The property is massive, with wide open landscapes and views that stretch far across the hills…read more Waking up in the morning and looking out over the terrain was one of the highlights of the trip. It almost feels like stepping into another environment entirely, especially knowing the area is dedicated to wildlife conservation. Our campsite was quiet and well spaced out, which made it easy to enjoy the surroundings without constant noise from nearby groups. At night, the sky was incredibly clear, and the lack of city lights made stargazing surprisingly good. Facilities were simple but adequate, which fits the outdoor-focused setting. Everything we needed was available, and the grounds were kept in good condition. The staff we encountered were welcoming and clearly proud of the property, offering helpful guidance about the area. Camping at The Wilds is more than just pitching a tent--it's an opportunity to spend time in a unique natural environment that feels both peaceful and expansive. It's a great destination if you're looking for something a little different from the usual campground experience.

Second time visiting. We will be back again. Staff is super knowledgeable and friendly . We saw so…read moremany animals up close. I would absolutely recommend the wild side tour Our tour leader Faith was absolutely amazing.

One of our favorite outdoor spots. A shaded waterfall area, shallow pool and creek and smooth…read moretrails. There is also a path to the top of the waterfall. The kids have fun for hours here. Some nice benches and plenty of large rocks to hang out on. Parking is just across the road and there are a few porta potties by the parking. The waterfall isn't far once you get on the trail. The river is a farther walk but does have a very strong current so no swimming over there.

Neat little stop. Wasn't much water when we stopped tho. Hiking areas in the woods and some neat…read morerock formations.

This is a pretty area that offers a lake for water-based recreation (boating, fishing, a swimming…read morebeach, plus ice fishing when conditions allow during the winter) and woodlands to enjoy. There are three trails, varying in length from the 0.5 mile Cherry Tree Trail to the 3.5 mile Buckeye Trail. There's a nice looking camping area with both electric and nonelectric sites, some of which have great views of the lake and easy boat access for kayaks/canoes/etc., and a fun playground fro the kids. There are some nice picnic areas with tables and benches available in scenic areas. The one we used also had a great shelterhouse with several tables available and was reservable, though there were no events at the time of our visit. Very nice park!

Disappointing. My family has been coming here for 40+years and it was always a great place as a…read morekid. Now it's just run down. So much potential going to waste. There use to be activities for the kids like nature center with animals, hikes and a theater. Now nothing. No rangers at the office all day if you need them. The lights wouldn't work in the shower house but couldn't tell anyone. Also the beach is disgusting with geese poop everywhere and no life guard.

Deer fun for kids of all ages…read more I had seen this place advertised so we decided to take our kids when we were in the area. The place has a campground and other activities. We went to see the nature center style welcome center. It was really clean and well organized. Beautiful murals and lots of facts and information about deer. From their sight and hearing to how their antlers grow. I learned so much in such time. They also have a hall of fame of some of Ohio's largest caught mounted deer heads. A viewing area to see deer. Plus a great playground. And all we did was free. They have lots of other activities geared towards kids to learn about nature and hunting.

Don't waste your money buying tickets to the Deerassic Classic that they have every year in August…read more I have been spending anywhere from $600 to $1,000 every year for ten years and have never won a single prize. No more. I am done.

My family and I were looking for a park for a quick picnic, while being social distant during our…read moreshort road trip. Wheeling Park was perfect for that, even with the impending rain. When we arrived, we found well manicured hills of grass and trees, and a large number of picnic tables that were empty and available for us to use. And even better, we were able to park right on the side of the road, 100 or so feet from the tables. Does a picnic on a blanket seem more appealing to you? There was ample space to spread out on the side of a gently sloping hill too. We could also see a lovely lake with paddle boats, and from the other reviews, it looks like there are more amenities as well, including an ice rink and putt putt. At the same time, this park seemed old, yet very well taken care of. The large stone markets at the park's entrances made the impression that we were entering a space that a lot of thought and time had been put into. Unfortunately, just after finishing our meal the rain started falling -- or fortunately it didn't start before we were done, I suppose we could say. So we didn't get to explore this more. Wheeling, though, is the halfway point between my family and my brother-in-law's, so I anticipate we will be meeting here more in the future. I very much hope we come back to this park.

This park is very lovely. There is a building called White Palace where they play indoor hockey…read more There are some large shelters, a lake with paddle boats and putt putt. There is tennis courts and the pools are both outdoor and indoor with a slide. They were ice skating and we sat down to watch for awhile. There is an outside viewing area. Very nice park.

Love coming to this place all year around...nice'a short trail heading up to the waterfall with…read moremany scenic pictures to take...always let people know about this wonderful place.

