Fantastic Umbrella Factory

Nice, quaint little group of gift shops. Interesting finds. Alot of cool handcrafted things. Prices not bad ! Even if you don't buy anything you'll enjoy your walking around experience

A perfectly cromulent shopping experience. The shops were pleasant, the grounds were neat, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. And I was honestly kind of surprised that the prices were as reasonable as they were. It was a bit more stoner/counter culture than I prefer, but this is definitely a cool place to check out. We'll try to get down there some time when it's a bit warmer out.

I had a short visit to this place to enjoy the time in the bamboo forest. The store is super with so many unique items collections. There were some emu birds too to look in the barn. The bamboo forest is dense and amazing.

A sandal village of shops in individual buildings with a walking path that you are advised to follow. There's a bamboo forest and a petting zoo with goats and Emu next to it. There is a hand washing station available. Unique gifts, toys, candy, clothing and native arts.

A unique and amazing place. Several small shops and pop up vendors. Nice gardens to walk through. Make sure to visit the bamboo forest. Look for the trolls down the road.

A unique shopping experience with animals, the bamboo forest, several little shops offering unique items not found many places. Places to sit and relax take in the pretty scenery.

Very fun and interesting place to visit. Shops, gardens, animals, and a bamboo forest walk. Give yourself an hour or two to explore the grounds. Ninigret Park is also around the corner when you're done

Awesome place to visit! So many cool things to see and you get to hand feed the chickens!

A visit to the town of Charleston, RI is not complete without a stop at the Umbrella Factory where you will find 8 whimsical (or in my mind funky) shops, gardens and members of the poultry family.

The Fantastic Umbrella Factory has lots to do and see in one spot! A few stores with eclectic finds, an old fashioned candy shop, old fashioned toy store, animals, and some local vendors. This is a great place to check out if you're in the area.

If you are in the area, overall I think the Umbrella Factory is a neat place to stop at, especially in the Summer with their gardens in bloom. I do wish they had a coffee cart or something available. I feel like that would do so well here. If you are hungry, this isn't the place to be. But, if you have a bit of time to wander around this is a great spot. The bamboo forest is really cool and my five year old really loved walking through and finding hidden paths and dead ends. He also loved checking out the goats. You can buy chicken feed for $2 in the front store which was also a fun activity to do. As far as stores they do have quite the variety. I wasn't very impressed with the toy shop. But I did love the designs at the sweatshirt vendor and my mom bought a ring that she loves at the bigger shop towards the front. Very hippie vibes. I wish they had a coffee bar, but overall a fun way to spend some time for free if you just want to wander around.

If you live in South County or are visiting South County Rhode Island you need to stop here and check out this adorable shopping area. The vibe is so relaxing and so beautiful and all the stores have amazing people inside of them and make you feel welcome and like you're part of the community. From the first door at the front to the back door to the toy store and the purple shell everyone is just so nice and I can't stress just how peaceful and fun it is in that area. There's chickens walking around and just being surrounded by trees, grass and nature is so relaxing and therapeutic. Items are definitely decently priced so I know you'll find something worthwhile my kids and I had a blast going in the different stores and we will definitely be back when Family comes and visit or when friends come to visit us.

First time checking out the Fantastic Umbrella Factory. Fantastic indeed, it features a bamboo forest, an emu, chickens and guineafowl, beautiful flowers and multiple shops selling gifts, rocks and minerals and jewelry. We scored a beautiful Septarian nodule and I picked up some décor for the yoga studio. Lots of hippie vibes here. I just wish they were open later (they close at 5). If you're coming down for the day make sure to plan accordingly.

Fun quirky beautiful place to send an afternoon took my mom and my aunt and we had a great day

Not at all what was expected. All it had was a few shops of hippie ware. The interesting one was closed. I only saw 1 goat, 1 emu, and a few chickens. The bamboo forest is the only thing worth seeing.

Magical place. We loved not only the fun shops along the path/walk but also the gardens and bamboo forest. Must go

This place is a hidden gem. It's hard to explain. It has cute shops with random items. The grounds are fun to walk, they have different animals like emu's, chickens and Guinea hens. They also have a bamboo forest. It was a cool day so there was not that many people so you could easily move around the shops.

