Today we’d like to introduce you to William Wright.
Hi William, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Our Story: From a Dream to a Dog-Loving Haven
It all began with a big-hearted idea from our son Nathan. When he was just 10 or 11 years old, he started talking about wanting to open an animal rescue. His passion planted a seed of boarding dogs that grew stronger over time.
I had spent years in sales, but as AI and online tools began reshaping the industry, I could see the writing on the wall. My wife and I sat down for some honest conversations about the future. I’ve always loved animals—especially dogs—and the idea of building something meaningful around that passion felt right. While still working, I enrolled in Doggy College to get professional training and volunteered as a kennel tech to gain real-world experience.
We created a solid plan for me to leave my job and pursue this full-time. What we didn’t anticipate were the unexpected hurdles that came with our beautiful 14-acre property, nestled in the middle of TWRA land. The wooded, peaceful setting is perfect for dogs, but the swampy terrain brought significant challenges. Clearing the land took eight long months—tractors and vehicles would sink, forcing us to wait for drier conditions. Once construction finally began and the building went up, we faced another major setback with the well that added six more months of delays.
We had hoped to open in April 2025, but after these obstacles, we finally welcomed our first guests in May 2026. I left my sales job in April 2026 to focus entirely on getting everything ready. The launch went smoothly, and within the first month we were fully booked.
Shortly after opening, a nearby home that was also a rescue facility caught fire. We were able to step in and help care for the displaced dogs. That experience, while stressful, was incredibly rewarding and quickly made us feel like a real part of the local community.
Today, every dog that comes through our doors gets individual attention, love, and care. I make sure they receive plenty of kisses, hugs, and playtime. Each night, I send photos to the pet parents so they can see how their furry family members are doing while they’re away.
None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support and encouragement of my family—We’re truly grateful and honored to serve our community in a way that brings joy to us every single day. We’re building something special here together, one happy dog (and happy owner) at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not exactly — it’s been more of a winding adventure with plenty of unexpected bumps along the way. While we’ve faced real challenges, we’ve learned, adapted, and grown stronger through every one of them.
The biggest hurdles came during the construction phase on our nearly 14-acre property. The land is beautifully wooded and peaceful, but very swampy. Clearing it took eight long months because tractors and vehicles kept sinking. We finally got the building up, but then hit major issues with the well that added another six months of delays. What was originally supposed to be completed around October 2025 stretched all the way until we opened in May 2026.
Even after opening, a few construction-related issues have popped up. The HVAC system has given us trouble, the garage door still isn’t operating correctly (we’re waiting on the contractor to return), and the drainage system wasn’t installed properly for our wet terrain. We are having to backpedal and redo parts of the grading and drainage to protect the building. My wife, who grew up in the Chicago area and understands challenging land, has been very vocal with the contractors. She’s made it clear she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to swampy conditions — even after one contractor dismissed her. She’s been fierce about making sure everything is done right so we don’t risk our foundation. Our building is beautiful and perfectly suited for what we do, and we’re determined to keep it that way.
On the business side, things took off faster than we expected. Within the first month we were fully booked, partly because a nearby rescue facility caught fire and we stepped in to help. While we were honored to support our community and the dogs in need, it was stressful. I started to panic a bit, worried that I wouldn’t be able to give every dog the individual love and attention I wanted them to have.
Personally, I also dealt with a tough injury right in the middle of everything. While trying to grab our energetic 1.5-year-old dog, I blew out my bicep and now have to have surgery. It’s been painful and a clear reminder to slow down and take care of myself while we grow the business.
Through all of this, my wife has been an absolute rock. Her positive attitude sums it up perfectly: “It’s just another adventure. It’s going to be all good.” She’s had my back every step of the way, and she quickly lined up an amazing helper (a contact from a neighboring boarding business) who jumped in on short notice. That extra support helped calm the dogs, manage the group dynamics, and kept everything running smoothly during the chaotic period.
We’ve had our share of struggles, but we’ve managed to work through every one. The support from family, the kindness of our community, and the daily joy of caring for these dogs have made it all worthwhile. We’re proud of where we are today and even more excited about the future.
