• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Yard Bar Creates Dream Playground for Doggies and Their Owners

January 20, 2016 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Mr. Ming Austin Dog About Town

This is the face of a dog who needs a visit to Yard Bar

Mr. Ming was looking to get outdoors. After a long holiday season spent watching his humans shop, wrap presents  and go out, it was his turn. His time to sniff, bark and be merry.

Enter Yard Bar, Austin’s newest venue for furry friends to run, jump and be social. By combining food, drink and a variety of fun activities, this hidden gem on Burnet Road is quickly becoming the city’s premier doggy destination.

Born From Necessity

Like most things awesome, the inspiration for Yard Bar came from need. While frequenting the dog runs at Auditorium Shores, owner Kristen Heaney realized the sad reality of dog parks: there’s not much there for people to do. What if there was a place where pet owners could grab a drink and a bite while their dog frolicked in the park?

After testing a number of business models, Heaney leased the lot on Burnet Road where the old Putt-Putt Golf and Games used to live, and began building the dog park of her dreams. When it opened in August 2015, word quickly spread among Austin’s pet friendly community. Yard Bar was the place to be.

Fun for the Whole Fur-mily

Dog Jumping Fence at Yard Bar

Let your dog take a leap at Yard Bar (Credit: Yard Bar)

The first thing at Yard Bar that catches your eye is the main play area. The park is expansive and has ample room for dogs to run at full-tilt. Jumps, agility tubes and other play elements are scattered around the grounds, providing much needed stimulation for active pups.

Yard Bar also features a separate small dog play area for the little ones. Small dogs are allowed in the main area, but if your little guy is easily intimidated, he has a separate space to play. Picnic tables and lawn chairs dot the park’s perimeter, providing plenty of room for parents to chill out as their dogs run amok.

And the best thing of all? Yard Bar employs an army of “Bark Rangers” to police the grounds and keep dogs safe. No more fretting about your two-year-old boxer getting into it with the crabby pug from down the street. The Bark Rangers are there to watch for aggressive behavior and make sure everyone is having a fun, yet safe, time.

Putting the Bar in Yard Bar

Dogs Outside Yard Bar

Two adorable pups hang outside Yard Bar’s fully stocked watering hole (Credit: Yard Bar)

And it’s a good thing somebody’s watching your fur baby because you’ll want to take advantage of Yard Bar’s extensive beer, wine and cocktail menu. The beer list consists of eight taps and over 20 cans, all of which are from craft breweries, with a heavy emphasis on local favorites. Nothing like having a Hops and Grain Pale Dog while watching Mr. Ming socialize. What a coincidence!

The bar also features an impressive cocktail list. Concocted from 100% housemade ingredients, the list feels more Rainey Street than dog park. From a rock solid Bloody Mary with pickled green beans to the whiskey kick of a Blue Lacy (bourbon, blueberry, basil, lemon juice and rhubarb bitters), there’s something for everyone.

And they give back. $1 from the sale of their Moscow mule-inspired cocktail (called Rescue Me) and a full order of their housemade hush puppies go towards local charities via their non-profit, Yard Bar Loves (#YBLOVES).

The food menu is no slouch, either. While grub isn’t allowed in the main park, Yard Bar has a full covered dining area, complete with wait service. The menu features comfort food with a gourmet twist. Salads, sandwiches and snacks dominate the list and have been getting rave reviews.

Yard Bar also offers treats like beef sliders and ice cream for your furry friend. Ever think you could enjoy a charcuterie board after running around with your dog? Consider that dream a reality!

Oasis of Furry Fun

Dog At Yard Bar

A proud dog stands ready for a good time at Yard Bar (Credit: Yard Bar)

Yard Bar isn’t just about drinks, eats and supervised play. The venue also hosts a number of fun affairs within their dedicated event space. Aside from the usual birthday parties and scheduled events, local dog training organization Leaps and Hounds holds regular obedience classes. Just a few weeks ago, Yard Bar held “Hair of the Dog,” a New Year’s Day party that not only gave late night revelers a place to unwind, but also handed out prizes to the shaggiest dogs and their scruffy owners.

As I sat on a lawn chair watching Mr. Ming stalk about and beg for human attention, I felt like I was at a relaxed, laid back puppy party. With string lights casting an amber glow on running canines, and the sound of softly rushing traffic in the distance, my Yard Bar experience was serene. Conversation was spirited; Mr. Ming was content; and I had a beer in hand, taking in a balmy Thursday night. In the words of Kristen Heaney, that’s the whole point.

“We want it to feel like an extension of your own backyard. It’s just a place that generates a lot of community, conversation and good feeling.”

As my dog snoozed on my lap after an hour of sniffing, begging and socializing, it was clear that Heaney’s goal was achieved. Mr. Ming tested; Mr. Ming approved.

Yard Bar is located at 6700 Burnet Road. For directions, menu and rules of the park, visit yardbar.com.

 

@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:

Where do you go when your dog needs some outside time?

Filed Under: Drink, Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: burnet, dogs

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

    Hyperlocal Blog About the City of A...

    To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

    Hyperlocal Blog About the City of Austin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend

Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of July 1, 2022, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Dive In Movies – Wells Branch, Bastrop Patriotic Festival, and more!   Top […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend | Brick Rodeo

10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!

  For summer camp information, check out our page for Best Summer Camps in Austin for 2022!  If you would like to discover more Things to do in Austin this Week & Things to do in Austin with Kids this Weekend, check out Facebook for immediate notifications.

Things to do in Austin this week

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 27, 2022 include Pints & Pups at Round Rock Express, Carpenter BBQ Pool Party, and more!

Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. There are things to do on Monday in Austin, of course, things to do in Austin on Saturday night, and everything in between! Some of you may be […]

texas swimming holes near austin

Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

If you have been looking for free places to swim in Austin or googling ‘swimming holes near me’, you are in the right place! Texas is known for a lot of things and one of them is relentlessly hot summers. The temperatures are rising in Austin and across the state. Luckily, there are also many […]

Austin trampoline parks - Urban Air Adventure Park (Cedar Park)

Austin Trampoline Parks – Best Indoor Jumping Places for Kids and Adults!

Trampoline parks were among the decade’s most unique leisure attractions. They offer a playful atmosphere where people can defy the laws of physics and have a good time hurling themselves around. It consists of a large room filled wall to wall with trampolines. On the weekend, you may get rid of your boredom and have […]

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!
  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • 10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 27, 2022 include Pints & Pups at Round Rock Express, Carpenter BBQ Pool Party, and more!
  • Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!
  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • 10 Best Lakes in and around Austin
  • 7 Popular Lady Bird Lake Activities to Experience This Year
  • 20 Restaurants Open Late in Austin – Best Late Night Food Places For Tasty Eats

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

wpDiscuz