Whimsical, laid back and cool place to hang out for an afternoon. Feeding chickens, pet an Emu, wander through a bamboo forest, and check out the regular stores or fun pop up vendors. We visit at least once a month.

What a cool place! You can walk through the bamboo forest, visit the animals, or hit the shops! Personally i enjoyed myself as there's not much around like it, but my teen boys kinda thought it was lame. Maybe that shouldn't matter, but it does to me. I am always looking for different things to do with my boys and this wasn't really it. Hence the 4 star instead of 5. I would actually rate it 4.5, but alas we can't do halves.

Just one of those spots you have to see to understand fully. We little our full little hippy selves out while exploring this fun place. Lots of photo ops and eclectic goods to be purchased. The highlight was this ADORABLE family who had a tent set up and makes their own tie dye awesomeness. They even partner with a church which I love!

This was a very, very cool shop. And the garden was beautiful. They also have a bamboo forest that was unbelievable. Great selection of garden items, candy store that had every candy you can imagine and they even had an Emu. A must visit when in Rhode Island.

I don't know what's wrong with me but I went here for the first time today and I found almost nothing of interest. The gardens were beautiful and the chickens were fun to look at but I have chickens at home. I found the crafts to be OK. The stores are individual shops were pretty much a bunch of imitation hippie stuff that I would have bought 50 years ago but not now. And the last store that we went in was probably the first store that you would see from the parking lot and that was just a touristy souvenir shop. I saw a bunch of young people walking around some of them wearing hippy type clothing. Maybe it is a place geared for that generation. But I saw nothing of interest to buy and I found the stores crowded. Most of the imported crafts they had are the same imported crafts that you would buy in any major city while traveling. I just don't know what it is that attracts people but I won't be back again.

Ugh this place has truly changed and has gone down hill. Just a waste of time. The Bamboo forest was cool but that's it. Stores are completely different and bare to the bones. They used to be packed and full of fun things. No more penny candy either. Blocked off large walking area, you used to be able to go in a full circle, now you have to awkwardly walk back in peoples way.

This is the wildest place this side of Wonderland! I don't know how else to describe it. Small Axe Productions has a second floor, where they have all these cool musical instruments. Myself, I bought this "Namaste" banner that gave me goosebumps when I read the words out loud, like they just connected with me. And get this: our first stop was at The General Store, where I just so happened to randomly find the Alice Cooper poster I had been trying to find for at least a few years on sale for ten dollars! How wild is that!! I even got to walk through the bamboo forest, which I thought was magick portal to the candy store (ah yep, that's where my mind went), but even though it wasn't, the energy of the space still felt very calm and peaceful. I did find a nice bag at Frills, which I used for a shopping bag for the rest of the day. And when I found the Umbrella Factory Gardens, it was like I had stumbled onto the wildest outdoor garden center I had ever seen. Local garden centers are my Achilles heel - I love splurging on plants for the shade garden out back - and this place was no exception. I found some beautiful coleus that gave my shade garden the perfect pop of color. By far one of the coolest pieces of jewelry I found was this beautiful labyrinth pendant. I was not looking for this piece; it just randomly found me. That was the same with everything else I bought that day. it doesn't matter what store you go in, you're sure to find one or more things you'll like. I hope I have the good fortune to go there again this summer and see what new magickal discoveries I can find.

Cute. But water and ice cream stand shut down due to rain. So die to dehydration had to leave. Had there been water we may have looked for quite awhile.

The place is amazing. It's a collective of shops with something for everyone. Mostly reasonably priced, especially for specialty shops. And the art and statues around are amazing. Everyone is friendly, even the chickens that you can hand feed

I definitely have to credit Yelp for the discovery of this weird and wonderful place. I was visiting East Beach with some friends and we were looking for somewhere to stop and maybe get a coffee before hitting the road. It's hard to describe The Fantastic Umbrella Factory, and maybe that's for the best. It's probably better if you go in without any expectations, like I did. But it's kind of like a gift shop, cooperative, art colony, cafe, garden, and farm all rolled into one. Oh, and they have emus! The "general store" is filled with lots of cool trinkets, although the clothing items were not really my style. Amazingly, you don't have to spend a penny to have a cool time here! The bamboo forest is actually breathtaking, and the emus and chickens are so fun to watch. I would definitely stop by if you're in the area and check out this little slice of hippie paradise!

