Hidden Hills: Petting farm, paintball, non-GMO meat, more

Matthew Day

Staff

June 23, 2025

STODDARD – Farm animals, paintball players, commerce, a battle course, a haunted house and a murder mystery game – Deb Bolstad said her family of seven takes care of all of the above and more at Hidden Hills on their property in Stoddard. 

Yet the hardest part, Bolstad said, isn’t necessarily managing the attractions – it just might be the marketing. 

“People ask, ‘Who is (Hidden Hills) for?’” she said. “I tell them, ‘We’ve got something for everyone.’” 

Open annually May through October, Bolstad said Hidden Hills offers the following: 

• A petting farm, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, or by reservation during the week for field trips and private parties 
• Paintball, by reservation 
• Poultry, eggs, pork, beef and lamb raised on non-GMO feeds and pastured in non-GMO fields, available either in Hidden Hills’ shop or by order 
• Baked goods and handmade crafts, also available at the shop 
• A haunted house, operating in October 
• A fully original murder mystery, available by appointment 

Though all that information may be tough to fit on a business card or billboard, Bolstad – who co-owns Hidden Hills with her husband, Ethan – said attendance has organically increased since opening in fall of 2019. 

“We’ve been growing every year,” she said. “Seeing what works, what doesn’t work, making changes, adding things, adapting to what we see working and what customers would like.” 

At the heart of this varied venture, Bolstad said, is a healthful positivity. 

“Our big goal is to be known as an entertaining, family friendly, wholesome place to go (to) have fun as a family,” she said. 

Heading for the Hills 

Bolstad said their path to Hidden Hills began while Ethan worked as a manager for a large grocery store, and she raised and homeschooled their five children. 

She said they were inspired by author/farmer Joel Salatin to save money to purchase property for homesteading and selling meat by direct marketing to consumers. 

“(Salatin) talked a lot about how people can basically live off the land and make money to (and) make that their job, so they don’t have to go out and work for somebody else – so this was kind of a goal of ours,” Bolstad said. “We wanted our kids to be living on the land, and a petting farm seemed to fit into that. It was kind of a ‘one day…’ goal – like, ‘Sure, one day (we’ll do it).’” 

In 2011, Bolstad said, that day came when they found and were able to purchase “raw land,” where in 2012 they built a house and humbly assumed their dream life. 

She said she immediately incorporated farming into her children’s education. 

“We wanted them to grow up on the land, working the land, learning animal husbandry – things that used to be normal in America,” she said. “(Agriculture) was the backbone of our country, and I feel like we’ve really lost that.” 

For the first seven years, Bolstad said, the family focused more on sustaining itself on the animals they raised rather than producing enough meat to sell. 

Though the operation was steadily growing, she said it was only in 2019 – after Ethan suffered an injury that presented the family with a sudden need for new income – that the couple decided “now is the time – this is when you need to do this.” 

Bolstad said Ethan’s prolific brainstorming has fueled Hidden Hills’ development from the start, with no end in sight. 

“My husband’s a visionary,” she said. “He’s so amazing at thinking of ideas.” 

The petting farm 

Bolstad said the petting farm component was one of the original, long-schemed ideas for Hidden Hills. 

“We have several different animals to interact with, feed and pet,” she said. 

Present pettable animals, Bolstad said, include chickens (egg-laying hens, “meat birds” and chicks), pigs (a sow and her nine piglets), sheep, alpacas, a miniature horse, calves, guinea fowl, ducks and goats. 

Then there are the baby bunnies, she said, which are “a big hit” at Hidden Hills. 

“You can actually walk into their warren – that’s their area they’re running around in – and you can catch them and hold them,” she said. “People call it ‘rabbit therapy.’ Holding baby bunnies is very calming for a lot of people.” 

Bolstad said the area also features activities for children, such as a battle course, magnetic fishing pond and scavenger hunts. 

“We’re really big on creative play for kids,” she said. “I’m 40, my husband is 44, and we grew up when you (would) never tell your mom you’re bored, because that means she’d find work for you to do… Our business facilitates (a sense of imagination) for people.” 

Bolstad said parents who bring children or book birthday parties, as well as teachers bringing groups for field trips, can appreciate how the property – S1441 Sobkowiak Lane in Stoddard – makes it easy to keep track of kids. 

“So many teachers tell us this is their favorite place to go on a field trip, because we live on a dead-end road,” she said. “We only book one field trip at a time, so all the ‘little people’ are theirs – if (the kids) came with them, they’ve got to go with them. And there’s plenty of room, yet the way we have it set up and located, they can keep an easy eye on everybody without stressing out.” 

The animals, Bolstad said, are visited on pasture where they graze and live. 

“We’ve had so many families out here who say, ‘this is our child’s first time around farm animals,’ and I’m so excited we can offer that in a fun and safe environment, and they get to see animals how they (naturally) act,” she said. 

Bolstad said the farm also provides urban visitors a chance to appreciate and reconnect to the food system. 

“When our society used to be based around agriculture… kids learned about everything (on farms) and about animals, whereas we don’t have that anymore,” she said. “If we don’t teach them, how are they expected to know? … It’s a lot of fun answering those questions.” 

