Reviews of Butterfield Acres Petting Farm (Zoo)

M T

It's a fantastic petting farm. An excellent way to pet goats, sheep, etc. Also a good way to get a variety of manure on your shoes and then in your car. So it goes.

Gabriela Escobar

It was fun, kiddos really enjoyed the animals especially the calf! I had the baby in a carrier though. I dont think it would be great for strollers.

IvyJoy Clavo

Fun place for young and young at heart! Family activities and more!

IvyJoy Clavo

Fun place for young and young at heart! Family activities and more!

Dephany Martin

My kids LOVE this place. Always a day full of fun and excitement. The staff are so sweet and make you feel right at home. The baby goats are our favourite.

Claire Robert

Very fun place. We took our tiny toddler for a pumpkin hunt with a hay ride and pumpkin decorating. She liked it even though I think at 14 months she was a bit young. She seemed to have fun, but the older kids had a blast! We'll definitely go again this year.

Nathalie Iseli-Chan

ew went there for the first time today and I am so glad we got seasonal passes for all of us. We had a great time, my toddlers were a bit shy with the goats but it is what they have been talking about since we got home. We will definitely go there again very soon.

Teri Pyo

Way too expensive. Also, watched staff member put a little goat back in after she (he?) escaped and that staff member was so rough and cruel with the poor animal. She saw people were watching and she just laughed. It was terrible to see.

Dave Howey

Great for ages 4+. Great assortment of animals giving you the ability for personal interactions. The layout of the different areas was a bit confusing and unorganized.

Zachary Young

We loved it! My wife and I are new to Calgary and brought our 21 month and 2 month old daughters on a very windy day. If you live in Calgary GET the Season Pass! It costs twice a one day admission so it pays for itself the second time then every other visit will be free. There were lots of hand washing stations and a giant wagon ride. Lots of animals that were perfect to get small children acclimated to being around animals which we feel is important. Plenty of parking and easy to find. We're glad to add it to our list of family friendly places. I think they have birthday parties and events and stuff too.

Jasmine Norman

The animals here are so sweet! This is a must for any animal lovers, young or old as my partner and I are adults we still went and had a blast, spending 2 hours there! There's a lot to do, lots of interaction with the animals and a lot that you can learn! There are wayyy more animals than the pictures that I've added but I ran out of space to take more! I've gone to Butterfield acres as a child and am glad that I've gone again even though it's been many years. I believe that the best times to go would be late June, July, and maybe August! And get there early as it gets a little packed around 12-1

Twyla Twalis

It was only okay. The animals were friendly, but the pens were very dirty, littered with feces. If I had older children, I think I'd be more inclined to go back sooner, as some signs recommended certain pens (poultry) not be entered by children under 5, and we didn't notice this until after we went in. Staff didn't warn us either. I left feeling felt discouraged and frustrated. The signage was fun and informative, the decorations were festive, and the tractor ride was definitely the highlight for my almost two-year-old. They also had pony rides, which my littles were too young for. All in all, a fun family outing, but I wouldn't recommend for very young children.

Matthew Hayles

Lots of fun for kids, my son loved being able to go right into the enclosures for the sheep, goats and bunnies. Very easy access and lots of space to run around.

kg

I got a season's pass and it was a great choice. Spending even an hour each weekend or two visiting with the animals has been wonderful! The staff seem to be attentive and caring, maintaining good standards for the animals. The animals have indoor and outdoor areas as well as areas that aren't accessible for the public, like grazing areas. The only criticism I have is that the 2 turkeys in their pen near the horses often have a lot of waste in their cage, it seems awfully small, and there doesn't seem much, if any, stimulation for them. Would love to see the turkeys getting just as good of care and conditions as other residents here.

Ashish A

Healthy farm animals and happy & welcoming staff!! Must go place with young children????

Jose Gonzalez

Excellent staff and plenty of fun and healthy looking animals. The kids had a great time. The nursery rhymes park was fairly dirty and not very well kept, and it would have been nice to have the activity times more prominently displayed (ie. tractor ride times, milking times, etc.) But all in all it was well worth the drive and price of admission.

Ryan Palmer

Super fun place to bring your kids or just come yourself to hang out with some animals.

Fanny Groleau

Love coming here! Especially in the spring when theres all the babies and it isn't too busy. I come here with my client with special needs and we always have a good time :). Yes it is a bit pricey if you plan on coming only once or a few times but the seasons pass is definetely worth it! Of course there will be feces on the ground, it's a farm! I don't know what people expect. It's also great that they have some tables set up so we can bring our own lunch. We are looking forward to next week when it opens!

K B

Staff very friendly. Animals very friendly great experience with the little ones. Did the Easter egg hunt with out 6 year old and had lots of fun!

K Kealey

Cows, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, and other animals happy to get some pats. Very family friendly and only 20 minutes outside Calgary.

kayla Des Brisay

Great experience for children to get close to animals.

amber eisinger

This farm is so amazing and the kids thoroughly enjoy getting to interact with all the different animals. This was our second time visiting and it has turned into an annual tradition to stop in at Butterfields when we are in town for the Stampede. Highly recommended!

Diwata RN

Very suitable for family bonding. We got the best staff on our pumpkin hunt. Glad to experience hunting in the farm. Loved the layout of the farm.

Cheryl Tong

Good variety of chickens. Would not recommend tractor ride though, pretty disappointing. Probably best for younger kids, as there’s not much to do, but it’s reasonably sized for a day out with the kids

Caitlyn Landers

I went to Butterfield acres back when I was a child for their summer camp. Great memories! Yet my partner brought me here for my birthday and it was a great present. Between the memories and the new one's I made with him. I can not wait till I can come and visit once again! ????????

Farrah Fagen

Such an amazing place to spend the day! Tractor ride is a must!

Candice

Great place to take the family & kids!

Ana Gannon

We wish we hadn't driven all the way out here, we wasted a beautiful autumn day out. There is really not much to see besides 2 or 3 farm animal pens. The lines are unbearable, to enter.. To ride the ponies... To buy under average hot dogs. They are definitely understaffed at the admission desk. People can only touch the 2 rabbits in the rabbit pen and a few goats/sheep. Everything outside walking around the farm is paid extra and if you don't purchase tickets before hand you might not be able to get them at all. The parking lot is miniature and stroller access is kind of annoying going up and down the hilly terrain. The Calgary Corn Maze is SO much better organized and has so much more to offer. We always go there so wanted to try something different this time. What a mistake

Shayna Jackson

Much wider range of animals than I was expecting. Lots of areas for kids to get up close and pet calm and gentle animals.