This is an interesting place and all, but my reaction when we pulled up was exactly this: "..............what?" My favorite part was the greenhouse - there was such a cool variety of plants and we left with three giant hanging planters for the house. The flowers are doing great months later and look beautiful still. Everything in the greenhouse was kept in great shape and we were very impressed. Half of the "offerings" here were closed on a Saturday in July despite having their hours say "OPEN", and everywhere we went had the overwhelming smell of patchouli (nice in doses, but when you can TASTE it, not great). The items for sale in the little shops were cute, but the few items I purchased (small jewelry) were drastically overpriced and broke almost immediately. I'd like to come check it out when everything is fully open, as people rave about it.

We were looking for a place to grab a coffee and snack and someone recommended this place. The scenery is very nice and they have a few shops, but other than that not much to see or do. A few animals and a nice Bamboo Forrest, but besides a food truck, there was nothing. I went there a few years ago and they had a coffee shop and some sandwiches, but all that was gone.

Love this place! So many cool little gift shops with awesome jewelry and Knick knacks. Their flowers and flower pots are absolutely amazing. Refer to my photos to see what I mean or come here for yourself to check them out. You can also purchase the flowers as well in the big beautiful pots. They had some animals running lose like chickens and guinea hens but impossible to catch. They also had emus and goats. Cute place to come to for something different to do. The bamboo area was pretty awesome too! Come check this place out, they do a great job at what they do. They also have a small cafe and serve ice cream which we didn't get to try on this visit.

This place is the cutest! The little shops are adorable and have such neat merchandise from the area and more. The animals running around the place are a bonus!

I never knew this place existed and it's right off of 1A south in Charlestown, RI. Emus, bamboo forest, hibiscus, ice cream, gift stores, a greenhouse, and little gardens to explore. I loved the bamboo forest, which really isn't a huge forest but it's still sort of magical and spooky. It was a hot day and the forest was much cooler with the breeze knocking the bamboo together. This would be a great place to explore with children. Lots of shopping for t-shirts, candles, plants, etc. But we just explored a little. Fun spot to check out. There's more parking than meets the eye when you first pull in -- more parking wraps around the corner near the exit.

We vacationed in southern Rhode Island this summer We read about this place in a summer guide so we went to check it out. This adventure lived up to the hype. Beautiful grounds walked thru the sculpture garden, unbelievable beautiful plants, a small zoo with roaming animals, restaurant, small shops and my favorite the gelato cart.

This is a great place to spend an afternoon meandering through the property, exploring. They have several unique shops which have some great goodies. Some stores were not my cup of tea but was still fun to look around! The animals were fun to watch and interact with (goats, chickens and emus). Our favorite was the bamboo field in the back. I'm looking forward to coming back in the spring when I'm sure there are flowers around!

A fun working farm. One acre of shops, garden life, a bamboo forest, garden sculptures, livestock, farm animals, artisan shops, vintage wares, and various homemade creations all around. I spent two hours here walking around with my hubby. Lots to see and every path or corner was another fun thing. We didn't even know we were there so long. The café on site serves mini plates and light lunch fare. Picture seasonal ingredients and fresh fruits and veggies. I really enjoyed my fresh squeezed juice. I ordered a large apple, ginger and veggie (you can choose kale or spinach). Their muffins were huge and looked so tasty. The chocolate chip cookies were soft baked and delicious. I ate it hours later and it was still soft and fresh. Each shop we ventured into was full of fun knick knacks to buy, beautiful hand made jewelry and crafts. The art work ranged from woodsy to hard slate. The sculptures were whimsical and had interesting themes or names. My favorite part of visiting were seeing the Emu's and the Bamboo forest. The Emu's were very alert and walked around constantly. And inside the Bamboo Forest were mini trails or pathways that led to another part of the forest. Like a mini maze. There was one area that housed that Peace Sign rock garden and another that was a teepee made up of bamboos. Very pretty. The chickens running around only added to the fun/elements of nature. They were so colorful and so quiet. Some even walked right up to me but didn't bother me at all. This place is indeed a must see when in Charlestown. Book mark it people! And give them some business. These folks work hard on their crafts. Gorgeous pieces.

