In a neighborhood where people driving along the road can spot horses and cows in fenced areas, those driving past the the Tillinghast house gates are met with an exotic animal species and uncommon ranch animals.
With seven alpacas, eight peacocks, five African Geese, 15-30 visiting Canadian Geese, bass fish in the pond, two cats, and a dog, the Tillinghast’s miniature zoo of a ranch has hosted events like weddings and school field trips.
Raising these animals are Toinette and Lonnie Tillinghast and their kids, sophomores Gabbys and Gracie.
“My husband and I were just talking about [getting the ranch animals] one summer while the kids were at camp,” Toinette said. “We just got a wild hair and went and got some.”
Although the family does not have a reason for purchasing the alpacas and geese, their desire for peacocks does have a backstory.
“We went to Mexico one year and the resort we stayed at had peacocks that would come up to you, and you could feed them a french fry and we thought that was really cool,” Gabby said. “I think it played a part [in getting peacocks].”
With all the animals at the ranch, the Tillinghasts have had their fair share of incidents.
“About three summers in a row, [the peacocks] decided to go off on adventures, but one time the Fairview Police brought them home in two dog kennels,” Toinette said. “Some neighbor caught them and they had a police escorting them home. It was pretty funny to see two cop cars coming down the road, and we opened the gate and they came in and said ‘Here are your peacocks.’”
Peacocks have the stereotype of being loud, obnoxious animals, but Toniette said that doesn’t apply to their peacocks.
“They’re not as noisy as everybody says that they are,” Toniette said. “They’ll usually kind of let us know if there’s a racoon in the trash or something. They’ll give us a little noise so I know there’s something going on out there or if somebody’s there.”
While the peacocks and geese live at the ranch for the family’s “viewing pleasure,” the alpacas provide financial benefits. During shearing season, the Tillinghast family hires a small business to shear their alpacas. The alpacas usually fill two to four trash bags with wool, and the Tillinghasts sell it.
What may be strange and unusual for many students became the Tillinghasts’ norm.
“When I was younger, I didn’t realize [having this ranch] was anything but normal, so it didn’t phase me much,” Gabby said. “As I got older and realized this [isn’t normal], I thought, ‘wow, I’m so lucky.’ I couldn’t imagine growing up a different way.”
