Whitewater announces opening of off leash dog area
New attraction includes 70 acres of off-leash trails, waterfront access, and food and beverage and retail offerings for humans and their dogs.
Charlotte, NC—Whitewater, a popular outdoor recreation destination in the area, has introduced Whitewater Off Leash, where people and their dogs can enjoy 70 acres of off-leash trails and waterfront access.
“Since its opening in 2006, the Whitewater Center has facilitated access to the outdoors by lowering barriers and inspiring people to get outside,” said President/CEO Jeff Wise. “The Whitewater Center has always been a world-class destination for guests and their canine companions, offering woods, lakes, and trails to explore. Now, these outdoor experiences can be enjoyed without restraint.”
Whitewater Off Leash Dog Area
Within Off Leash is a pebble beach, dock, drinking trough, and dog wash station. Guests can hike, walk, and run along the 1.5-mile Lake Loop trail along the area’s chain of lakes. There is also plenty of open space and wooded areas for guests and their dogs to spread out from others, play fetch, practice training exercises, and more.
“There are plenty of off-leash dog areas nearby, and there are plenty of places where you can walk on a trail with your dog on a leash,” Wise said. “But this will be the first destination that combines those two concepts, and the result is a place where you and your dog can have a memorable outdoor experience together.”
The entryway to Off Leash is the newly constructed Barley House. Taking its name from the Old English word for barn, the Barley House is constructed with traditional timber framing and mortise and tenon joinery. This building is also home to a new retail and food & beverage outpost, where guests can purchase food, treats, and beer — with offerings for people and their dogs.
Guests can enjoy the views of the lakes from the Barley House’s back deck or in the adjacent shaded pavilion. In keeping with Whitewater’s commitment to environmental stewardship, local pine trees were used as building materials.
To access Whitewater Off Leash, guests can purchase a single activity pass, a monthly Off Leash pass, or a annual pass. The annual pass grants guests access to all Whitewater activities, including rafting, climbing, ziplines, and more.
Guests must purchase one pass per dog, with a maximum of three dogs per person. Annual pass holders can also add a dog to their pass for a fee. Passes must be purchased onsite. There is no cost to enter Off Leash without a dog.
Off Leash opens on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Opening weekend hours are 9 am – 8 pm.
For more information, visit whitewater.org/OffLeash.
WHITEWATER
Since 2001, Whitewater has promoted access to the active, outdoor lifestyle and inspired people to engage with the outdoors. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Whitewater Center is the primary facility for Whitewater. It is on 1,300 acres and provides access to the world’s largest manufactured whitewater river, over 40 miles of trails, and 30 recreational activities. Whitewater also manages and protects land and provides outdoor experiences in Pisgah National Forest and Huger, South Carolina. Each year, Whitewater enables over 1 million visitors to engage in outdoor recreation throughout the 2,500 acres of land it protects and manages. For more information, contact info@whitewater.org.
