Who We Are
We're back and better than ever! Make sure to check out our NEW experiences!
Experience an Amazing Farm Animal Sanctuary
There are no words to describe the joy that a visit to Rooterville Animal Sanctuary brings! Our amazing animals including our cuddly Highland Cow, Jett, are friends who are treated with kindness and respect and they reflect that love back toward you. We love sharing them and their beautiful home with you! Seeing your face and reaction as you interact with our friendly animal ambassadors is priceless! Visit us in Melrose, FL today to experience the joy we're creating at our family farm!
You're welcome to bring snacks for the animals or buy them here. The best snacks are baby carrots, sliced apples, grapes, strawberries, blueberries... anything you can hand feed easily.
HOURS:
Walk in Guests-Visits:
Fri - Sat: 10AM till 2PM
Experiences:
Tues-Sun 9:30AM - 9PM
Other days/times by appointment
Overnight Stays: Always Open!
Community Service Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Please just come when you can & we will find things to keep you busy.
Appointments not needed for volunteers and community service. We can't wait to have your help!
EXPERIENCES:
(NOT included with Farm Visit General Admission)
Cracker Cow cuddling: 30 or 45 min
Highland Cow Cuddles: 30 or 45min
Baby Cow Cuddles: 30 min
Bottle Feeding Baby Cows: 1hr
Farmer for a Day Package: 3hrs
Party with the Animals: 2hrs
Pignic or Dinner on the Farm: 2hrs
Private Visit: 2 hours
FARM VISIT IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE PURCHASE.
Visit the animals as long as you like before or after your experience!
PARTIES & GROUPS:
Parties & Get Togethers: 2 hours w/ animal visits
Pignic or Dinner at the Farm:
1-2hrs (BYO food/drinks)
FIELD TRIPS & TOUR BUS VISITS welcomeD! Your group will have a great time at rooterville
Rent our Venue for YOUR event! Let us help you make it special and memorable.
Fire Pits Available!
OVERNIGHT STAYS:
AWARD WINNING Rentals:
Two Covered Wagons with King beds
+ room for cot or kid's bunk cot.
Farmhouse sleeps up to 8 guests
RV spaces with or w/o hookups-
up to 6 guests per spot
Tent camping: BYO tent up to 6 guests
AIRBnB "Superhost"
Trip Advisor
"Traveler's choice" award WINNER!
WE Offer the BEST Cow Cuddling Experiences
on the Planet!
Experience delightful cow cuddles with our adorable cows! Relish Jett's cuddly company during a cozy Highland cow cuddle—you'll find it hard to resist our charming cows!
Our Animal Sanctuary Is CONVENIENTLY Located on a PAVED ROAD
Between Gainesville & Jacksonville, Florida
We offer many different AMAZING animal experiences, parties, field trips, company or private events, weddings, engagement/proposal events, covered wagon glamping, RV camping, tent camping, pignics, date nights laser tag in our forest or anything you can dream up, we'll find a way to help you make it happen and make it unforgettable!
Our animals are the BEST! There is nothing like a Rooterville Experience!
🎉🐾 Celebrate With the Animals at Rooterville! 🐾🎉
🎂 Birthdays, Bachelorette Parties, or Any Special Occasion! 🎈
Make unforgettable memories surrounded by our happy farm friends!
🐄Book your paw-some celebration today! 🎊
See Our Full Selection of Gifts and Jewelry in our Online Store, The Pink Pigs, here
ALL proceeds help the animals get the love and care they need, thank you for shopping with us!
What Visitors Have to Say:
"My absolutely favorite place in this world. I loved the former location and the new location is wonderful as well. A little slice of heaven with amazing staff that truly care for the animals of the sanctuary. Visiting this place will never ever get old!"
★★★★★
— Kirsty Martin
"Love love love this place. The animals and grounds are so well loved and cared for. So many sweet and loving animals, from baby guineas to mini horses and even cats that snuggle with turkeys. You can even pick up native plants."
★★★★★
— Double D Golf Carts
"This was a really cute place to take the kids. Had a trolley ride around the farm. Gift shop. They're starting a camp ground with really nice covered wagons to rent. Playground for the kids. Had a nice visit!"
★★★★★
— Mark Pearson
Where Animals Are Friends and They All Live Happily Ever After!
See What Our Sanctuary-Style Animal Shelter in Melrose, FL Is All About! There is something for EVERYONE!
