CALENDAR

hikes a mile or two up a trail for the perfect spot. His two-person tent has a rain fl y large enough for a chair. To keep warm, Klco wears a base layer of thermals and thick socks. His Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad has a 6.9-R value to combat cold, but 4 or above is suffi cient. Before tucking in at night, he changes into dry socks or thermal booties. Bringing a small amount of wood is another camping must. “You don’t know if you’ll fi nd wood dry enough to burn,” Klco says. “You do appreciate the fi re more,” Reed laughs. Last New Year’s Eve, Amy and Gino Love pulled into their campsite at Alum Creek State Park in their SUV. “Let’s see how this camping thing works for us,” these North Carolina transplants said before they headed out from their New Albany home. After an evening of sitting by the fi re enjoying the sky darkening over the lake, they put down the rear seats, bundled up in blankets, and slept on an air mattress. In the morning, they heated coff ee on their grill. The camping thing worked fi ne. Since then, they’ve added a tent that attaches to the SUV’s open hatch, but they see an RV in their future. Angie Ratliff and her husband are year-round RVers who enjoy Deer Creek and Alum Creek state parks for their proximity to Columbus. Although the metro area off ers amenities, the solitude of the parks is a plus. “It’s so quiet. It’s more peaceful here in the winter,” Ratliff says as she enjoys outdoor time with her dog. “This time of year, you can hear the deer,” she says. Their tips: Aim for a sunny campsite near the shower house; bring extra propane; and heat the underbelly of the RV to prevent its pipes from freezing.

• A dome-shaped tent is best. It’s less likely to collapse if there’s snow. Pitch it on a tarp and away from branches that could fall. Undo the zipper a little to let out moisture from your breath.

• Use a mummy-style sleeping bag with a temperature rating of 20 degrees. A sleeping bag liner adds warmth. • Bring waterproof matches, a flashlight, and a headlamp. A shovel is useful to clear snow from under an RV and flatten snow before pitching a tent.

• Rugs add insulation on the floor of an RV.

• Make one-pot meals to cut down on prep and cleanup.

First impressions

A visit to the fi rst new state park lodge built in Ohio for the last 31 years.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS

Located in southeastern Ohio in Hocking County, Hocking Hills is the Buckeye State’s most popular state park, visited by some 5 million people annually, and this past October, the brand-new, highly anticipated Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center opened its doors to guests.

The nearly 74,000-square-foot lodge has 81 guest rooms, and the event space can accommodate hundreds of people.

My wife and I were among the first visitors, booking an overnight stay to celebrate our birthdays in early November. “The lodge has been very busy ever since we opened,” says general manager Todd Tucker.

As expected, the lodge is gorgeous. Especially stunning is the view through the four-story picture windows of the main lobby. The open, timber-frame architecture incorporates the surrounding woods and natural landscape into a rustic yet state-of-the-art modern design. Overnight guests can choose from king beds, double queen beds, king and bunk beds, and queen and bunk beds. Two-room suites are also available. All rooms have a mini-refrigerator and microwave.

The lodge has two swimming pools, indoor and outdoor; and two large hot tubs, again, indoor and outdoor. After enjoying the many scenic areas of the Hocking Hills, visitors can relax and warm up in front of any of five massive, 39-foot-tall limestone fireplaces.

Both lodge guests and day visitors can enjoy full-service dining at the Rock House Restaurant and Pub. My wife and I ate both supper and breakfast there, and the food

Continued on page 32 The Hocking Hills State Park Lodge has an inviting air, with its rocking chair-lined porch and an entranceway that lights up the night.