Michelle Luther

Took my boys here today with my parenting class @CUPS.... They had a blast - which is awesome cuz when I mentioned it they were not very interested... however,upon arrival they went nuts .... They were so excited to get the chance to engage with animals and to have the space to run...they loved the goats and now adore donkeys (horse dog)#adogspurpose#movie .... Was asked if we could return tomorrow by a couple of the boys...so glad they enjoyed themselves and we got to spend some quality time together as I grew up on a farm it was nice to be around animals and tell the boys stories about my childhood pets .... Will be bringing the boys back when we have the finances to go .....

Adil Dhanani

These folks are fantastic. We love the animals of course! The staff here is also really good. They know how to take care of people and create memories for kids and people with special needs. We love coming here and we will continue to do so! Thank you!

M. Jafari

Lovely place, a little pricey but this kind of field acres need more money for running. My kids love this place, I advise to get a map in front door otherwise you will confuse in different areas.

Melody Zhang

Adorable petting farm. My daughter enjoys it every time we visit. She lives the sheep and bunnies the most.

Brent Freborg

Amazing petting zoo! The goats are adorable and so much fun. It was such a great experience for my 1.5 year old. I cannot recommend it enough to have your child experience the animals.

Tom Bucholtz

Attended for the pumpkin festival. Lots of fun for the kids, playing on the old farm equipment (tractors and trucks) was a hit!

Michael H

We brought our two girls here for the Easter Hunt and they had a blast! The staff are very friendly and the facility provides a safe up-close experience for children and the various animals that they have on site. The Easter Hunt was very organized and provided the girls with a fun experience that also kept them interested and engaged. We'll be back this summer!

Pete F

Good place to take kids, the pony ride is very rapid and its literally 1 minute if that! I wish it was a bit longer .overall its a place i would take my kids again . try the wagon ride its fun!

Daniel Poudrier

Lots of animals and petting opportunity. Need more sheltered tables if not in day camps. Very hot to rest at Picknick tables in the sun.

Nancy Haddock

Had Butterfield Acres come to the house for a birthday party with a petting zoo. They were on time, set up quickly and the kids loved the sheep, goats, bunnies and ducklings. The young man that came from Butterfield Acres was very nice and everything went very well. Helped make a special day even more special...Two thumbs up!!!! Highly recommend this experience.

Andrés DéVítto

Even with the COVID restrictions it’s still a nice time there. Would recommend it for families with little ones.

Rudi Gaum

Very good interactive for the kids. The pony rides are lots of fun.

Kamran Bigdely

they allow kids to touch and feed some of their animals which is extremely fun for them. staff are very nice.

Raluca Neamtu

It was okay. The Easter egg hunt was good and the kids enjoyed planting oats. My problem was that my 2 year got bit by a goat and he was bleeding and there was no first aid around. I went to the entrance office and asked for one and she sent me to the office across. Unfortunately no one was there. I cleaned his finger with water and that's about it. Not impressed.

Marjorie S

We had an unfortunately bad experience with their summer camp. My daughter developed a fever on day 3 (Wednesday), so I kept her home the following days until we got her covid test results back. Butterfield called me on Thursday morning asking why she hadn't shown up, and I told them she had a flu. The person on the other end showed zero empathy or concern, simply urged me to let her know asap what the covid result was. I should also mention that her camp leader went home early the same day my daughter did because she wasn't feeling well. I emailed them on Saturday with my daughter's negative test result, and asked if there was any way she could take another day camp in the future to compensate for the 2 days she missed and also ride ponies. The 2 days she missed added up to a $120 lost, by the way. She was ecstatic about poney riding and so sad she couldn't go back because she was sick. They replied quoting the camp contract I signed saying it's non-refundable, and the only way to make up for an absence is by having another child step in that spot, after signing another contract for that child. Of course that's unrealistic, and not something they mentioned on the phone before. I asked them for an exception. It's not like we changed our minds and decided to take off on a fun vacation. These are scary and unpredictable times, and we should help each other out. And for all I know, she could have gotten sick FROM camp. I even asked if they would at least let us visit the farm as a family for free so my daughter could ride the ponies. The extra foot traffic would have cost them NOTHING. Yet, they simply ignored my request. It really is a shame, because lots of my friends have since asked how camp was for my daughter, and I had to share our bad experience. This kind of thing depends a lot on word of mouth and reviews, and unfortunately, ours was very negative.

Erwin Dela cruz

It was a very nice experience for the kids seeing farm and farm animals by the city.. need to be on farm outfit when you get here..

RZ T

Nice place, our 3.5 yr old absolutely loved it. Its a bit pricey because they tack on extra fees for a 30 sec pony ride & food for the animals. Considering what they charge this should be included, but our kid loved it so we would probably go again. Staff is friendly and plenty of parking.

K B

This place has not changed at all since I was a child, so in 30 years I’m wondering what they’ve done with all the money they get? Their admissions aren’t cheap for what you get - a run down petting zoo with a rotation of 5 common farm animals in different pens. It needs a MAJOR facelift. The animals are skinny, the pond is absolutely disgusting…I’m not a city chic girl, I know farm life and sorry guys you could and should be doing so much better especially considering you make a business from people coming to see it. I have so many ideas to freshen it up but I get the feeling they aren’t open to anything ‘new’. Anyway I hope to hear of improvements eventually. I know keeping animals isn’t cheap and it’s a seasonal gig you have, but I think investing in a good re-vamp will bring in more revenue. Good luck.

AbdulAziz Abbas Quraishi

To experience for the price of entry! There should more to offer for the price being charged. With a family 9 and 5 kids is better to drive to Edmonton and visit West Edmonton Mall.

Patty Fraser

Lovely place to bring little ones to. Bring lots of hand sanitizer and wear rubber boots, though. Bring a change of shoes also for the car.

Savannah McKinnon

Friendly staff, wheelchair accessible, hand washing stations everywhere, a well shaded area to picnic with kids, fair pricing, and overall a great place to visit lots of cute friends! ????????

