Need a weekend trip? The new Hocking Hills State Park Lodge is opening to guests

After two years of construction, the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge & Conference Center is finally ready for guests and will hold a grand opening this weekend.

The new, $40 million lodge is replacing the 44-year-old dining lodge, which was destroyed by a fire in 2016.

Reservations are now open, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said, and are available for as early as Sunday. They were previously being accepted for no earlier than Nov. 1.

The nearly 74,000 square-foot lodge is inside Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, about 130 miles northeast of Cincinnati. The 81 rooms come in a variety of options for visitors: king, double queen, king bunk and queen bunk rooms, plus two-room suites.

The lodge's architecture is in a rustic design and incorporates the surrounding woods and natural landscape, according to a release.

Look inside:Get a Sneak Peek of the New Hocking Hills State Park Lodge

But it will offer more than just rooms. The lodge will be open to both guests and day visitors, with full-service dining at the Rock House Restaurant and Pub, a grab-and-go cafe, an event space, gift shops and indoor and outdoor pool areas with hot tubs open during all seasons. There are also four fireplaces inside and a large patio overlooking the surrounding area.

"If you want to be among the first guests at the new Hocking Hills Lodge, this is your opportunity,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a release. “Being surrounded by nature in Southeast Ohio is invigorating – especially during this time of year – and this will be an experience you won’t soon forget.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Need a trip? New Hocking Hills State Park Lodge opening this weekend