Agritourism in the Alvin Area

As people have become more interested in outdoor activities to learn about where their food comes from, a new form of tourism has been created call Agritourism. By combining tourism and agriculture, people are able to learn about another way of life that may not be easily accessible to them in their daily routine.

Agritourism can be defined as a tourism attraction that involves agricultural production or activity that attracts visitors to a farm, ranch, or other agricultural-based businesses or events for entertaining and/ or educating visitors while generating a viable income for the business owner.

One of the most popular Agritourism attractions here in Alvin is Froberg’s Farms. Throughout the year, visitors to the farm can enjoy homegrown fruits and vegetables as well as homemade pies, jellies, preserves, and many other sweets found in the farm store. Froberg’s Farms also offers pick your own berries during their strawberry and blackberry seasons. At the start of October, the farm hosts its annual Fall Festival until the first weekend of November. During this festival, visitors can enjoy a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and other fun activities for the whole family. This attraction allows families from the Houston area to learn about how their food is grown while also enjoying fun and relaxing activities.

Another agritourism attraction in this area is Bayou Wildlife Zoo. The zoo is about 80 acres, and they have knowledgeable guides who enjoy educating guests about animals from all over the world. Bayou Wildlife Zoo offers a guided tour on a safari tram that allows visitors to see everything the zoo has to offer without trekking through the vast premises on foot. Each ride lasts approximately 30 to 40 minutes, and you will see many types of deer, antelopes, buffalos, camels, zebras, and other exotic animals. Visitors can also tour Addie Lou’s barnyard to learn about the unique animals that have been rescued or nursed by the zoo. This attraction allows visitors to come and learn about animals that are not native to this area or even this country.

Alvin also offers fishing, bird watching, and hunting spots that give visitors a chance to enjoy their hobbies while also helping boost the economy in the area. This type of tourism has become a necessary means of income for many small farms and agricultural businesses.

Another farm that offers tours and hands-on learning for kids is Tinyhouse Eggs. Tinyhouse Eggs produces Laying Point Pullets, Roosters, Juvenile Hens and Roosters, Baby Chicks, Hatching Eggs, Table Eggs, and Poultry for the Table. They offer free guided tours to those customers wishing to purchase baby chicks, hens, or eggs for the table. If you are not planning on buying livestock or eggs are then tours are $2 per person, and waived for produce donations like vegetables or fruit they can feedback to the animals. These guided tours typically involve interacting with the free-range animals, a look at the poultry breeding pens, and a trip through the greenhouse. During the tour, they explain things like what daily life is like on the farm, how eggs are hatched, proper diet and care for farm animals, basic gardening knowledge such as planting seeds and composting, along with the always fun random chicken facts. Children are allowed to feed the chickens, turkeys, and goats with parental supervision, with the grain to feed with costing $1 for a bag. Kids can carry around and hand-feed the animals as they are on the tour. Tinyhouse Eggs also has a stocked fish pond where families can bring their fishing poles to fish with for $3. If you are looking for an educational field for the kids to have as a way to get out of the house this is your change to learn about how small organic farms operates.

By creating attractions and diversifying their business operations, agricultural businesses can ensure a more stable income. This can help keep a business successful during the off-season by providing a flow of income during their slower times. Agritourism not only allows for economic impact into the community but also an awareness of the importance of conservation and education of agricultural assets. This type of tourism helps educate future generations on the importance of the agricultural industry and how it impacts their life.