This is one of my favorite places to go in the summer. The environment is amazing, with the chickens walking beside you, to the bamboo forest, to the emus, everything just makes this a great getaway. There's so many great shops and they all bring something special. Prices vary by store but most of these places have reasonable prices. If you're a food lover there's many options for you and they all taste great. If you like being outdoors and enjoying Rhode Island this is the place for you.

I only toured the grounds and did not go inside so I am purely basing my thoughts and reviews on that. The real reason I went was to check out the bamboo forest and I did and it was really cool but overwhelming for a bamboo forest more like a bamboo section and it could have been trimmed a little nicer, it was kind kept up like if your grandparents had been running it, a little trash here and dangerous places to fall over there! The fountain and art was beautiful and the chicken and roosters were very average yet majestic. It is not worth a drive out of your way but if you are near then sure stop by but do remember when you leave there is an amazing park at Ninigret park around the corner

O M G !! Everyone should check this place out!! This place is so cool!! So much to see, and do and don't forget to eat . . . Very cool people working here, friendly and socialable. First stop after parking was the general store, yes, kitchy but you expect that. Picked up some fun stuff for birthday gifts, a tote bag and a couple toys for grandsons. Rocks and crystals on the porch. Artists near parking lot showing their art, talking with people. Cool little art show. The cafe nearby has snacks, juices, smoothies, wraps, snacks. Guinea hen roaming around the crowd. There's a backyard to the cafe so you can snack outside in the shade while looking at emu & goats. Bamboo forest is back of property, nice little walk, very cool! There are little shops to explore, a cool greenhouse & gardens where you can purchase plants. Watched a hummingbird inside one of the greenhouses. Very cool. There's a fountain nearby with benches. Hadn't realized we'd been there over 3 hours. Very fun & artsy afternoon.

This used to be one of my favorite places ever growing up. The penny candy and the shops and the animals. They were great. Now it's nothing like that. It's still cool I guess but it's over priced and over populated and I miss how it used to be. I took my boyfriend here when we first started dating. I was showing him some of my favorite places in southern RI since he is from east providence. He enjoyed himself but probably because we always have fun. But I felt bad bringing him there after hyping it up beforehand. I will go back but only with lower expectations. He bought be a cute little wave ring to have a souvenir of my home town now that I live in Providence. He also knew I had one of block island too so it adds to my collection.

It really is a totally RI type of place, they've got a lot to look at and window shop. The bamboo trail and llamas are my top attraction though. So many cool little things to grab while you're there, and also, themed shops which makes it fun. It's worth a visit for sure.

Went to the factory for an umbrella And boy I'll tell ya Fed the emus some snacks Picked up some hippie knick knacks Now I feel like one lucky fella

Super cool spot with lots of different things to check out. First there is the general store with lots of cool lanterns, incense, and other random knickknacks available for purchase. Next there is the small axe cafe, with a few different offerings on the menu. **Side note: The cafe is only open on Sat & Sun from 10-4** There are a few other buildings for you to shop at. I've bought many beautiful (real) turquoise rings at Small Axe Productions (my favorite store) I've also seen a tent set up outside with a woman doing henna a couple times in the warmer months. Lots of animals running around I've seen goats, Emu's, some chickens and lots of ducks. The best part though is certainly the greenhouse (lots of interesting tropical plants) and the bamboo forest, which is fun for an impromptu photo shoot (where my fellow photographers at?!) The best time of the year to come is summer when the perennial gardens are in bloom.