Sorry ya'll, I'm about to burst this bubble on one of Ohio's secret camping gems…read more Jesse Owens State Park started off originally as AEP land, which was used for it's natural resources (Coal, gas, etc), leaving larges gapes and dug out crevices in the Earth. Once AEP decided they had purge the natural resources enough, they stopped operations in the 90's and reclamation groups stepped in planting trees, scaping the land & turning pits into large beautiful lakes full of bountiful fish. For many years these were known as the AEP recreation lands, as they had campgrounds, fish access, etc. More recently though, the lands were purchased by Ohio and created as a 'state park'. Why don't you hear a lot of Jesse Owens? Well, most of that will be because it's all primitive camping. There are no shower houses, RV dump stations and the bathroom facilities are glorified out houses. Not exactly a 'glamping' paradise for those who need electricity & hook ups to thrive during camping. It however, ticked all the boxes we were looking for - some true authentic campsites. The sites vary & Jesse Owens has numerous campgrounds you can check out scattered around Morgan County. For my review purposes, I stayed in Sandy Hollow - Campground C. The sites in this campground varied - Some were great for pulling your car into, some were hike in (not far by any means) & some could accommodate the bigger 5th wheels or trailers on more leveled ground. Most spots have a gorgeous view of the man made lake, which makes for a peaceful time of relaxation. It's also important to note that most all campsites have access to the lake (more like walking paths). I DO believe there are a few with docks, but this isn't the place to bring the pontoon party boat. This IS however a place for kayaks, paddleboards & small fishing boats. Did I mention that the camping is FREE here? That's really unheard of in most of the eastern part of the United States. It's also FREE for up to 14 days, which is similar to most stay limits for Bureau of Land Management areas in the west. Every spot is first come- first serve & it fills up quickly on the weekends. Mid-summer might be a different story with the hot temps & humidity, but seriously, don't be that shmuck showing up at 9pm on a Friday even expecting to snag a spot. It's not going to happen. Each spot should have a circular fire pit with a cooking grate & there are dumpsters in different parts of each campground to dump garbage. Overall, this place is a gem, and is a short drive through the beautiful South Eastern part of Ohio. A true getaway from civilization.

Wow, this is a place that you want to go when you are courting a young lady in the St.C area. I'm…read morenot sure what the recipe is for Spanish fly, but what I gathered from my youth in St. Clairsville is dinner, movie, and a long walk on the bike trail. But it all honesty, it is a great place for anyone to take a date. Nothing says I love you (or I like you, depends on what stage of the relationship you are in) more than hearing it echo through the breathtaking National Road Bike Trail's tunnel. It definitely sets the mood of a magical summer night.

The National Road Bikeway is a four mile trail through a small Ohio town and is the kind of place…read moreyou'd find in a 'hidden treasures' kind of travel book. On the trail we passed a watercolor-worthy farm scene (complete with cows), a wooden bridge, and a lighted gazebo. There's also a pretty cool tunnel, and it's draped with trees along the pathway. I was just visiting, but this would be an ideal place to jog. . . except for during those Ohio winters!

This is a very cool park! My children tend to gravitate toward parks and playgrounds where there…read moreare open-ended and tactile features available, and this park has that. There are boulders to climb, outdoor musical instruments to play, a treehouse to play pretend in (and is wheelchair accessible!), a merry-go-round, swings, a traditional playground structure with slides, and lots more. The playground area is lined with wood chips. There is also lots of space to run around, and lots of trees. Like the name of the park suggests, this is a very sensory-friendly park, and there are nature stations set up all around where you can use your senses to explore. There is also a short, paved trail that goes around the park, which is wide and smooth enough for strollers and wheelchairs. The trail goes by a creek, which is nice. As of right now, this is the only sensory-friendly park in the state of Ohio! It's definitely worth a visit.

This is a really neat and wonderfully inclusive park. This features a short, paved path that is…read morewheelchair and walker accessible. Along the path are a variety of interactive stations that are also designed to be accessible. If you start near the entry sign, you'll find a Little Free Library, which, on our recent visit, was loaded with a lot of great kids options. Just ahead is a variety of benches and a little music garden, featuring musical instruments that can be played, and you can also interact with the Rough Bark Tactile Display to learn more about different tree barks. A little further down are the cutest animal looking instruments that can also be used. As you continue down the path, you find a swingset with a variety of swings that include both traditional and accessible options. There's a nice little shaded bench area with information about the creek, Fetter's Run, that can be seen from the location. As you proceed along, a very exciting find is the Treehouse, which is built within the forest trees as opposed to up in one, which allows a wheelchair ramp to make it accessible. This overlooks the creek and has things to explore, like neat nature art and a second floor (not accessible) with a fire pole. At the end of the path is a shelter house with picnic tables and nearby grills. Most, if not all, of the signage included Braille translations, as well. There is a large parking lot here, but I do note that this is located behind a school, so I'm not sure how that would affect parking for a visit during a school day.