Hound Ears Club, Blowing Rock, N.C., has taken canine hospitality to special levels with its new Grover’s Park.
It’s not unusual for club and resort properties to accommodate members’ pets. But as might be expected from its name, Hound Ears Club, Blowing Rock, N.C., has taken canine hospitality to special levels with its new Grover’s Park.
The dog park, which held its grand opening on July 3, is available to members 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Measuring an acre, the park is named after the club’s original developer, Grover Robbins. (The club’s mascot, Grover the Hound Dog, is displayed on the park’s signage. Hound Ears Club itself, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, takes its name from dog-eared shapes of rock outcroppings on a nearby mountain that looms over the property).
The new dog park is located in the heart of the property. “There are three sections; one for small dogs, one for large dogs, and one for dogs who think they’re people,” says COO/General Manager Don Vance.
Each enclosure is made of locust wood and is large enough for a horse, according to Vance, and they were all built, and are all maintained, by the Hound Ears grounds staff.
There are rules, however. Members must fill out a pet registry form, have immunizations up to date, and make use of the provided bags and trash cans to keep the area clean.
Grover’s Park, along with a fly-fishing park, hiking trails, croquet and other new amenities, were all planned to help current members make greater use of the property, Vance says. But he hopes they can also “appeal to new age groups”—and this year, 26 new members have joined, he reports.
Vance was surprised by how much the membership supported the dog park’s construction. “It’s been an idea for quite some time, but it’s finally been brought to life,” he says. “We are officially a dog-friendly community!”
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