- quaint antiquey eclectic shops - as intimidating as the emu's can be, they're actually very friendly and take kindly to petting, extra star for petting an emu for the first time - went in the off season but will probably visit again when everything is in full bloom

I don't really understand the appeal of the Umbrella Factory but do admire it's hippie spirit & uniqueness. It's definitely not like most (tourist) spots in RI. The shops really aren't that great in my opinion. There's only about 3 actual retail spaces & a cafe (Small Axe) that I haven't tried. The items are definitely hippie-centric & not my style. It's mostly apparel & funky stuff that you don't need but purchase anyways. If you have children there's an area where you can feed goats & emus. Just be careful cuz the emus might peck you. I also think they're kinda evil looking & might scare some children. There are ducks & chickens all over the property but they're not so terrifying. You can purchase feed for them at one of the shops. It's definitely worth checking out if you're in the area, I just wouldn't get my hopes up if you're not into the whole earthy/hippie vibe. Even if you don't spend a penny you'll enjoy walking through the property as it's definitely an experience. And thanks to Danielle W for reminding me about the unbelievably crazy eyeglass lady. I remember her from previous visits. She was definitely a trip & will/won't be missed!

I'm just going to come out and say it. This place is WEIRD. It appears I'm one of the few individuals who feels my time spent here was a waste of time. Maybe I didn't like it because I'm not into the whole meditation thing. Or maybe it's because I've never been to a Phish concert. But the whole spiritual vibe that fills this place just ain't my cup of tea. Every building seemed to have the smell of burning incense and every building seemed to sell the same exact stuff. That is, there's lots of beads, hippie jewelry, psychedelic décor, and novelty trinkets for sale. I honestly didn't find anything of real value. I couldn't even purchase anything in the cafe because it was closed. The chickens and wild animals seemed pretty cool though. But I cant help imagine they're going to meet a cruesome fate as part of some sadistic cult ritual when the night falls. The poor chickens :-( The gardens were pretty cool too.

Went for a little early season action before the major crowds as it was both mine and my date's first time going. I would describe this as a hippie commune with a nautical twist. The grounds were pretty as the first signs of spring are emerging. A few daffodils here, a few tiny purple buds there, and an entire bamboo forest to wander through. Natural crushed quahog shell paths lined the way between the animal areas, the small shops and green houses. For 75 cents you can purchase an ice cream cone full of animal/bird feed and give the chickens, goats and emus an afternoon (or anytime really) treat. This is done on the honor system folks, so don't lie, cheat or steal. The whole place has a very earthy feel to it, much of the goods in Small Axe productions is very....crunchy? Rasta? I'm not sure. I did buy a gorgeous pair of handmade earrings in this building. The artisans loft has some pricier items as well as paintings, some being done as you shop by artists in residence. I was also genuinely surprised to see Axiom, a small eyeglasses frame purveyor. She had tons and tons of vintage and dead stock frames for both prescriptions and sunglasses including Rayban. The Small Axe Cafe was closed, but is to be reopening as a new incarnation in May. The greenhouses will soon be packed to the gills with annuals and succulents and the tropical fish will be showing their colorful little heads. Go down and give it a walk around. The emus and goats are friendly as are all of the employees I encountered.

You will find this hidden gem just off the exit surrounded by many trees and foliage. It has a very rustic-vintagey-hippy vibe to it. The array of garden sculptures and rusting vehicles outside just somehow 'fits' in it's own nonsensical way. The place is surrounded by an wild-grown garden with pathways leading you to several shack-like shops. Along the way you will find a bamboo garden, funky paint-chipped signs, a mini fountain, koi fish and a petting area with emus! Most of the staff are pretty laid-back and allow you to freely wander through the shop. It's definitely not the type of store you walk into with something already in mind if you haven't been there before. Each shop has random trinkets and unique finds. They have some exotic sculptures, artwork, funky jewelry, antique eyeglass frames and local pottery. I highly recommend taking a stroll around this place during the summer time. The garden is really something to appreciate and its a great place to browse around.

Since my initial review almost 4 years ago now, I've visited The Fantastic Umbrella Factory every summer, at least a couple of times each summer. I made my first visit of 2014 last weekend and I was TOTALLY impressed with the work they've done to make this place EVEN better than it was before. There is even an art gallery open! The General Store and Small Axe Productions are by far, my favorite shops. They both offer such a diverse mix of home decor, jewelry, candles, clothing, gifts, etc., that it makes a fun experience to spend a good amount of time looking at everything and trying to take it all in. After some shopping, stop into the Small Axe Cafe for a delicious smoothie and fresh green salad and be sure to pick up some food for the emu's and goats!