Non-GMO meat, eggs  

Cartons of eggs are always for sale in the Hidden Hills store, Bolstad said, along with frozen chicken. 

Turkey, she said, is often available in the store, too, while beef, pork and lamb are available by special order as mentioned on Hidden Hills’ Facebook page.  

Bolstad said certain supplies sell out quickly, as the farm can only produce so much – including five cattle this year, some of which the family will keep for itself. 

At this point, Bolstad said other than poultry and eggs, meat sales are not central to Hidden Hills’ business model. 

“It fills our freezer,” she said. “There’s not much money in pork, (for example), but it’s really good. It’s just that farm-fresh stuff. Man, you can’t beat that.” 

For pricing and details, visit hiddenhillswi.com. 

Paintball 

In addition to the petting farm, Bolstad said Hidden Hills’ main attraction is paintball. 

“Paintball and petting farm – honestly, I don’t know if anybody in the nation offers the two of them together,” she laughed. “It’s a very strange combination.” 

Still, Bolstad said, it “kind of made sense” based on the property, as Ethan – a military veteran – proposed the idea and successfully saw it through. 

Now, she said, paintball players travel from “all over” to play at Hidden Hills. 

“What we’ve found is that the Coulee Region here is a really good meeting ground for people from the (Twin) Cities, Iowa, Madison or even Green Bay,” she said. “(It’s) kind of a central area. We have a lot of paintball people who have gone to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, so they want to have their bachelor parties here, or they’re getting married in the area, etc.”

Paintball is played by reservation, Bolstad said, with slots available at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. any day of the week. 

Time limits are not enforced on play, she said, though they’ve found groups usually get their fill after three or four hours. 

Bolstad said reservations grant access to all three on-site courses, with each tailored to a different style of gameplay: Speedball, Hill To-Die-On and Woodball. 

Check-in, supply rental and safety briefings take place in Hidden Hills’ store, which she said can make for some interesting interactions. 

“We’ll have a bunch of paintball guys in the store, and petting farm (customers) will come and ask, ‘This is the right place, right?’” she laughed. “They’re a little bit different.” 

Hidden Hills’ haunted house 

More different still, Bolstad said, is their haunted house each fall, centered on a story the family created about how their barn became haunted. 

The atmosphere, she said, is all the spookier thanks to Hidden Hills’ lack of urban light pollution. 

“We’ve had people screaming (while) they’re running out… and these are adults, not little kids, so it’s an absolute blast,” she said. “We’ve had people tell us this is the scariest haunted house they’ve ever been in.” 

Like all of Hidden Hills’ attractions, Bolstad said her five children, aged 12 to 20, are heavily involved with and enthusiastic about the haunted house. 

There are no age limits for the attraction itself, she said, allowing parents to decide whether their children are old enough for the experience. 

For haunted house guests of any age, Bolstad said a bit of “rabbit therapy,” decompression and concessions are always available. 

“By the time (guests) leave, they’re happy and jolly again,” she said. “You don’t just have to get in your car and leave. You can stay and enjoy the atmosphere, talk with other people, etc.” 

Hidden Hills also features a number of family friendly fall events, Bolstad said, including seasonal games and a costume contest, with the prize being $150 worth of farm-fresh meat. 

No ‘Hidden’ agenda 

Though she admits and even jokes about Hidden Hills’ at-times-incongruous attractions, Bolstad said the family’s open minds and creativity will continue to lead the way. 

She also said it’s by no means only Ethan and her who do all the brainstorming. 

Bolstad said their kids may have a relatively atypical life – in fact, no family member has ever owned a smartphone – but they’re growing and thriving in many ways, enjoying Hidden Hills all the while.  

“They absolutely love it – and they’ve got ideas…,” she said. “Everybody’s got their niche at what they’re good at, so we all just work together and make it work.” 

Ideas, Bolstad said, range from new decorations to new or expanded attractions. 

“We were sitting around the dinner table the other day and one of the kids said, ‘We can’t wait until two months out – we need to be brainstorming right now about fall,’” she said. “(And all) I’m thinking (about is), ‘Oh, man, I’m still worried about what we’re having for supper tomorrow night.’ My husband definitely passed the visionary (genes) down to the kiddos here.” 

Still, Bolstad said there’s plenty to work on – and enjoy – at Hidden Hills as is. 

“This is how kids used to run and play… It’s good old-fashioned fun,” she said. “We’ve been described a lot as a hidden gem. (Visitors will say), ‘I can’t believe this is here.’” 

As her battle for comprehensive marketing rages on, Bolstad said above all she’s thankful – for the opportunity, for Hidden Hills’ volunteers and especially its guests. 

“We’re so grateful for them, and we really love them – it’s so heartwarming,” she said. 

Most visitors are from the region, Bolstad said, but others have hailed from as far as Europe and Asia. 

All visitors, she said, are able to appreciate Hidden Hills’ variety, safety and affordability. 

Bolstad, meanwhile, said she mostly appreciates people giving the unique destination a chance. 

“How (can we) have a logo that encompasses (all of our attractions)?” she said. “If you’ve got ideas, we’re all ears.”

Details on all of Hidden Hills’ attractions can be found at the farm’s website and Facebook page.