Rooterville Animal Sanctuary in quaint Melrose, FL is more than just a great, loving home for animals in need; it's an oasis of fun, education, peace and healing for our visitors.
A visit to Rooterville is fun for the whole family. At our small farm, you'll get the chance to cuddle, pet, feed, and take pictures with our friendly farm animals. After just a few minutes, you'll fall in love with the animals just like we did!
Contact us today to learn more about:
- Community service opportunities
- Field trips
- Private visits
- Educational Programs tailored to your needs
- Honey Bees, Pollinators, U-Pick Flowers, Fruits & Berries
- Parties, Weddings, Events
- RV spot availability
- Tent camping
- Cow Cuddle sessions
- Shopping in our Gift Shop
- Stunning Butterfly Gardens & Plants for sale
Help Us Help Animals and Share Them with Others To Encourage Kindness Through One-on-One Interactions
Rooterville is small FAMILY FARM that specializes in sharing farm animals with visitors of all ages! Take the time to get out and enjoy some fresh air, sunshine, beautiful and peaceful surroundings and happy animals. It is heart melting, soul soothing, scrumptious time that you'll never forget.
Come Stay With Us in our award winning covered wagons!
We are an AIRBnB Superhost
& won Trip advisor's prestigious Traveler's choice award!
Enjoy a one of a kind vacation experience in peaceful, secluded Melrose, FL-Paved Road Access!
Wagon Rentals
Whether you're a couple or friends looking to get away from the city life and unwind, a weekend on our beautiful sanctuary for farm animals might be exactly what you need. Enjoy a getaway for two adults in our unique, LUXURY covered wagons at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary. One premium king bed.
FARM VISIT is included for all guests in your party with every stay.
NEW: Bunk Cots available for up to 2 kids.
Farmhouse
Welcome to paradise! 20 gorgeous, peaceful acres with lots of happy, friendly farm animals for you to get to know. It will be an experience you will treasure for a lifetime. Leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind and soak in the peace, tranquility and beauty of Rooterville Animal Sanctuary in your private, furnished 3 bedroom, 2 full bath home.
Short term monthly rentals available too, get away from the cold and stay with us for the winter!
FARM VISIT is included for all guests in your party with every stay.
Tent Camping
Going off the beaten path is part of the joy of RV boondocking and tent camping. If you're an animal lover looking for somewhere unique to set up camp with the convenience and safety of paved road access, check out Rooterville Animal Sanctuary in Melrose, FL! We have a tent and RV campground located right here on our beautiful property that is home to over 100 rescued animals. Boondocking is available just outside of our gates.
RV Camping
Bring your RV and enjoy staying with the animals in our magnificent home with beautiful landscaping and views easily accessed from a paved road. Stay a night, a week, a month or for the winter! Full hookups for power and water, black water emptied with a tote. We love snowbirds & you'll love it here in such a beautiful, tranquil and private space. All but one spot requires backing in. Fire pits available. 50AMP service, adapter for 30AMP available. Automatic gate for easy in and out.
Help us Feed the Animals & Get Great Stuff Too, Simply
Shop at the Pink Pigs!
Our History
Rooterville Animal Sanctuary was founded by Elaine West in 2004 in order to care for the many unwanted, abandoned and abused pot-bellied pigs around north FL. Unfortunately, most animal shelters and Humane Societies will not take in unwanted pet pigs, so many of these former pets end up meeting a gruesome fate simply because no one is there to help.
Everything changed for Rooterville when Stella was accepted into our herd. Stella was a breeding sow on a factory farm. She lived her life in cages not much bigger than her body and never enjoyed kindness, sun on her face or fresh air in her short life. She fell from a transport truck on the way to slaughter. No one would help Stella but us.
Stella was amazing, gentle and sweet. She was an absolute delight. Because she smashed all of the stereotypes, I had to let others meet her to see what a pig is really like. We opened our gates to the public so folks like you could see that farm animals are no different than our pet dogs and cats and learn the reality of factory farming and that these animals deserve to be treated with kindness and mercy.
Since our humble beginnings, our family farm has grown from just five acres to 20 acres. We've provided care and a permanent home to over 1000 rescued farm animals of all types, spayed and neutered hundreds of pet pigs and helped many people keep their pet pigs in their homes by building shelters and putting up secure fencing.
Currently, we are home to about 100 rescued animals of all kinds, primarily pigs.
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