May 1, 2022
Our Story
Holiday Barn has a rich history which began with Emerson and Kathy Hughes’ love for dogs and cats. Emerson, a Henrico County music teacher, and his family opened Holiday Barn Pet Resorts in Glen Allen, VA in 1972. A few years later, they opened a second Richmond, VA location near Midlothian. Today their son, Michael, is head of the pack.
Vision & Values
Holiday Barn celebrates the individual strengths of our Pack members. What allows so many individuals to work effectively as a team is our common embodiment of the Holiday Barn values. These values are our principles, the standards of conduct that define who we are and guide what we do.
COMPAWSSION®
Providing genuine care and concern through our thoughts, words and actions.
PACK SPIRIT
Working and playing together for the success of our organization.
FURRMAZING®
Enthusiasm for everything we do!
PURRRSUING LEARNING®
Constantly striving to obtain and share knowledge.
BEST PAW FORWARD
Doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
Our Rich Family Heritage
1970s
Our Beginnings
Holiday Barn has a rich history which began with Emerson and Kathy Hughes’ love for dogs and cats. Em and Kathy, both Henrico County music teachers, opened Holiday Barn Pet Resorts in Glen Allen, VA in 1972. A few years later, they opened a second Richmond, VA location south of the James River.
1990s
Expansion
In the 1990’s, Holiday Barn began expanding its facilities and the scope of its services to meet the increasing demand for luxury pet services. Pet owners did not want to board their pets at a kennel, they wanted a pet resort! Highlights of the expansion include an in-ground swimming pool, doggie day care pavilion and play yards, luxury suites and beautiful cat condominiums.
2000s
Family Ties
In 2004, Em and Kathy turned the day-to-day operations over to their son, Michael. During the early years at Holiday Barn, the Hughes’ goal was simply to provide a safe, healthy and fun vacation for Richmond area pets so that clients could go on their well-deserved vacation without worrying about their pets.
2010s
Innovation
Through the years, many amenities have been added, making Holiday Barn the premier resort for pets. Guests can enjoy activity packed schedules filled with play times, walks, swimming, gourmet treats, delicious room service, doggie day care, personal dog training, grooming and spa treatments. In fact, customers frequently comment that their pet will have a fancier vacation than they will! Demand for luxury pet vacations continues to grow and Holiday Barn built a state-of-the-art 33,000 square foot facility on Johnston Willis Drive, Richmond, VA in 2015.
Today and Beyond
Ongoing Commitment
As a result of this innovative approach to pet care, Holiday Barn received national recognition when we were declared one of the “Top 10 Places to Pamper a Pooch” by the Travel Channel, featured on NBC’s Today Show and highlighted in The New York Times. Locally the Hughes and the entire Holiday Barn “pack”support local humane organizations and their educational and advocacy initiatives. As Holiday Barn’s menu of services and involvement in the pet care community increased, so did our mission. Today, the Hughes’ family and the Holiday Barn Pack work together, Creating joy in the lives of pets and their families!®
Awards & Accolades
June 1, 2021
Holiday Barn is Voted Number 1 "Best Pet Boarding", Number 1 "Best Pet Day Care" by the Readers of Richmond Magazine.
July 1, 2021
Holiday Barn is Voted Number 1 "Best Place to Board a Pet " by the Readers of Virginia Living Magazine.
July 1, 2021
Holiday Barn is Voted Number One of the "Best Places to Board a Pet" by the Readers of Virginia Living Magazine.
July 1, 2021
Holiday Barn is Voted Number 1 "Best Place to Board a Pet" and Number 1 "Best Pet Day Care" by the Readers of Richmond Magazine.
August 1, 2021
Holiday Barn is Voted Number 1 "Best Place to Board a Pet" by the Readers of Style Weeklyy.
August 1, 2021
Holiday Barn is voted one of the Best Places to Board Your Pet by the readers of Style Weekly.
July 1, 2020
Holiday Barn is Voted Number 1 "Best Place to Board a Pet" by the Readers of Virginia Living Magazine.
July 1, 2020
Holiday Barn is Voted Number 1 "Best Pet Boarding", Number 1 "Best Pet Day Care" and Number 2 "Best Pet Grooming" by the Readers of Richmond Magazine.
July 29, 2020
Holiday Barn is voted one of the Best Places to Board Your Pet by the readers of Style Weekly.
June 1, 2019
Holiday Barn is voted Number 1 in the “Best Dog Grooming” category by the readers of Richmond Magazine, June 2019.
June 1, 2019
Holiday Barn is voted Number 1 in the “The Best Best Dog Day Care” category by the readers of Richmond Magazine, June 2019.
June 1, 2019
Holiday Barn is voted Number 1 in the “The Best Places to Board Your Pet” category by the readers of Richmond Magazine, June 2019.
