New Hocking Hills State Park Lodge boasts 81 guest rooms, renovated cabins, restaurant, pub

LOGAN — Ohio’s newest state park lodge opened last week in one of the state’s most popular parks.

Hocking Hills State Park Lodge (www.hockinghillsparklodge.com) is the 10th Ohio state park lodge, and the first to be opened since Maumee Bay debuted near Toledo more than 30 years ago in 1991.

The new lodge replaces the old Hocking Hills dining lodge, which burned in 2016. The old lodge had no guest rooms. The sparkling new facility, however, includes 81 guest rooms and suites, the Rock House Restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Rock House Pub, and other amenities such as indoor and outdoor pools, event and meeting rooms and a magnificent outdoor terrace with a view.

Visitors, who sometimes have trouble finding a cellphone signal in the rugged region, will also be happy to connect with the lodge’s free visitor Wi-Fi.

Hocking Hills cabins get a makeover

Concurrent with construction of the new lodge, the park’s 40 two-bedroom cabins have also been completely renovated. The fully furnished all-season cabins each sleep up to six guests.

At the lodge’s grand opening last week, hundreds of local residents toured the new building with state and local officials.

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The Hocking Hills Lodge “is something that’s been needed for a long time,” said Gov. Mike DeWine, who promised that the other state park lodges would also be receiving updates in the near future.

“Our lodges provide a world-class experience you can enjoy any time of the year,” DeWine said during last Saturday's grand opening.

The new Hocking Hills Lodge is “a place that’s worthy of the park that surrounds it,” said Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Mertz said the lodge was “upscale but not gold-plated,” a good description of a facility that features very nice amenities, local art and thoughtful architecture that fits in well with the picturesque surroundings — and with rooms beginning at $159 a night.

What the Hocking Hills Lodge offers

The magnificent grand lobby features high ceilings, huge exposed natural fir beams and twin 39-foot tall stone fireplaces that are sure to become popular gathering places, especially as the weather turns cooler.

“This is the type of place that, once you get inside and explore, you’re going to find things that amaze you,” said the lodge’s manager, Todd Tucker.

Tucker is a Hocking Hills native who most recently worked for Marriott hotels in Sedona, Arizona.

“I grew up in the Hocking Hills and spent a lot of time here as a kid camping or at the pool,” Tucker said.

“It’s so great to be home.”

All rooms offer magnificent views of the forest beyond the lodge, and many have a private outdoor terrace. Each room is equipped with high-quality linens, refrigerator, microwave, high-definition television and a USB charging station.

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Dining at the new Hocking Hills Lodge

The old Hocking Hills dining lodge was a popular dining destination before it burned, and park and lodge officials are hoping the new restaurant becomes a hit as well.

Fans of the former restaurant will be pleased to learn that the old lodge’s chef Matt Rapposelli, who most recently worked at Kindred Spirits restaurant at the nearby Inn at Cedar Falls, will be returning as executive chef at the new lodge. The menu will feature locally raised meats and produce, Tucker said.

And the lodge’s pub will feature local beers, wines and spirits, and craft cocktails.

A trailhead directly behind the lodge connects to the popular trails to Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and Whispering Cave and links to the state-circling Buckeye Trail. The lodge will also offer the grab-and-go Cafe 22 for visitors who need to pick up a quick refreshment during a hike or on the way to or from the region’s many attractions.

Hikers can also find respite at the lodge’s new Grandma Gatewood hikers pavilion, named for iconic local hiker Emma Gatewood who became the first solo female through-hiker of the Appalachian Trail in 1955 at age 67, and later became a founding member of the Buckeye Trail Association.

Steve Stephens is a freelance travel writer and photographer. Email him at sjstephensjr@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Hocking Hills State Park Lodge opens in Logan