CUMBERLAND, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is set to unveil major upgrades in the state’s southeastern Appalachian foothills, including a new visitor center and updated accommodations at Jesse Owens State Park.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for April 24 to mark the opening of the Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area Visitor Center and nearly a dozen newly constructed cabins at Jesse Owens State Park, according to an announcement from Ohio State Parks.
The Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area Visitor Center is a two-story timber structure featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the surrounding landscape. The center includes regional exhibits highlighting details about the area. Outside, visitors can access an observation ramp and a bison viewing deck, offering opportunities to see the reintroduced Appalachian Hills bison herd.
Within Jesse Owens State Park, 10 new “preferred” cabins, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural style, are now available for guests. Each 900-square-foot, single-story cabin can accommodate up to six people and is equipped with modern amenities, including heating, air conditioning, fire rings, gas fireplaces, and full kitchens with coffee makers, toasters, dinnerware, and cookware.
Several cabins are ADA accessible, with some pet-friendly options available. Reservations can be made through the park’s website.
Additional facilities in the area include the Big Muskie Campground, which offers 50 full-hookup RV sites, a modern shower house, playground, and an on-site camp store with camping and hunting supplies. The park’s reservation site also notes that four primitive campgrounds are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Jesse Owens State Park, surrounded by thousands of acres once used for coal mining, offers opportunities for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, as well as lakes and abundant wildlife. The park is home to Miner’s Memorial Park, which features the Wall of Honor listing Central Ohio Coal Company employees, and the Big Muskie Bucket, the largest dragline excavator ever built.