Janeen Scott

I’ve been going to Butterfield Acres since I was a kid in Girl Guides and when I felt nostalgic for it later I went back and rediscovered how absolutely unimaginably perfect it is. I have spent several birthdays there with pals just cuddling baby goats. Since then I’ve been showing so many friends who have either not been since they were children or have never been at all and every single time I get to witness them experience TRUE and UNADULTERATED joy. Many of these friends have gone on to have trips to Butterfield for their birthdays too! I just had a particularly wonderful and special experience renting a unicorn for my birthday gathering and I literally don’t care how old you are, it is impossible not to have a Serotonin overdose when you’re petting a little unicorn covered in flowers. So I can HIGHLY recommend doing this if you love ponies or unicorns or both. Just do it for the photos ALONE! Thank you to Emma who was Rainbows (yes the unicorns name is Rainbow) handler. She was so welcoming, kind, knowledgeable and could not have spoken more highly of working at Butterfield. She was so so cool and made the experience even more wonderful! Thank you Butterfield Acres and everyone who makes your little farm happen, may you stick around forever so I can keep having birthdays here until I’m an old hag. Janeen

Sherry Jurykovsky

Great place to go for the day. Bring socks. And turn the kids loose to run and play and make noise. Try the free wagon ride and skip the pony rides.

Insert Originalname

Hi! I used to come to this farm for day camps when I was very little until I was in the F.I.T kids group (farmers in training) This is an amazing family friendly place that will leave an unforgettable experience! Some things to remember are that this is a farm so yes, there is poop so bring rubber boots! Another thing I would like to add is that these animals are not being abused, neglected or mistreated. When I was in the older camps we spent a lot of time making sure these animals were fed and cleaning out there hay as a part of a fun "chores" expierience. The wonderful camp leaders help us learn how to properally take care of animals when picking them up so they do not get hurt. Overall this is an amazing home for animals to live in and an amazing expierence for families looking for a place to create memories!

Samantha Y

A lovely experience to bring your family or friends. Animal lovers only. *** Kid friendly.***

Ally Alarakhia

Great place to take the kids. Horses, pigs, Emus and so much more. My children love going to Butterfield acres and the value can't be beat.

Kerri Loder (kiwi)

Love the animals. Just wish they had better hand washing stations. Impossible to actually get clean hands.

Alexandra Harrison

Went here as a kid and now I got to bring my child here. Still a great place and always have an amazing time while I'm there.

Ellen Bhebhe

The kids loved it. Great way to be outside and enjoy seeig the animals

Anna Kr

We visited today with 2yo and the entire family had fun. It is clean, animals doesn't look stressed and staff is super friendly & helpful. The only minus was lack of different food than muffins and cookies.

Opeyemi Snr

This is a farm with lots of livestock. A place well taken care of, professionals are responsible for the cool operations here.

Kelli-Ann Brown

My kids love this place! There's so much to see and soany animals to interact with.

Temitope Oshokoya

This was a nice place to spend the day with the little one. Lots of farm animals to see, pet, pony ride, and tractor ride. The staff was helpful as well. Loved it!

Mackenzie Chu

Lots of animals and photo ops. A little overpriced for the experience. My 2.5 year old wasn't very interested in the animals but enjoyed the tractor ride and the play spots that had the same toys we have at home. Compared to other outdoor attractions like this, I feel the others are more fun for all ages and interests. However, it's nicely located in the city and you don't have to go too far for a bit of country fun.

DI PL

It’s awesome and the staff is so friendly!!! The animal are well fed and look healthy!

Matt Gillard

Summer camp was a blast for the kids. Animals, crafts, hayrides and more.

Ferdie De Leon

Went to a field trip with my little one. Nice place very organized! Don’t forget to bring hand sanitizer and extra shoes/clothes

2004 Baloch

Fun place for the kids & family to walk around and feed some animals (chicks, goats) per guidelines. Always follow the safety/hygiene rules and your trip will be pleasant. The staff is hardworking, friendly and ready to answer your questions. Tractor ride is short but great fun!

Cher Consunto

Awesome farm! Easy access

Olena Makovey

Wonderful place to visit or to send your kids to a Summer Camp. Never a dull day, always something new to learn, do, or discover.

Ryan Hillmer

Staff is fun and great mannered. Good keep up of hand washing stations and animal pens. Kids had. Blast.

Your help Is my help

Not big and does not had too many variation of animal s

Tamara

I haven't been to Butterfield Acres in about 20 years! This is a wonderful place: the animals are well cared for in every way. The staff are friendly and helpful. There are handwashing stations at each pen. Sadly the hot beverage shack wasn't open (likely a directive due to pandemic regulations). Still a highly enjoyable outing.

Denes Lengyel

Family loved spending time here. Recommend it!

Kari Oman

This is a decent half day to full day family visit. Parking is bad but there is at least a parking area. Facilities are very much working farm as described, with a spruced up family fun exterior. Make sure to bring your mud boots and dirty work outfits if you plan on going in the animal pens! Overall it's a good time.

Kate Rinka

We got there and they were sold out ...how can they be sold out? They are outside......very disappointing

Taylor King

We had our daughters 6th birthday party here. All the kids had a wonderful time. Baby goats were the stars of the show. Hand wash stations need help.

T T (TT_TT)

went here for annual easter egg hunt had a great time, our two year old loved it location directly across from new rocky ridge ymca recommend wearing mud/dirt proof shoes/boots

curtis wood

Butterfield acres is an institution for having a great old-fashioned time with your friends and family. I've been 5-6 times now (this time our first child), and I never leave in a bad mood. Will be back several more times.

Marta Laszczewski

Such a fun place for kids. You can pet so many animals, we were so excited that you could go in all of the enclosures as well as pet the horses that were standing by their gate. We spent a couple of hours here and really got a good laugh from the hilarious sheep.

Lauren W

Lots to do and see! The pony ride was like 30 seconds long.... but everything was fun! Tons of hand washing stations. Animals seemed content, friendly and well cared for.

