Appalachian Hills Grand Opening
McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is turning more than 55,000 acres of reclaimed strip mines into an outdoor destination.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine attended the grand opening, which took place at the newly built Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area Visitors Center. He listed some of the opportunities that the Jesse Owens State Park has to offer and explained how the visitor center creates an added incentive for outdoor enthusiasts.
“We do need some infrastructure,” DeWine said. “And what we’re dedicating today is part of that infrastructure. There’s a visitor’s center behind me that really I think is going to be kind of the center point. But in addition to that we’ve got 10 brand new, new cabins. We’ve also got a campground, which has got a very high, high facility. We’ve got water in here now. So it’s a great base for people to come, go out and fish, whatever they want to do. Just hike, just great opportunities throughout here.”
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz talked about how the Visitor Center will act as a hub for outdoor tourism throughout Morgan, Muskingum, Guernsey and Noble Counties.
“This is a visitor center that we think will welcome people to the region,” Mertz said. “So for people who live here and know the area, it’ll be a great place to stop in and see what’s going on. Chat with folks, see what they’ve heard, what they’re seeing out there. Maybe share stories about their hunting and fishing. So I think it’s great for the community but I also think for people that aren’t from the area, it’s a way to open the door to this beautiful part of the state. So they can learn about what they can see and do and experience and really take advantage of this part of the state.”
Approximately a dozen bison roam in a pasture next to the Appalachian Hills Wildlife Visitor Center and in addition to the Big Muskie Campground, there are 10, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired cabins that can be reserved by a visit to the ODNR website.
