Our Story

The Story of Grasshopper Farms NC

The building was once Broadwell’s Grocery, owned and operated by James and Carolyn Broadwell. The original structure is more than 120 years old, dating back to the 1890s. Mr. James passed away in 2006, and the building fell into disrepair due to weathering and termite damage. Some parts of the structure, like the foundation and subfloors for example, were complete unusable.

A Diamond in the Rough

With our renovation, we tried to make sure to preserve as much as we could. When we purchased the farm in late 2020, we were told by the broker that the old store building was “unsalvageable” and had been assigned no value. However, from the moment we first stepped foot in the building, we recognized that it was actually a diamond in the rough. Walking into the store we like a journey back in time. Despite the significant rot and decay of the exterior, the “guts” of the store were intact. 

Careful, Loving Restoration

In the summer of 2021, we set about resurrecting the old store, and after 12 months of loving and careful work, we were able to salvage most of the original structure. With the use of locally milled wood, we were able to bring new life and new functionality to the old store, while still letting the building show its simple beauty and history in every nook and cranny.

Visit Our Plant & Christmas Tree Farm Today!

At Grasshopper Farms NC, we take pride in the history of our plant farm. Over the years, we have evolved into a place where families can come and enjoy time outside. Whether it is browsing our Christmas tree farm in the winter, exploring our corn maze in the fall, picking strawberries in the spring, or visiting our ice cream shop in the summer, there is always something to do at Grasshopper Farms NC.


Come visit our location in Knightdale, NC today or give us a call to learn more about everything we have to offer. We are happy to be located a short drive from surrounding areas like Wendell, Zebulon, Clayton, and Raleigh, NC!

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