Olli

One of the horses was skinny and had hip bones sticking out. Pens were filthy, tons of poop and pee soaked hay. Animals looked depressed, turkeys were agitated, 500 kids all lined up for the pony ride (felt bad for the pony because it's hot outside then plus the weight of those kids and walking around in a loop) the ducks and geese were angry about something..over grown hooves on a couple of the cows, too many animals for the amount of space they're given.. Poor donkey was in a tiny 6 ft X 6ft pen, piles of animal poop just sitting out in the open.. Need a better lock on some of the pens as a child almost set the turkeys free..their cage was really small as well. Maybe if the pens were larger and had clean hay to eat and lay in it might have been better. Hoping these animals aren't going to slaughter after they've lost their cuteness. Send them to a farm sanctuary where they can retire after being a petting zoo attraction.

Taura Fox Walker

Fun for all, especially the little people. So many animals to visit and a decent amount of wandering is available. Safe, welcoming, interesting. We've recently moved east and miss Butterfield Acres!

Fraser Hogg

Went on easter, had a story, a mission from the easter bunny, did an egg hunt and planted a plant to take home and got a plastic egg full of gummies. All rhat on top of perting baby goats, pigs, and bunnies. 10 out of 10 for ages 2ish and up.

Lindsay Wiebe

We had paid for an afternoon here to see the pumpkins & animals, our tickets were from 1-3pm. My 1.5yr old daughter had a bit of a cough the morning of our tickets, we put her down for her nap with the hopes that she’d wake up feeling better. Well she didn’t wake up until 12:20 and sadly still had a cough. I called their office and asked to rebook for another day, knowing there would be a $15 change fee, which we had no issue paying. The lady on the phone told me that was not possible that close to our ticket time, asked me if I understood that they wouldn’t be able to resell that time slot, and then proceeded to explain how hard it was to run a program such as this. She also said it wasn’t an option to rebook for another day anyways, that the rules indicated that it had to be for an earlier time for the same day. When I told her about our daughter being sick, and that we’d hoped she would wake up feeling better to which the lady laughed at me. Actually laughed at a customer trying to rebook because of a sick toddler, during a pandemic. She then admitted that she had already rebooked three families to a different day earlier that morning, and if I had called first thing she would have done the same. But didn’t she already tell me that wasn’t even an option? All we wanted was to pay the extra $15 to rebook for a different day. We did not want money back, we wanted the fun afternoon outside with pumpkins and farm animals and a wagon ride. Instead we had a lady laugh at us for waiting to see if our daughter would feel better. We didn’t go in for our booked time, we didn’t get the $52 back that we paid (we did not want a refund, and we still don’t), and we were left feeling like the lady was more concerned with making a profit than being understanding. I understand times are hard, and I’m sure there are a lot of moving parts with running a business such as theirs, but it it disappointing to be treated like this.

Jeremy and Judy Haasdyk

Such a fantastic family day trip! The staff were very friendly and the whole experience was so much fun. Goat milking a huge hit!

Ismael Hernandez

Nice place to be visited with your sons or grandchildren's.

David

Came here with my daughter's preschool group and had a great time. The staff did a wonderful job of keeping things orderly, guiding us through what they had planned and were incredibly friendly. Really enjoyed wandering around the farm, petting the animals and exploring however we wanted. They even sell eggs which was great because I was running low and managed to avoid a run to the grocery store.

Lama Al-Yafi

Wonderful place to go with kids. My toddler loves going from pen to pen and petting the super friendly animals. The season pass option is a bonus as we literally go once a week and my toddler never gets bored. Love this place. I'm so glad it's still running, as I use to go here as a child myself over 25 years ago.

Andy Dodsworth

A great insight into farm life for the kids. Access to the animal enclosures with wash stations at each one. Bring a quarter and grab a cone of seed at the entrance to feed the animals.. watch out for those crazy goats!

V B

This was a great little escape for the day. We spent the whole 2hr time slot here and appreciated the social distancing measures as well as the sanitization stations. Plenty of photo opportunities and animals to get close to. All the animals are tame and taken care of very well. Went with our 16yr old daughter and she was surprised that she actually liked it. Great day with family

Maids in Pink

Love it at this farm!! Felt like childhood

The Bread

Fun and nice farm. Friendly people. Had a lot od fun volunteering there

J F

Took the family out for the legendary Easter Hunt....it was the biggest rip off. Hunting spray painted rocks for $12 per kid and $14 per adult. What did we really get for $55? NEVER AGAIN!

Keri nugara

We visited last year, and were terribly disappointed. We weren't allowed in with any of the animals to pet them or feed them, they had to stay outside the fences. My kids were so sad about that and Considering the cost to get in (which is expensive) it's even worse when now you can't interact with the animals. There was no value to the admission. Previous years we have had a lot of fun so we were very disappointed. I was looking at their website and can't make out this year if it will be the same, so will be avoiding them and going to the Calgary corn maze instead.

Jay Kruzliak

Always a great place to bring kids. The staff are great and there's lots of animals to see. The goats are the best...they like to steal stuff. Always entertaining.

Dayne F

I'm torn..... The petting zoo coming to Edson Alberta was nice to have for our kids, But.....those goats and sheep looked to be a little on the skinny side.... Again it was enjoyable for our kids but just something I noticed. Can't say anything about the farm.....

Zaeena

Good place to go in the summers especially if you have kids. Mine really enjoyed petting the animals especially the baby kangaroos and the rides. Tickets do tend to get pricey and add up if you have more than one child to pay for. Better to buy a full ticket for older kids and just an entrance pass/ petting zoo thing for the younger kids as all they'll do is run around. The day we went was very hot and I wish they had more picnic/ covered areas throughout the park instead of just one spot.

Elizabeth Bull

I was so excited to come here with my kids, it was very boring and there really wasn't a lot of choice as far as animals go.

Elizabeth Ochigbo Onmonya

Fun place. Staff are great. Kids get to experience life on the farm

Laura Mazzino Villeneuve

Great place for the little ones!!!

Stephanie Recnik

We enjoyed being around animal. Very friendly staff as well. We sure come back again.

Miranda Henley

Good little farm, really only worth the admission fee if you have the time to enjoy a half day.. longer queues for the pony rides and wagon rides. Good for kids who love animals.. if you're not used to farm life, wear old shoes.

Duchessa Mettimano

Always a great time and the kids love to see all the animals. The tractor ride was a hit!

