Taking High Hill Road out of Logan Township towards Route 130 will lead you straight to the Gloucester County Dream Park. Roughly 227 acres comprise this complex, enabling it to host community activities year-round.
With the ringing in of the 2026 New Year, the Dream Park sets forth in another year filled with engaging activities.
Flossie Ale is the current park director, working with the Dream Park for 14 years. Ale manages to squeeze out 51 weeks’ worth of events yearly by hosting one to three shows and activities every weekend.
Visiting exhibitors come from many parts of the United States, such as North Carolina, Vermont, and Massachusetts to appear and compete in Dream Park shows. Sometimes, individuals travel from even farther away, such as southern parts of Canada. This surge of travelers helps provide economic growth for Gloucester County businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and other businesses visitors may need to use.
Much of the park’s schedule consists of animal competitions. They are mostly equine related. Dogs are also show candidates at the park, but only during select months. On past occasions, the Dream Park has also hosted events catered to rabbits and guinea pigs.
A boarding barn is also located on the park, and up to 40 horses are given daily care and maintained by Dream Park employees.
The Dream Park offers non-competitive events as well, such as riding lessons, a summer camp, pony parties, and an annual craft fair. The Dream Park also hosts cross county meets through the grounds for high school and college athletes.
Ale has noted that there have even been a few weddings held there.
Equine Sports of the Dream Park
Horse shows will be all the craze at the Dream Park this January. Spectators can spend hours observing horses attempting various action-packed classes. Shows occur every weekend starting Jan. 2 in the Dream Park’s heated indoor arena.
Dedication only begins to describe how much work riders and their horses apply towards showing at the Dream Park. You’ll find nonprofessional backyard riders’ horses as well as horses worth thousands of dollars at different shows throughout the season at the Dream Park.
The time that riders take to prepare for these competitions, sometimes traveling from out of state, is quite admirable.
Woodedge Stables plays a large part in most of January’s shows. Bob Allen, program manager and owner, said that their shows will offer hunter and jumper classes. Hunter classes are when riders are scored by judges on jumping style. Hunter Jumper classes focus on the horse’s jumping ability and how fast they perform.
Events through Woodedge Stables will happen on the first, second, and final weekends of January. Hunter classes will be held on Saturdays and hunter jumper classes will be held on Sundays.
C.J.L Horse Shows is also having a roster of shows this January. Shows will only consist of jumping competitions according to Ale and will take place on the third weekend of January.
There will also be other organizers hosting horse events as well throughout the year, such as quarter horse, paint, pinto, and appaloosa shows, along with cutting and reining competitions. Information on future scheduled events can be found on the Dream Park’s website (dreamparknj.com) under the “Our Calendar” tab.
Horse show events are free and open to the public to view.
Delaware County Agility Dog Show
The Delaware County Kennel Club will be coordinating an agility dog show in February. Starting Feb. 13 up until its final show on March 1, the Dream Park will be a bustling month for dogs and dog lovers.
Trial chairperson of the Delaware County Kennel Club, Jennifer Rhyshek, helps put together the dog show. Each weekend will consist of high action courses testing dog and handler’s abilities to navigate courses. Courses will include obstacles, jumps, as well as speed classes.
Participating dogs are not limited on how many classes they can compete in. Rhyshek says some sign up for one of the listed agility sports but are encouraged to compete in as many classes as their owners wish to.
Many dogs of varying breeds will be participating in each of the agility classes. Every show will be an open ring event, with Rhyshek explaining that it is for spectators to have an unobstructed, front row seat view of all the action.
Around 500 dogs or more will be seen participating in select trials inside the Dream Park’s heated interior ring. Rhyshek said that no dogs outside of participating members are to be brought on site during any event held.
Collected proceeds from the club’s shows are given back to Delaware County communities and other nonprofits across the nation. Delaware County K9 units are given funding towards bullet and knife proof vests, as well as smoke inhalation kits.
Every year, Rhyshek and other club members partner up with a few organizations to assist in collecting donations. Last year, they partnered with Warrior Canine Connection and the Penn Vet Working Dog Center to provide proceeds towards each of the organization’s goals.
When asked why people should come out and see the shows, Rhyshek said that if you are dog lover, consider stopping in at the Dream Park, because every show is a worthwhile family outing.
The Therapeutic Riding Program
Therapeutic riding is a prominent activity held at the Dream Park for individuals of all ages with special needs and physical disabilities. Terry Lewis is the program’s leader. He, along with a handful of volunteers, give a service to uplift mentally and physically, individuals who need it through the companionship of horses.
Attending students have the opportunity to have fun through activities planned out for a day’s lesson. Horseback riding is the program’s main activity, providing physical activity that builds core strength, posture control, and aids with motor skills. This is achieved through a horse and student going through assorted but simple courses to complete.
Mental acuity is also a benefiting factor for students attending therapeutic riding classes. Not only can it help boost an individual’s self-esteem, it also can benefit students who might struggle with communication skills. Horses are very good ice breakers with most nonverbal students, according to Lewis.
Individuals in wheelchairs are students of the program too. With the assistance of ramps and a lift, they can get in the saddle and gain an understanding of how it can feel to walk through the stimulation of riding a horse.
The therapeutic riding program also offers a brushing session for students as well. This is for individuals who might feel intimidated by a horse’s size, but soon might open up to it, proceeding with riding exercises.
Lewis speaks highly of the Therapeutic Riding Program’s accomplishments. “Horses are good for everyone,” said Lewis, adding “They have a unique empowerment that makes everyone feel better in their presence.”
If a word were to describe the Therapeutic Riding program, it would be opportunity. Volunteers provide opportunities towards individuals with a positive environment through special care to feel acceptance, love, and appreciation.
Currently, the program is looking for volunteers to assist in being side walkers. If you have a heart to work with individuals with disabilities as well as love animals, that is all that Lewis asks for. To sign someone up you know for the therapeutic riding program, or wish to volunteer, please visit the Dream Parks website (dreamparknj.com) and click on the “Therapeutic Riding” tab on the home page for more information.
Additional Activities at The Dream Park
The Dream Park also helps arrange and host programs provided through partnered programs.
Pony World Adventure LLC. is an example of a Dream Park partner. Its owner, JoAnne Mulligan, provides recreational programs throughout the year. She runs a summer camp through the month of July for children age 5 to 13, and an instructional riding program for all ages throughout the year. Her oldest rider is 84 years old.
Inquiries on the summer camp, riding program, or pony parties are to go through with Mulligan, who can be reached out to by phone at 856-628-1277.
New Life Animal Rescue hosts an annual craft fair at the Dream Park every June. For a few days, people can come out to see the numerous craft vendors and what they have for sale. Blankets, homemade jellies and jams, signage, and even dog supplies are sold.
Foot traffic is constantly busy during the craft fair’s operation. Sometimes, the craft fair can see at least 1,200 people or more in a single day. “It is a soup-to-nuts kind of deal,” Ale said. As of writing this, Ale said the 2026 craft fair will be held on June 13 and 14.
All benefits through the craft fair go to the nonprofit organization, assisting animals who otherwise would be euthanized. New Life Animal Rescue has hosted raffles in the past towards a selection of big prizes and a 50/50 raffle. Ticket purchases go towards the organization and the 50/50 raffle.
The Dream Park is also a good spot too for those looking for part-time positions. Ale says the boarding barn is always looking for additional help. Employees range from high school and college students looking for work to do after school, to moms and dads looking for additional work to make ends meet.
By Gerald Philipp
