Hocking Hills Trail Trolls start work on mountain biking trail

There's a Trail Trolls Project Day on Saturday, June 27, 2009, and they'll begin work on the NEW mountain biking trail in the Hocking Hills State Park! According to Naturalist Pat Quackenbush, the group will be clearing brush. The Trail Trolls welcome new members, so if you're interested call 740-385-8003, ext. 213 to sign up. Although anyone interested in working on the biking trail can just show up at the family camp parking area near Old Man's Cave at 9 a.m. Don't forget your lunch.

The trail has been flagged and will run about 4 miles and will avoid the cliff areas. It will be challenging and is not intended for the beginning biker. The trail has 2 loops, with one being easier and the other being difficult - something for everyone.

Just one more reason to visit the Hocking Hills this year.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Visit us on facebook

Marsh Hollow has a page on facebook now. I've been having a good time with the whole facebook thing (connecting with friends and family) and decided Marsh Hollow needed to be up to date too. Since the page is only 2 days old, there's not much there, but hopefully we collect some fans and reviews. Click on the picture below to see what it's all about.

Marsh Hollow

Trail Troll Day at Rock House

If you plan to be in the Hocking Hills over the weekend, there's a great volunteer opportunity at Rock House. The new "Trail Trolls" group will be working on trails in that area. If interested, contact park naturalist Pat Quackenbush at 740-385-8003 ext. 213.

USA Today Recognizes Hocking Hills Tourism Assocation Program

Just got this message from Karen Raymore at the Hocking Hills Tourism Association:

Hocking Hills Tourism Association
May 22, 2009
Hi Folks,

Every year USA Today has an issue on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend that features an attraction in each state. For the second year in a row the Hocking Hills has been recognized in this issue. Last year it was the Canopy Tours and this year it is the Flip Ultra camcorder lending program.

Click on Ohio and check it out;
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-05-21-free-summer-travel-map_N.htm

What a great way to kick off the 2009 family vacation season!

Karen Raymore, CDME
Executive Director
Hocking Hills Tourism Association
(740) 385-2750

Jimbo's Bar & Diner, South Bloomingville, OH

Last Friday, Dave and I hiked the rim trail between Cedar Falls & Old Man's Cave, which is a MUCH easier trail than the gorge route. Still there are some hills to climb. Anyway, we passed by Jimbo's on the way home via Route 56 and had a very tasty dinner.

Jimbo's caters to the motorcycle crowd, and is open Thursday through Sunday, in season. Since they now offer outdoor dining, we sat in the shelter for a few brews and their excellent "Hog Burger". This is a pure pork, non-sausage, non-fatty, "burger" and it is very, very good. Jimbo himself took our order.

We are going to do another hike late this afternoon, and I might have to engineer our route home so that it goes past Jimbo's again. On Fridays, it's not busy, but I believe it gets hopping on Saturdays and Sundays.

Jimbo's is located at 23356 State Route 56, South Bloomingville, OH‎.

Honey Ridge: another great pet friendly cottage in the Hocking Hills

Our friends Beth and Chuck are now welcoming pets to their beautiful cottage/cabin in the Hocking Hills. Honey Ridge, the name of their charming two-bedroom facility, is centrally located, lovingly maintained and just plain peaceful. And their rates are very competitive.

So, if Marsh Hollow is unavailable, or you are looking for a two-bedroom cabin, check out Honey Ridge.

Hocking Hills State Park Swimming Pool

There's a very nice swimming pool at the Hocking Hills State Park Dining Lodge, located on State Route 664 near Old Man's Cave. It is open to the public Memorial Day through Labor Day. Here's the fee schedule:

• $3.50 per day for adults (16 years and over)
• $3.00 per day for youths (4-15 years)
• Free for younger than 4 years

Passes are available at the drive-through camping check-in and at the gift shop, both also on Route 664 near Old Man's Cave.

Free swimming is also available at the small beaches at Lake Logan and the little lake at nearby Tar Hollow State Park.

But if you go to the pool at the dining lodge, be sure to have lunch at their buffet. Yummy!

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Power OUT 2009

Like most of Hocking County, we lost power on Wednesday, January 28. While others came back on line day by day, our power was not restored until Monday, February 2 (by which time the damn groundhog had seen his shadow). We were pretty well able to deal with the loss of electric heat with our various woodburning appliances, a dependable kerosene heater, and propane gas stoves, but the lack of water - you need electricity to run the well pump - was the most difficult to handle. Especially when you're trying to keep horses and goats watered. By Sunday, I was scooping water out of our creek, and trying NOT to worry about what our neighbors upstream were putting in.

So we survived, and kept very busy. In addition to all the fire-stoking and water carrying, we worked a puzzle, read a lot more than usual, and went out to breakfast and dinner every day but one. Fortunately, Laurelville had power so everything was open, except one day the library was closed. We're grateful to the Ridge Inn for its excellent free wireless network (and we discovered their fabulous croissant french toast) and to the Village Cafe for filling our water carriers and for their tasty home fries.

But we've decided we are going to get a generator!