News Release

Carl Sandburg Home NHS announces outdoor access to dairy goats

News Release Date: July 26, 2021

Contact: Public Information Officer, 828-693-4178

Flat Rock, NC – Carl Sandburg Home NHS will increase outdoor access to the dairy goat barnyard and pasture beginning July 30. Hours of outdoor access to the barnyard and pastures will be 10 am - 3 pm daily, with a capacity limit of 40 visitors. Staff and volunteers will be available to answer questions about the park and Sandburg family. To reduce crowding around the goats, visitors are asked to maintain social distancing from other groups visiting at the same time. The park cares for 20 goats and the entire herd looks forward to seeing visitors again.

Park grounds and trails are open sunrise to sunset. The park store and visitor information area are open Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm in the garage behind the Sandburg Home.  The Sandburg Home and house tours remain closed, due to ventilation concerns in the 183-year-old house.

Restrooms and a water bottle filling station are available near the main parking lot. Due to ongoing issues with a water pump, the restrooms and water bottle filling station near the Sandburg Home are closed, however portable toilets are available nearby. Visitors are asked to bring their own drinking water.

Consistent with CDC guidance, visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings. Visitors who are not yet fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks in crowded outdoor spaces.

Visitors should follow CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and recreate responsibly. For the health and safety of others, please choose another time to visit if you are not feeling well.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, located in Flat Rock, NC, is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Due to COVID-19, some visitor services are limited. For park updates and all parking options visit www.nps.gov/carl.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.