We’ve been impressed with Cedar Hill Acres LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a family-owned dog boarding facility located on nearly 14 acres of beautiful, wooded countryside. Our mission is simple: while you’re away on vacation or traveling, your dog gets to enjoy their own peaceful country getaway. We treat every dog like part of our extended family and focus on giving them a calm, happy, and enriching stay.
What We Offer
Each dog has its own private suite measuring 10 ft by 5 ft indoors with full privacy, plus an attached 10 ft by 5 ft covered outdoor run. This gives them a comfortable personal space as well as safe access to the outdoors any time they want.
We also have a large 8,100 sq ft fenced play yard that is divided into three separate sections. This setup is one of the features our clients love most. Because many families prefer their dogs not to play in large mixed groups, the divided yards allow us to give dogs more individualized or small-group playtime. It ensures every dog gets consistent, quality play sessions no matter their personality, energy level, or comfort with other dogs. Whether they do best playing alone, with one or two buddies, or in a small compatible group, they still get plenty of outdoor fun and exercise every day.
Dogs also enjoy daily walks on our expansive, quiet property and lots of one-on-one attention from us. We keep calming doggy music playing throughout the facility to create a relaxing, zen-like atmosphere. At night, I personally take photos throughout the day of each dog and send them to their parents so you can see how your “babies” are doing.
What Sets Us Apart
Our country setting is one of our biggest differentiators. Tucked away in a peaceful, wooded area with no busy roads or foot traffic, dogs can truly relax without the noise and distractions common in more urban boarding facilities. It feels more like a vacation home than traditional kennels.
We are a small, hands-on, family-run business. Every dog receives individualized care and genuine affection. We specialize in creating a low-stress, loving environment rather than high-volume boarding.
What We’re Most Proud Of
We’re most proud of the personal relationships we build — both with the dogs and their families. From Nathan’s childhood dream of helping animals, to the long journey of building our facility, everything we do is rooted in love for dogs. We’re especially proud of how we stepped up to help when a nearby rescue had a fire, and how quickly we earned the trust of our local community.
We want our readers and potential clients to know that your dog’s well-being and happiness is our top priority. This isn’t just a business for us — it’s a passion project built by a family that truly loves dogs. Our doors (and play yards) are always open for tours. We encourage you to come see the peaceful and clean environment for yourself and meet the team.
Whether you need boarding for a weekend or a couple of weeks, we’re here to give your dog a safe, joyful country vacation they’ll love — so you can travel with complete peace of mind
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The dog boarding and pet care industry is evolving quickly, and we believe it will continue shifting toward more personalized, wellness-focused, and home-like experiences. Pet parents are treating their dogs more like true family members, so there’s growing demand for boarding options that go beyond basic kennels. People want peace of mind knowing their dogs are happy, relaxed, and enriched — not just housed. Trends we’re seeing include a stronger focus on low-stress environments, individualized care, nature-based enrichment, and added services like grooming and wellness programs.
We’re excited to grow with these changes. Over the next 5 years, we plan to expand our facility to meet the rising need in our area while staying true to our country, zen-style approach.
Our vision includes building several private “She Shed” style doggy retreats. Each would feature a comfortable indoor space with a doggy door leading to a fully fenced private outdoor area, giving dogs the freedom to come and go as they please. We also want to add a larger building with a spacious indoor play area and a professional grooming suite — there’s a real need for quality grooming services locally, and we’re looking forward to filling that gap.
Additionally, we plan to develop nature trails across our property for peaceful, supervised walks. This will allow dogs to enjoy even more of the beautiful wooded surroundings in a safe, controlled way.
We see our role in the industry as continuing to offer a true alternative to high-volume, stressful facilities. By staying small enough to give every dog personal attention while expanding thoughtfully, we want to set a higher standard for calm, country-style boarding that prioritizes genuine well-being.
We’re passionate about this next chapter and look forward to creating an even better experience for the dogs and families we serve. It’s all part of turning our family dream into a lasting, growing business that puts dogs first.
Pricing:
- $50/night, 7th night is free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Cedarhillacres192.com
- Instagram: Cedar Hill Acres 192
- Facebook: Cedar Hill Acres
