Summer Camp for City Dogs at historic Fairburn kennel

A 50-year-old historic kennel property is getting a dramatic lease on life this week, transforming from an abandoned developer's contract into a sprawling nine-acre outdoor retreat billed as a "summer camp for city dogs." The property, originally opened in the early 1970s as Celebrity Kennels by the late Liz Pruitt—a legendary local figure known for breeding champion Saint Bernards—faced an uncertain future after her passing. The land was tied up in intensive commercial development contracts for nearly two years before the deal unexpectedly collapsed, opening the door for a massive preservation and revitalization effort.