Nearly 200 goats descended on a wooded lot along Garden Ridge Boulevard in Flower Mound on Wednesday, Aug. 5, munching poison ivy and underbrush to prepare a new home for Church of the Resurrection.

The congregation hired a goatscaping company from Mineral Wells to release the herd at 2120 Garden Ridge Blvd. around 8 a.m., the Cross Timbers Gazette reported. Church families turned the land-clearing job into a party they dubbed "Goat Fest 2026," with members wearing custom T-shirts featuring a goat and the event's name. The goatscaping company set up a petting zoo for children who came to watch.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Lake, the church's pastor, credited congregation member Peggy Durrett with the idea. Lake told the Gazette that Durrett has a green thumb and deep knowledge of clearing brush, and that goatscaping turned out to be the most cost-effective approach. He said the church invited everyone and made a party out of it.

The goats did more than put on a show. Lake said the herd will clear poison ivy and other hazardous underbrush from a wooded section of the property where the church plans to build a walking and prayer trail with a park bench. The crew was expected to finish in about a day, though if the goats got too full, they'd spend the night and wrap up Thursday, Aug. 6.

The new building marks a milestone for the 20-year-old congregation, which previously held services at Faith Lutheran Church. Lake, originally from Chicago and with the church about two years, told the Gazette the goatscaping "combines the best of Texas farming and ministry."

"This is the best anniversary gift from God you can possibly ask for, to get a property we really love," he said.

Church of the Resurrection plans to fully move into the Garden Ridge building this fall. Lake said he's already looking forward to inviting the broader community into the new space.

GoatScaping LLC, a North Texas firm, describes goatscaping as an eco-friendly method that uses herds to clear vegetation without chemicals or heavy equipment.