Animal lovers Ian and Mindy McCormick decided in 2018 that life was too short to work all the time in the corporate world to sustain a lifestyle in San Francisco, California. The duo decided that since they only had one life and wanted to live it on their terms, they needed to make sure they were doing something they enjoyed and loved passionately.
“So we focused on a business that takes care of dogs and their owners,” says Ian when they were blessed to have great dogs of their own like Samson and Roxy and their current pups, Siena and Honcho. They were looking for a rural property to live and work in, in a place where they had land and a place where they could reconnect with nature. They bought The Getaway in January 2020, quit their jobs, and moved to New York.
“We were quickly faced with the challenges of running a new business during an unprecedented pandemic. I remember Mindy and thought, ‘Wow! How lucky we are to be – taking the greatest risk of our lives and being faced almost immediately with a terrible pandemic that could potentially jeopardize our business and cut us off from our family and friends who had planned to visit. ‘“
Ian describes The Getaway at Emerald Glen Farm as 120 acres of pure dog heaven.
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“We offer well behaved dogs that pass our personality screening an off-leash experience. There is a 30 acre area that includes all of the accommodation / dining areas that are fully fenced. Our guests have compared it to staying in a dog park. “
Ian and Mindy take dog friendly care to the next level and take care of the canines. “We know we’ve done our job when we hear how much fun and how tired our host dogs are at the end of each day,” says Ian.
The property offers over 4 miles of hiking trails, access to the clean / clear waters of Butternut Creek which meanders through 90% of the property, private retreats to relax by the water and enjoy the surroundings, or to take a quick nap. Mindy and Ian want to make the getaway even better by adding some laying hens to their current farm animals (like the two Nigerian pygmy goats they have adopted) for fresh eggs for their guests. They hope to eventually offer dog boarding to guests and the public in general.
The 2021 summer season runs from Friday, May 28th to Thursday, September 30th. The campsite has space for RVs and tents, as well as dog-friendly cottages and cabins. Mindy and Ian value their guests, both humans and dogs, very much. “Lots of great dog-loving people,” says Ian, “which is uplifting.”
Do you want more short breaks? Visit emerald glengetaway.com or follow @emeraldglengetaway, on Facebook @vacationwithdog or email info@emeraldglengetaway.com.
