Doug and Bonnie Kittrell started Double 8 Ranch in Hillsboro in 2005. A favorite stop on the Loudoun Spring and Fall Farm Tours, the property is home to 50 alpacas, 15 llamas and a miniature horse. It is open for tours year-round.
LoCo Favorites
Favorite place to eat in Loudoun?
We’re big fans of the Panang Curry at both Daughter Thai in Lovettsville and The Thai Pan in Leesburg. Bonnie loves the gluten-free pizza at Fire Works, but her real favorite is the crème brûlée at Lightfoot in Leesburg.
Favorite place for a craft beverage?
Catoctin Creek Distillery for whiskeys and Harvest Gap Brewery for the beer, vibe and entertainment. Bonnie is a member at Doukénie Winery and likes the Vinter’s Reserve.
Best hidden gem in Loudoun?
Doukénie is off the beaten track for wineries and our favorite place to relax with a glass of wine in the Adirondacks around the pond.
What's a must-see place for an out-of-town visitor?
We like to be outside, so a hike at Double 8 with some of the llamas. Rafting down the Potomac River or hiking Sweet Run State Park are also great experiences.
Favorite event in Loudoun to go to?
We have always been fans of the Lovettsville Oktoberfest, but I also like Tally Ho in Leesburg for music. And, of course, the spring and fall farm tours.
The Ranch Life
The 2025 Loudoun County Spring Farm Tour is May 17-18. What can people do and see at Double 8 that weekend?
Visitors get to meet the alpacas and llamas and take selfies with them. The giant llamas are especially friendly. We will also have demonstrations of how we turn our fiber into a variety of goods, accessories and clothing.
Aside from Double 8 Ranch, what is another exciting/interesting farm experience in Loudoun that weekend?
We are always too busy on the property, but I hear good things about the goat and donkey farms.
How many farms are on the tour?
More than 30 farms plus all the great winery and brewery stops.
What does a Llama hike entail?
It’s a 30- to 40-minute hike and farm tour. We do the hike on our portion of Short Hill Mountain. We are looking to expand to Sweet Run Park this summer, which will include the option of a lunch packed on and carried by the llamas.
Where did you get your alpacas and llamas from?
The first alpacas came from farms in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Arizona. Since then, we’ve purchased from and sold to farms all around the country. The majority of our llamas are from Idaho Falls and northern Colorado, but most of our animals are now bred right on the ranch. If you are looking to buy an alpaca or a llama, give us a call!
Do you have other animals or do you grow crops?
We have 12 chickens and an ancient miniature horse.
What is the difference between an alpaca and a llama?
They are related. The camelid family consists of camels, llamas, their wild cousins the guanaco, alpacas and their wild cousins the vicuna. Llamas are for packing and alpacas are for fiber. Llamas are the mules of South America and the alpacas are the sheep.
Do you shear both the alpacas and the llamas for wool?
We do, but the alpaca fiber goes into our clothing and the llama fiber typically goes into felted material, although some of the younger llamas have fiber comparable to alpaca.
What products do you make from the wool?
Hats, gloves, scarves and our biggest seller – socks – all available to purchase in our farm store. We also make dryer balls, felted art and a variety of other products and accessories. Alpaca wool is great for summer and winter wear.
Any advice to people thinking about doing the Spring Farm Tour for the first time?
Come early before it gets really busy. But don’t worry if you are late: the alpacas and llamas will still want to see you, especially with the treats we have on hand to help entice them.