Adam Caplan

This place is a family favorite. The animals seem well cared for, and they are fun to play with. I particularily like the wandering goats

Melly James

Worst place ever! Okay this is a long review however I'm not holding back, this place should be shut down! First off the cost just to get in is way too much for what is there. Okay so the place stinks of animal poop and I get it, it's a farm but I lived on a farm and lived in a farming community and yes it doesn't always smell pleasant but this place was beyond rank. The horses pen had about a foot of crap surrounding these fully grown horses and "trapping" them into a tiny space in the already too small pen. The horses wanted to come over to us when we called them but couldn't do so because of all the horse crap around them. There hooves where caked in crap. As for their so called attractions they were all very half assed. The pony ride is about 40 seconds long, the horse had some kind of muzzle on it to prevent it from bitting (it was NOT A FEED BAG.) Why even use a biting pony for a ride for children??? The milking of the goat, hah what a joke! So basically it's a very young and clearly unexperienced girl sat on a stool and without helping or instructing the kids how to do it or letting the kids take turns. And now here is the worst part of it all, NOT A SAFE PLACE. I had to help a woman who was cornered with her small child by the goats in the pen. I had to move the goats away from her as they were pushing them and hoarding the woman and child. About 10 mins after that my son who was on the outside of the pen NOT EVEN REACHING OUT TO THE GOATS, JUST WATCHING, was bit by a goat. The goat reached thew the fence and grabbed his one hand then pulled it threw the fence and just held on!! It wouldn't let go and was biting hard. My son screamed at the top of his lungs, I quickly pulled the goat off. My son was crying and screaming and NOT ONE EMPLOYEE CAME TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON! We went to the admission booth and said a goat bit my son!! We want to get him out of here NOW AND GET HIM CLEANED UP and we want our money back! She said go to the other office. So we went over and I asked about a first aid kit or disinfectant anything and they offered a ice pack. Which wasn't even an ice pack. And the woman asked if we washed his hands after (keep in mind my child is still crying in pain) I said yes but we need more then that (their "hand washing stations " are jugs of water that drip out water and watered down soap) and she said "well soap is the best anti bacterial technology they have out there these days" NO IT'S NOT! Then she opened a drawer and pulled not a first aid kit but a box of band aids. She put a band Aid on him and that was it. Almost seemed as if this was a regular thing! She didn't make any notes on what happened or care to perhaps find out which goat had done it (it was NOT A goat nibbling it was clearly being aggressive and should have been taken out of the pen that was exposed to the public) WE didn't get a refund as we figured they wouldn't bother with one anyways (clearly they need the money since the place is a fricken mess, and they can't afford a first aid kit) The staff look like they are all under age and have zero farm experience. And was NO STAFF keeping an eye on things. The place is completely unsupervised which in my opinion is irresponsible since they are running a "zoo". And the goats just jump over the fences and roam around. There were a few sheep that got out of their pen and when we told the girl at the admissions booth (the only employee we could find at the time) she shrugged it off and didn't do anything. The sheep where headed to the parking lot and public road!! The animals all seemed depressed and agitated. I would be too if I was surrounded in pee soaked hay and piles of crap. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! It's a waste of money and not sanitary what so ever. Had to throw out my shoes when I got home as they were soaked in piss and crap. And we smelled so bad my mother who is a farm woman herself commented that as soon as we walked in she could smell animal feces and pee. It was disgusting.

David Morrow

Four and five stars out of five. It was great. Lots of little goats and lots of other things that are very nice to pet and to look at. It was also nice to play with the small cars in the playground area.

R K

I live in the area and drive by multiple times a week. What a beautiful place to see and experience God's animals.

LeeAnne Fernandez

My niece loved this petting zoo! I found it to be very organized and well thought out. People say you only see a few animals, but we were able to see goats/baby goats, sheep, donkey, pigs/piglets, baby chicks, horses/ponies, llamas, turkey, chickens, and bunnies. It was spring and we were thrilled to see the babies! It was a bonus to see how the animals were well taken care off. In the end, my niece absolutely loved it and that's what matters most. She was thrilled to see the babies and had so much fun! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone! IF your a germaphobe like me, there are hand washing stations everywhere, just so you know. The bathrooms are legit, really good bathrooms with flushing toilets and good sinks with soap. I don't really understand why people give this place a 1 star, a 1 star place stinks like a sewer and mistreats their animals, I didn't see any gross abuse or negligence here! People can be so entitled. If you wanted to touch and pet every animal on the planet, go to a drive thru African Safari thing and let the lions take a bit out of your hand, even then you wouldn't find that experience authentic enough for your tastes and still give the place a 1 star rating. Seriously people, we live in a freezing sub-arctic climate, what other animals do you think we should be able to pet here? Elephants? Monkeys? Pandas?

Pete F

Good place to take kids, the pony ride is very rapid and its literally 1 minute if that! I wish it was a bit longer .overall its a place i would take my kids again . try the wagon ride its fun!

nirmesh patel

Loved tractor ride and poney ride. Nice picnic area for kids bday celebration. Good collection of pets and birds.

James Fietz

Went on sneak a peek to see all the baby animals with my girl. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. My daughter had a good time and was able to interact with a lot of animals, her favorite was the goats. Butterfield has a lot of goats.

Jake Patey

3 yr old loved it. Stayed about 2 hours and he was asking to go home. Is meant for age 6 and under in my opinion. Animals are pretty tame esp sheep and goats. Lots of hand wash stns. Staff really helpful, friendly and interested in answering questions about place or the animals. Pricey for adults to walk around if there are more than 1 or 2. We wanted 5 adults and a child but that was not financially possible. Area is a bit confusing as to where to find what as it doesnt really circle around one oval or circle. They do give u a map. Often got stuck behind a fenced area and had to return to a different path, Esp near the duck area. Never did find the milk house. Diff seasons would give diff experiences. Will go back while child is a toddler. Returned spring 2021. Animals active and making lots of their sounds which we all loved. Some were extra noisy so startled us a few times. Lots of baby animals which was fun. One family or pod per pen so had to wait however, bookings were less so waits were not to long. Prob 2 pods a head of us at the most. We went counterclockwise and that seemed better. Could stay 2 hrs and you book on line 3 days in advance.it seemed to work well. Time slots are for every hour. Farm was not smelly and not muddy considering snowy cool weather in May. We got a sunny day but cool. It was perfect. Some animal pens are bigger this year making it more enjoyable. Staff are friendly and animals friendly so can pat them. Goats and lambs loved to chew shoelaces, pant strings etc. Baby piglets were so tiny and my fav. Lots of hand stns and enough soap towels and water. Bathrooms were clean. Take your toddler.

