Shady Wagon Farm is owned and operated by Doug and Cindy Carroll. A 22-acre bed-and-breakfast specializing in weddings was not what the Carroll's envisioned for themselves when they moved to Chatham County in 2006.  But they firmly believe that God has led them to where they are today.

A native of Merry Oaks, Doug graduated from Moncure High School in 1961.  Cindy, who grew up in Charlotte, moved to Wake County early that same decade.

For 35 years, the couple made their home in Cary, where Doug operated Douglas Carroll Hauling and Cindy made wedding cakes under the moniker Baking Dreams and Memories.

But periodically, they would travel south into Chatham County, searching for their perfect parcel of land.  For nearly 20 years, Cindy held onto a house plan that she had found in Southern Living Magazine until finally, in 2005, they bought their Pea Ridge Road property from one of Doug's former classmates.

As the heavily wooded lot was cleared and the house was being built, Doug began laying out the rest of the property, digging a one-acre pond and starting work on a garage large enough to drive one of his hauling trucks through.

But then Cindy had an epiphany.  The Lord put it on her heart that they should hold weddings on the property.

So Doug sacrificed his garage in favor of a barn for hosting receptions, plans for an attached pavilion were made, and the Shady Wagon Farm of today was born.