May 1, 2019
Holiday Barn is voted one of “The Best Places to Board Your Pet” by the readers of Virginia Living, May 2019.
June 1, 2018
Holiday Barn is voted one of “The Best Places to Board Your Pet”, “Best Pet Day Care” and “Best Pet Grooming” by the readers of Richmond Magazine, June 2018.
May 1, 2018
Holiday Barn is voted one of “The Best Places to Board Your Pet” by the readers of Virginia Living, May 2018.
May 1, 2018
Holiday Barn is voted one of “The Best Places to Board Your Pet” by the readers of Style Weekly, May 2018.
March 1, 2018
Holiday Barn Head of the Pack, Michael Hughes, was presented the Johnny Birkitt Hero Award by the Richmond SPCA in recognition of his “remarkable support to the Richmond SPCA, of the Dog Jog and 5K Run, and of homeless pets in desperate need”. March 2018.
June 1, 2017
Holiday Barn is voted The “The Best Places to Board Your Pet” and “Best Dog Day Care” by the readers of Richmond Magazine, June 2017.
May 1, 2017
Holiday Barn is voted one of “The Best Places to Board Your Pet” by the readers of Virginia Living, May 2017.
May 1, 2017
Holiday Barn is voted one of “The Best Places to Board Your Pet” by the readers of Style Weekly, May 2017.
January 1, 2016
Holiday Barn is voted “The Best Dog Groomer” by the readers of the Richmond Times Dispatch, October 2016.
January 1, 2016
Holiday Barn is voted the “Best Place to Board a Pet” and one of the best places to groom your pet by the readers of Richmond Magazine, July 2016.
January 1, 2016
Holiday Barn is voted one of the “Best Places to Board a Pet” by the readers of Virginia Living magazine, June 2016.
January 1, 2016
Holiday Barn is voted one of the “Best Places to Board a Pet” by the readers of Style Weekly magazine, May 2016.
January 1, 2015
Holiday Barn opens a 33,000 square-foot luxury resort on about 5 acres on Johnston Willis Drive. Highlights in include a bone-shaped swimming pool and 18 play yards with synthetic turf, November 2015.
January 1, 2015
Michael Hughes, Head of the Pack at Holiday Barn Pet Resorts, gives an update on the status of the Southside location’s new site, March 2015
January 1, 2014
Holiday Barn is voted “Best Place Board a Pet, Best Doggie Day Camp, and Best Dog Trainer-Amanda” by the readers of Richmond Magazine, July 2014
January 2, 2014
Holiday Barn is voted “Best Place to Board a Pet” by the readers of Virginia Living magazine, June 2014
January 1, 2013
Holiday Barn is named the GRCC IMPACT Award winner in the small business category for 2013, November 2013
January 1, 2013
Holiday Barn is voted “Best of” by Style Weekly AND Virginia Living magazine, May 2013
January 1, 2013
Holiday Barn loyal customers spread goodwill to the lives of homeless dogs and cats by donating 1,107 pounds of dog and cat food! The food was donated to Henrico Humane Society, Richmond SPCA and Ring Dog Rescue, April 2013
January 1, 2012
Holiday Barn Pet Resorts is a finalist for the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce 25th Annual Impact Award. The award recognizes local for-profit businesses that have made an impact on the region’s economy, contributed to the community and to the lives of their employees through innovation in their industries, September 2012
January 1, 2012
Holiday Barn Pet Resorts’ customers and pack members donate 832 lbs. of pet food to Richmond SPCA, Ring Dog Rescue, and Henrico Humane Society. The 40 Day Pet Food Drive commemorated the 40th Anniversary of Holiday Barn, June 2012
January 1, 2012
Holiday Barn Pet Resorts is voted Best Place to board a pet by the readers of Virginia Living, May 2012
January 1, 2012
Holiday Barn Pet Resorts is voted Best Place to board a pet by Style Weekly readers, April 2012
January 1, 2011
Holiday Barn Pet Resorts is presented with the Richmond SPCA’s prestigious Ellen Glascow Award
January 1, 2011
Featured in The Richmond Times Dispatch, September 26, 2011
January 1, 2011
Mission and Brand Book Created with Pure Culture, a consulting team in Richmond, Virginia
January 1, 2011
Voted The Best Place to Board Your Pet by Style Weekly readers
January 1, 2007
Celebrated 35th Anniversary
January 1, 2006
Holiday Barn is rated one of the 10 Best Places to Pamper a Pooch by The Travel Channel
January 1, 2006
Featured in the New York Times in an article on the popular trend of pampering pets
January 1, 2006
Featured on the Today Show with footage showing our guests being pampered
January 1, 2006
MSNBC’s Your Business filmed and aired 30 minute show about Holiday Barn
January 1, 2004
Emerson Hughes receives the SPCA’s Glasgow Award for his leadership in animal welfare
January 1, 2001