Zelicious

A great hidden petting farm on the outskirts, easily accessible from Rocky Ridge YMCA. Many young farm animals and pets. Family friendly. Great for kids. The office staff are friendly and they sell local eggs at great quality.

Cody Lenfesty

Good for a morning or afternoon out with the kids. Friendly animals. Well kept.

Samson Lau

Spent the day at the Butterfield Acres Petting Farm with my Son. He loved learning about the animals and being able to touch the their soft coats. He also enjoyed the horseshoe trail hike. The little messages, trivia, and activities made the exploring enjoyable.

Zohar O

Always a great place for young ones. Nice petting zoo. Hope it stays open.

Taylor Stacey

Great place for family fun! We will be back when our son is a bit older to enjoy!

Don Wigington

Three year old grandson thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed, and learned things from, the "quirky " signage.

Saleem Rizvi

The kids were amazed. It is a petting zoo on a farm that is very well organized. Lots of fun activities for kids to interact with farm animals. They follow COVID protocols. We converted our one-entry tickets to season passes at the end of our trip. Definitely worth visiting!

Carling Shatz

We’ve always enjoyed a trip to Butterfield Acres. This year we had Butterfield come to us (Pony Ride & Mini Farm) and it was a wonderful experience. The staff were phenomenal (like usual), the kids had a great time and the price reflected the value. This is a service we will be using again and again. Couldn’t be happier with Butterfield Acres.

Jennifer Butterworth

We always loved going with our children and more recently grandchildren. Spotted your unicorn on Deerfoot on Sat, March 27, posted in photos

Yasmeen Lorenzo

Best to visit if your kids loves farm animals and pet them.

Krysta Patchett

My kids loved it, but I found it a bit dirty. Also, I seriously wonder if the animals are being well cared for.

Jamie Cagod

Cute farm! Great for kids!

sylvia baker

It was not what I expected, Almost everything said Day camp use only. There was hardly anything to do there. My Granddaughter wanted to go in all the little houses. That were for the day camp. Which caused her to cry most of the time we were there.

Michaela Dragon

Fun spot to take little kids! The have a nice big picnic area too. Overpriced for just being a petting zoo though, I wouldn't go out of my way if you live far from it.

Morgan Nichols

We had lots of fun, my toddler loved being able to touch and feed the animals. They all seemed fairly well taken care of considering, and there are hand washing stations everywhere (they all mostly feel like being gently peed on, but they're there!)

Christianah Obisesan

Lovely place for kids .... my son had a very good time

Sonesta House

A terrific place for children to have a farm experience. The one thing I would like to see is fresh water brought in or piped in for the pond. Low level and not very clean for the waterfowl to swim in.

Minerva Kraushar

So much fun! Honestly, dress like you are going to a farm because (yes some people still seem surprised) this is a farm! Boots, I would strong recommend as well as a pack of baby wipes to wipe off your hands. There are hand washing stations all over and the staff are quick to fill those with warm water often. We have had a season pass for the last couple of years and my kids love coming here and visiting all the animals. We've made so many memories here as a family and it's an experience that us 'city folk' don't often get! The animals are used to people and sometimes there are goats wandering around. Also be aware that sometimes they do nibble, especially if you are feeding them. You can purchase cones filled with food to feed the animals for $0.25 each, so bring change.... and a change of clothes... just in case.

Peyman Ahmadi

Fun place for kids. Reasonable price for entrance. You can find pony and tractor ride there for about 2 or 3 dollar extra fee.

Lana Raymond

Really poorly taken care of. Poor animals I hope someone steps in soon. Too the person who responds to the reviews the online reviews are the best way to make sure no one else puts money into this bad buisiness.

Adam Russell

Disappointed. When I was young incredible. Now it's really run down, not very interactive and you pay full price for a few walk-in animal experiences. Too bad

Kerrie Graham

A really fun day, even for the grown ups. All the animals were very tame and the staff were great.

Christopher Schermuly

Great place to take the whole family, super fun to interact with the animals inside the pens too! Will be visiting every year!

Ian Campbell

Our 2 year old had the best time of her life. Comfortable for current social distancing requirements.

Agnieszka Wrobel

This was my second visit on this farm. I had a better opinion on our first visit until now. We went as 2 families. A large part of the farm was already taken over by the day camp group and it was exempt from public. We also got a bitter surprise by the admission charge. We got charged $13 for a 22-month old infant. We told them, we have never heard of a toddler under 2yrs paying admission fees. The clerk said "why did we not go to the corn-maze instead?". If you have walking infants, be ready to pay their admission and expect use of half the petting farm. No! for sure we will not come here again! Super rude!

Rick Remo

Terrible service. Run down. Sold us tickets for the pony ride. Later find out there was no pony service for the rest of the day. We were told to get off a slide because that was for the day camp. We spent all of 30 min there

Susan Chamberlain

I visited this petting farm with my 3 grandsons aged 4 to 12. We were totally underwhelmed. It's expensive for what it is. It's a chaotic jumble of poorly maintained enclosures - mostly goats and sheep. The pig pen with piglets is very small and with so many people it must be stressful for them. .There were a lot of kids obviously there for the day looking kind of lost and fed up as they tried to sweep the pens. Everything is overgrown and tatty - I can't recommend this for an outing despite the rave reviews.

Jesse Schulte

Great place to take the whole family! Tractor rides, milking goats, petting animals, great personal that work there! Makes you feel like your part of the family :D

Danielle Comeau

Went here while visiting friends in calagry and it was probably my toddler's favorite activity ever. The animals are so cute!

Tecum Trejo

Place was great!! Animals were cute, tractor ride was fun.

Reema

I love this place. Lots of animals. Very hands on. Kids enjoyed the pony rides but very short. Lots of hand cleaning stations. Wagon rides sell out fast. Because of social distancing they only allow certain number on. They give you a specific time to go. The kids really enjoyed its.

Alina

Me and my friend ended up going here because we wanted to go to a pumpkin patch to obviously pick out pumpkins to crave. It’s pretty pricey too go in. $16 too just see farm animals and no have access to pretty much anything: really disappointing ????

