Dog Resort Construction Ready To Begin In Mesquite

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

After nearly three years of planning, negotiating on real estate, gaining city approvals and lining up financing, The BARK! Canine Club and Resort is ready to begin construction on its new dog park and recreation facility in Mesquite.

This doggie paradise is being built on 13.7 acres in the Mesquite Industrial Park on Isaac Newton Drive, just across the street from the new Crown Holdings facility which is currently under construction. The first phase of the project will span eight acres of the parcel.

BARK! owner Susan Hunter and her husband, Mark, moved to Mesquite in May of 2020. They came from Indiana where Susan was a owner/partner in a law firm. The couple had vacationed often in Mesquite and even owned a home here. They finally decided that this is where they wanted to retire.
Identifying a business need in Mesquite was a part of their move. It all had to do with what the couple would do with their three dogs during the summer time.

“We were sitting on two acres in Indiana, and our dogs were free to do as they pleased,” Susan said. “But one day, I was standing there watching them run around and I thought: What am I going to do with them in Mesquite? In the summer it is so blasted hot here. It is really not safe for them outside.”

The couple’s home has a smaller yard, typical to Mesquite. So suddenly they realized that this would be quite a culture shock for the whole family.
“We decided that what Mesquite really needs is an indoor dog park,” Susan said. “And that is where the idea of BARK! all started.”

Currently, BARK! is operating as just such an indoor dog park. The temporary facility at 770 Cimarron Ct. offers a large air conditioned space with all kinds of activities and toys for dogs to enjoy. It also offers a day care facility and boarding services as well.

But the new facility will take that to a whole new level. It will have two huge 5,000 square foot buildings: one for the indoor dog park and the other as a cage-free, resort-style boarding service for dogs.

“This area will really be a home away from home for the dogs,” Susan said. “The day care and boarding facility will have its own separate section of outdoor park. And there will be roll up doors that we can open up so they can go inside and out. They will still be safe and separated from the other outdoor park facilities.”

But that is just the beginning. There will be plenty of outdoor amenities as well. The new site will have a beautifully landscaped outdoor park where club members can bring their dogs to play and exercise. There will even be splash pad area for dogs to cool off and have some water fun.
“Some of it will be turf and some will be desert landscape,” Susan said. “We will put in paths and trails and all kinds of fun things for the dogs to do.”

The site will include a world-class dock diving pool. Dogs can try out the very popular dock diving hobby at the pool. There will even be classes available in the sport. In addition, the resort will be hosting local, regional and someday even national competitions.

“One of our goals is to bring national competitions here,” Susan said. “You see those covered from time to time on ESPN. It is really fun to watch. And there are people who travel with their dogs all over the country to participate in these events. It could be a good economic development component for the city.”

The outdoor and indoor parks will be accessed through an annual club membership, similar too a health club. “We expect that membership to be mostly locals and snowbirds that pay dues to be able to access the parks 24/7 with a keycard,” Susan said.

In addition, there will be a program called Travellers’ Rest for people who are just passing through town on a longer journey with their pets.
“Even if folks are just passing through, this will offer a place where dogs can go off leash and run around a bit to get some of that energy out,” Susan said. “That is important for dogs.”

The facility will also offer many classes and training programs to local dog owners. These include everything from basic obedience, to agility training and more complex tricks.

Susan said that she has tried to think of everything in the design and planning process to create an up-scale resort-like environment at BARK!.
“The whole idea is to make it a luxury experience for the dogs, and for the humans,” said Susan, “but mostly for the dogs.”

Construction on the new location is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks. If all goes well, the facility is expected to have its grand opening by summer of 2023.

For more information about BARK! and its many offerings, visit barkcanineclub.com/ or call 702-306-6146.