Over the years I have driven by this place many times scarcely realizing it was there. This year I stopped and I am so happy I did, there are many shops featuring local artisan merchandise from paintings, jewelry, silhouette art, furniture, clothing, homemade jams and jellies, all at very good reasonable prices. The shoppes are located amidst garden paths that meander through out the property. There are caged roosters and chickens, Emu(s), goats and guinea fowl and other such things to amuse the children. Of particular interest to me, was the bamboo forest maze, what and incredible experience winding your way through this very tall bamboo forest. This stop was a true pleasure and I believe there were some very real bargains to be had, particularly amongst the homemade furniture items. The only way you will be disappointed is, if you don't stop when you are in the area.

If you like a place that tells you with signs at every turn NOT TO DO THIS ( bring food or cups in) and THIS ISNT ALLOWED (dogs, bare feet, bare chests)......and DONT LITTER-really? DONT LEAVE your dog in a hot car, no picnicking allowed....I haven't been this uninspired in a long time...it's depressing because it looks all cool and free people - a throw back to another time....no it's not that at all. It's an unfun and bossy place. I mean I guess people who shop there are a bunch of slobs who treat their animals badly while the whole time need constant direction. Maybe someone should tell the sales woman at the general store not to say the F word when she is reading a text to another sales person.....a sign like- NO SWEARING allowed? And for goodness sake, don't smile at the Emus!

Off the beaten path in more ways than one, the Fantastic Umbrella Factory promises visitors an interesting experience. I went down here with my brother because he wanted to take a ride. He loved all the little stores and was very excited that he could feed the emus and goats. Yep, for $.75 you can fill up an ice cream cone with feed for the animals. Though, I'll warn you, the goats and ESPECIALLY the emus know what's up. My brother had the cone snatched out of his hand by the emu pretty quickly -- guess it was hungry! Guinea hens roam around freely, as well as a pretty intimidating looking duck. You'll even catch the odd chipmunk or two zipping across the main green near the goat and emu pen. It was a great place to hang out for a while, sit down, and spend some quality time together. Go check it out, especially if you're not quite sure what you're in the mood to do.

Not sure how the name came to be. It doesn't represent the business at all. But what does? Description: A flower child maybe married a farmer and they opened up their property for local skilled artists/craftsmen to show and sell their wares under a spattering of buildings. Farm animals mingle with patrons of all ages. You can venture through a bamboo forest and purchase some pretty unique items. Quirky, funky, whimsical, earthy crunchy, unique.....you have to experience it yourself. Save a few hours to wander around and get your groovy on! You'll be back.

The staff is pretty friendly, but I don't understand what all the hype is about. They have some farm animals (chickens, goats, Emus) which was the best part for me. There are 3 or 4 shops I think, but it's basically just a tiny Savers split up into sections. I liked that they sold items from Rhode Island makers. I didn't like they they sell tinctures from RI makers and also sell FireCider (a controversial brand due to the company trademarking the name of a tonic that has been around for many years). This seems contradictory. I expected the land/overall space to be bigger. There is a very tiny bamboo forest which is fun to walk through until it suddenly stops, which left us confused and disappointed. The greenhouse and garden area was closed when we visited, but maybe we will return to see that.

We've been coming to the Umbrella factory for years! It's an absolute favorite weekend thing to do. Between the shops, food, animals, bamboo garden, and flowers, it's an absolute must. 5 stars all the way!!

The day we arrived for our weekend getaway in Charlestown the weather was overcast. This was the perfect place to come to for such a day! There were about 8 different shops, all somewhat similar yet unique. We had a lot of fun looking through all the trinkets and gifts around the shops. We didn't have an opportunity to try the food or ice cream, but would like to come back to do so! We also had a lot of fun watching the chickens walk around who weren't even in cages! They had so many varieties, very cool to see up close like that. There were also fenced in emus & goats we watched for a while. There was even little walk through trail in a mink bamboo Forrest.

This place is truly unique! From the chotskies to the roosters to the unique plants to the homemade ice cream. It's quite an experience and something you won't find anywhere else:)

Came here today for the first time and I was So impressed! This place has it all! Farm animals, exotic plants, quaint shops! An awesome bamboo maze. My family had such an amazing time there! I definitely recommend checking out the Henna tattoo booth! We will definitely be back next summer!!!!!