Amina Ben Ghalbon

Great day out for the little ones! Friendly staff, lovely petting area. Totally recommend it for the under 10s

Mike Mammel

Went lots as a kid and wanted to take my family. I have a son who is a year and a half and walking and a little girl who is just three months old. So for the family it would have cost us just as much to go to butter field acres as it would have to go to the Calgary zoo. So we did what most people would do went to the zoo because at least there we get to see exotic animals. We can go to any farmers field and pet the farm animals. I hope that Butterfield reassess their business plan and comes up with more value to potential customers.

Syed Shafi Naqvi

Good petting farm to take kids, they will enjoy ????, ????, ????, ????, ???? and other animal. Pony ride is also good for small kids.

Hannah Ferguson

Butterfield Acres is an atrocious business. The animals are poorly cared for and when I took my sons here I heard multiple staff talking about how they behead the baby chicks when they are no longer cute. The staff also treat the animals very poorly and are extremely aggressive with them. It is obvious that a certain amount of force is required but they do too much. Another worker there was extremely disrespectful to my son who was interested in seeing the chicks as well. Not to mention the poor excuse for hand washing. It cannot be legal under Alberta Health and Safety for soap to be that watered down and to not have warm water accessible. This is a disgusting facility and it should be shut down. Obviously just a money scam.

Carrie D

WORST CAMP EVER! If I could give it zero stars I would. This is possibly the ONLY day camp that doesn't have a refund policy that aligns with the current COVID pandemic. Due to our children having to isolate after being a close contact we were unable to attend camp. NO refund, NO credit and absolutely ZERO compassion or willingness to compromise. As a result I made a forced $680 donation to Butterfield Acres. So disappointed and I worry that some may send their children to day camp rather than keeping them home due to their policy. I will NEVER book a day camp or visit this facility again.

Marimette Hogewoning

Such a neat place. Great spot to bring the kids to. Lots of animals for them to see and interact with.

Allison S

Had a similar experience to Lindsay below. We bought tickets for an October Sunday morning. I was bringing my little cousins and one was ill that morning (was throwing up) I called in to ask if we can come in at a later time or change the dates. Said it was impossible since they couldn't resell the slot I was supposed to use that morning. I completely understand the implications of small businesses and the pandemic but having absolutely ZERO accomodations for not being able to make a timeslot, especially due to feeling ill is a scam. I lost $60. I had such nice memories here as a child, to be replaced with bitter uncompromising customer service.

jackie patey

Toddler loved the animals. Animals active and all talking and making their sounds. Covid followers. Handwash stns, distancing. Limiting numbers so waits are short. One family at a time in a pen. Two hours isvabout right for a visit.

Eyad El Azzeh

Very small, good for kids not too many selection of animals, a little pricey for what you getting.

Farhana Thomas

Butterfield acres is a great place to take your young children to. It's a great way to pass an hour or two. Some people may find it pricey, but considering how much it costs to take care of the animals, I would say that pricing makes sense.

Lacey Warholm

I loved going here as a kid! The school field trips were my favourite thing every year! I have enjoyed a job here as well and all staff are treated very well. Now I have my own kiddo and she has attended summer camp here as well as going for many visits throughout the season. Very clean and well kept!

Allisha Baker

My boyfriend and I took our daughter here on Sunday. it was the biggest rip off! there were too many spots saying do not enter, day camp only. way to expensive for what you actually get out of it.

Stu K

Incredible spot for the family within the city. Truly a gem of Calgary when you need to get back to grass roots. They have an (over) abundance of hand washing stations after every corral, and the animals are always happy to get attention. Hands down, this is an essential service right now. Thanks to all the staff (and animals) for what they do. Look forward to coming again soon. I love this place even more with kids. What a gem!

Maureen Thompson

A wonderful opportunity to get your fix of baby farm animals. Very clean and well organized operation. Fun for the whole family.!!

Mary Noble

Very poor. There is virtually no supervision and what little there is comprises of teenage kids. I saw a young child picking up the baby goats and throwing them at least four times. The child's father did nothing and became abusive when I asked them to stop throwing the goats. When I informed the office about the maltreatment, a teenager finally came over just saying "Please don't throw the baby goats Sweetie. They don't like it". In addition, I saw the kids on the summer camps totally unsupervised picking up and squeezing the newborn chicks (despite the signs not to even pick them up). Many of the animals seemed miserable and several of chicken were partially bald and seemed to be plucking their own feathers out. I love animals and will not be going to Butterfield Acres again to see them being mistreated mainly due to poor supervision.

Melissa Carandang

It's fun and great for family.... lots of activities to do, milking goat, tractor ride, small car ride, petting animals, and more to explore.

Matt Hunter

Great farm, my 2yr old son loves seeing the piggies and the hop hops, and likes to remind us the baas are too loud ;).

Elizabeth McMahon

We absolutely adore this place. Its great for all ages, and a fun way to spend a few hours. Clean, safe and wonderful staff. Make sure you wear close toed shoes!

Susana Bravo

I took my kids to the Acre today and got there to discover that the playground and other area were restricted to summer camps, I completely understand the concept of cohorts and the need to keep children separated but that information should be in the web page, so people know what to expect, my kids were very disappointed. Additionally paying the full admision price with some part of the park closed seemed a little unfair to me.

Catherine Fraser

Lots of fun for preschool age children. Clean and great Covid rules. I'll happily take grandchildren back for a return visit.

S P

My 3 children loved this place. There was so much to do. We just wish the pony rides were longer. Otherwise, this place is magical. It also seems like they take good care of their animals.

