Some road trips end at a chain hotel. Becca and Doug Warp’s ended at a farm full of golden retrievers, and they never really left. The couple had been living out of an RV, roughly 17,000 miles across 35 states, when they spotted a group of Goldens in the Vermont countryside and pulled over on a whim. They called the moment kismet, and it redirected their lives.
The Warps teamed up with Susan and Dana Menny, who own Butternut Goldens, and together they opened the Golden Dog Farm experience in 2023 on the Mennys’ 275-acre spread. The idea is simple: let people spend the day surrounded by a multigenerational family of well socialized golden retrievers.
The moment guests remember is the arrival. Twelve Goldens pile out of a truck and come barreling across the field toward the waiting visitors, and for some people that greeting is emotional. Plenty of guests cannot keep a dog at home, because of housing or health, and others show up after losing a pet. An afternoon at the farm gives them back something they miss. The rest of the day goes the way you would hope: races through the fields, pond swims, tennis balls chased until everyone runs out of steam, and a group photo session before you leave.
What this means for your dog: for most of us this is a bucket list stop rather than a weekly outing, and visit slots are shared through the farm’s Facebook page, so check there before you point the car at Vermont. If you are already planning a dog friendly road trip, our guide to traveling with your pup covers the packing and planning basics. Somewhere out there, a dozen Goldens are waiting to say hello.