I’m trying to get the pups used to longer car rides in their new spots in the Jeep (Rorie has gotten too big for the front seat!) so I’ve been looking for some adventures a little further from home. Today we took a long drive out to the Meyer Ranch Private Dog Park in Spring Hope.
Before this trip, I had never heard of Spring Hope. Located in Nash County, Spring Hope is near Bunn en route to Rocky Mount. Charlie, Sadie, and Rorie loved the country roads we traveled to get there – heads hanging out the windows and noses working overtime to take in the new smells.
When renting the Meyer Ranch Private Dog Park through Sniffspot, the owners provide their address and excellent details about the 1-acre fenced-in grass meadow. They have a well-marked and easy-to-find parking spot and arrows pointing you to the spot’s entrance. I loved communicating with them before and after our visit – they were very friendly and responsive!
The spot itself is open, clean, secure, and very peaceful. You can check out this video to get a better sense of the space. Occasionally, we heard some distant dogs barking and saw cows across the way, however, all three pups’ hackles stayed put! Even if you have a reactive dog who isn’t a fan of farm animals or other dogs, you’ll probably be ok.
My pack quickly found a small natural area in the middle of the grass meadow. As usual, Sadie sampled everything. Rorie moved on to splashing in the kiddie pool, and Charlie spent most of his time walking and sniffing the spot’s perimeter.
While they explored, I sat in the shade under a beautiful big tree. I enjoyed the serene sound of a water fountain and marveled at the thoughtful extras the owners provided…a picnic table with flowers, fresh water for the dogs, treats, toys, bottled water for humans, wifi access, bug spray, hand sanitizer, poop bags, and even first aid kits for humans and dogs!
After 30 minutes, my pack was tired and ready to go. This length of stay is fairly typical for them in meadows and fields. They are uninterested in playing fetch, typically save their wrestling and chase for home, and tend to linger longer in spots with lots of natural areas and variations in landscape (i.e. hills, streams, rocks, etc.).
This spot is so lovely and the owners have created thoughtful extras. Charlie, Sadie, Rorie, and I would be frequent visitors if we lived a little closer. However, we will definitely return if we need a place to stop on a road trip. Also, if you have a dog who loves to play fetch, you want to work on recall, or you are beginning to desensitize your pup to farm animals, this spot is worth a longer drive. And, if you want to make a real adventure out of your visit, consider stopping by nearby Vollmer Farm for berry or pumpkin picking. You can’t eat in their restaurant with a dog; however, you can grab a sandwich and enjoy the great picnic table at Meyer Ranch Private Dog Park while your dog plays!
We’d love to hear your ideas on other dog-friendly places you might pair with a visit to this great spot.
Keep exploring!