Dominika kozlowski

Hi Moms and Dads! I am looking to share my story about a situation that I recently encountered regarding a Butterfield Acres summer camp. My family has struggled with a nasty stomach bug for the past week and a bit. And to my surprise and devastation, my son got it again for the second time the morning of his first day of camp. I called Butterfield acres and they outright refused to move his camp dates. They told me I could give the camp away (370 dollars) or I could bring him the minute he stopped puking. My son has now missed 3 of 5 days and will probably not make the camp at all. I want to be responsible and do what’s right for him and let him rest and make sure he is better before he attends. I also feel like bringing him in too soon (as they suggested) would jeopardize the health of all the other kids and camp leaders. But regardless of the lost money- he is in tears and completely heartbroken because he has been looking forward to this. He thinks it’s his fault he can’t go because he is sick. I understand it’s a business and they need to feed the animals, but at the same time the business exists to make kids happy. The camp he was in was NOT full and the camp I wanted to move him to has TONS of room. They are just being greedy. They want to keep our money and make more money on the spot they would have moved him to. They said they prep for each child, but the activities and schedules are repeated. It is generic and there is no prep really! This to me is so disappointing. They care about their bottom line and nothing else. Not the happiness of kids, or the fact that parents have to save money and might not be able to afford to buy more camps. The owners at Butterfield Acres don’t even care about the feelings of a child, they just talk about about my son as a means to pay for feed for there animals. It’s so heartless! And just to make it clear again, I never wanted a refund. I just wanted to change dates. I even offered to pay extra administration fees. I spent a min. of 500 dollars there a year for the last 5 years, I am at a loss for words! I feel they treated us like garbage instead of working with me to help make a 4 year old boy happy. Loyal customers mean nothing to them! At the very least I would like to share my experience because for a 4 year old boy or girl - it’s heartbreaking to find out you have to miss out over something you can’t control. And to a family that has to plan their finances, it’s even more devastating. Knowing you gave these heartless people 370 dollars of your hard earned money for absolutely nothing. I say heartless because there was absolutely no reason at all they couldn’t change dates other than they are greedy. None at all. So buyer beware at Butterfield acres. If you buy a camp there, it’s a gamble. You are gambling with your money, but even more importantly - with your child’s feelings. It is also important to mention that their website is misleading. It says they charge a $20 administration fee to change dates. But they send you the fine print AFTER you have already paid and only allow changes 30 days in advance or to a week prior! How could anyone possibly know they were going to get the stomach flu 30 days in advance??? Sheep in wolves clothing! If you think what they are doing is wrong, please ????????. Maybe if enough people ???????? we can persuade them to change the sick policy? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please feel free to share it with others. The more people know the better! I want to prevent this from happening any other family. Dominika I would also like to let everyone know that I have called almost every preschool summer camp in Calgary and Airdrie, and every single one of them assured me that if the camps were not full that they would 100% move dates!!! That tells you exactly just how much the owners at Butterfield care about you me children!

Florian

Disappointing. I would not recommend going here. It seems to be that they don't have enough staff to keep this place cleaned up. Half of the place is closed due to COVID or some camp. Then just don't open it!

Meredith Dennar

Wonderful experience! We went for the last weekend of the harvest fest. Such a great outing for kids, my daughter had a great time. It's laid back and they get to see animals and pet some. There were pony rides and wagon rides. The price is extremely fair for what you get out of it and it is very well organized and prepared for. I look forward to any other events they may have for holiday seasons.

Heather Hiley

Today was our first time ever going....I should have stayed home and saved my money! What a joke the pony ride was. My kids were SO disappointed. They get 1 lap around a tiny little area on a pony and it lasted all of 30 seconds, and THAT WAS IT!!!! I could understand if the farm was full or there was a line up but we were one of maybe 5 families there total and there wasn't anyone else waiting to go for a ride. We left very underwhelmed and disappointed. we will not be back!

E S

Good family location, restrictions because of COVID, but obviously not their fault. Appreciate trying to keep everyone safe.

Aly Dalton

The kids had a great time, the staff that they have are friendly. However, the animals aren't properly cared for. They expect the patents to keep their kids from being little jerks to the animals, which isn't enough. In addition to the animals being bothered by children for hours on end, they have to live weeks of their own urine and feces. A hard worker could have all of the animals' areas cleaned, fresh hay and water in about 2-3 hours per day. There's no excuse to have animals living in such filth.

Gordon Howe

This is a great place to take your young kids three or four times a year. They get to ride a pony, feed some animals, ride a wagon and lots of other fun stuff. Right on the edge of town, it is easy to get too. Regarding the posts being expensive, I am guessing they were added by people who have no idea what it would cost to run a facility like this for 12 months a year (if you are a city dweller, how would you know).

Leanna Bordyschuk

Pigs were bitting at us. Do not go in the pen with little ones Really expensive for what it is. $70 for two adults and two kids and a concession fee (not sure what that is for). Could have more interactive with guides. Would not go again.

Lily Zhou

A bit expensive compare with other farm. A lots of animals inside. Have a lots of fun.

Lucy R

My daughter had a birthday party at Butterfield Acres today and it was amazing. Beyond the fact that the animals were so sweet and they had such a wonderful time petting them all, we were blown away by the level of organization and seamless execution of all the activities included in her package. It all ran exactly as it should have and on time, and we felt so special the whole day. There was a slight misunderstanding with one aspect of the party, and when I went to the office to sort it out, they were so incredibly sweet and worked so hard to make sure that it was replaced with something special(which they didn’t even need to do!). We were so happy with everything, and the kids were so excited. We will tell everyone what a great experience we had. I also just wanted to add that I have read some reviews about how some people saying the animals are mistreated by guests and whatever else. I did actually see a boy in the chick house grabbing at them, with no supervision around. I don’t see why this would reflect on the farm. They can’t control the fact that people are negligent and don’t manage their misbehaved, out of control children. I think this is the case with any petting zoo, and while they can do what they can, it will happen. The alternative is not to have it open to the public at all, and I think that would be a shame and a big loss.

P Largo

Very expensive. A rip off. Took our grandson, lots of spots where it says 'do not enter'. Very little to see and do. Took him to Bowness park after, he had a blast for free. I do not recommend Butterfield acres at all.

Stefan Tank

Timed entry, and weather started snowing and cold. Price seemed steep for the few animals that were out and lack of activities available. Similar farms are larger and have much more for kids to do.

Christine Runge

A fun couple hours for kids. The zoo is probably better value for money through.

Maria

Great contact farm for little kiddos! They had bunnies, alpacas, llamas, horses, sheep, porks, cows, roosters, ducks, and others. Social distancing and hand washing stations to keep everyone safe.

M Cheng

Kids loved the place. Animals are cute and friendly.

Steven Bond

Went for the great Easter egg hunt with the kids... perfect timing as all the spring baby animals are out.

Avery Jade

An honest 4 stars. A little pricey, but my 2 year old daughter had way more fun here than the calgary zoo. Very interactive and staff was nice. Will return. **Just don't raise the price please **