween contests for pets, children & adults. We have a giant talking/singing reindeer with a sleigh we plan on setting up for more stuffed animals and toys. We allow vendors to set up at our Amish barn, where there is also a small café. We have worked very hard to keep it a family-friendly place. The property has a fantastic history and should be a landmark. I named it Willowdale Bend because the Indians used to make baskets out of the abundant willow trees around the lake & it is in a dale like the hills and valleys.

We have about eight ponds that serve as a safe space for migratory or non-migratory birds & it has created an ecosystem with plants, birds, bees, fish and wildlife. The land is a watershed that sits above Otisco Lake & there is a ravine where there was once the Puddin Mill that produced corn flour. We have been told by the previous farmers that owned it and others that there was an Indian village and burial grounds on the property. I have personally seen & believe I've located one of the burial grounds above the ravine and have heard that there are arrowheads and other untouched artifacts. There are live gas mines in the canyon the boy scouts used to cook breakfast back in the 50s. My other passion is to make people aware of who the Town of Spafford has been named after. Many locals and farmers had no idea. Spafford is named after Horatio Spafford, a prosperous lawyer and businessman who lost everything to the Chicago Fire and has lived the life of Job. He and his family planned a trip to England to see their friend & evangelist. He stayed behind for business and was going to meet them later. His four daughters died when the ship sank. His wife lived and sent a message to him "Survived alone!" You can hear about his story on willowdalebend.com. It is a heartfelt story of loss, pain and rising above it. Horatio Spafford crossed over where his daughters died & where he wrote the hymn "It is well with my soul” in every hymnal around the world. I was told he owned hundreds of acres in Spafford and donated a library. I still have more to research & I think his story should be shared with the history of the Indian culture and all that is at Willowdale Bend. Any donations would be greatly appreciated and will make you a part of this opportunity to be a part of this history and make it a landmark, educational facility, farm, bird & wildlife sanctuary, recycling and renewable energy such as natural gas and compost used for heat. We hope you can visit Willowdale Bend and see the endless possibilities and all that is needed to care for this property & these beautiful animals where it is "Well with their Souls."

Located @ 2080 Willowdale Rd, Skaneateles, NY 13152

315-415-8925 [email redacted].com