FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2000

It’s an idyllic scene: Morning mist rising from the surface of a woodland lake where the only visitors are white-tailed deer in search of breakfast. All around, the forest is still, except for the snap of a twig as a breeze stirs overhead. Nearby, coffee perks on the campfire and the smell of frying bacon mixes with the scent of pine trees and dewy grass.
COLUMBUS, OH - Campers who prefer to stake their tents off the beaten path and away from the noisy crowd will discover an abundance of camping options in Ohio State Parks, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

"Most of our lesser-visited campgrounds offer the solitude and seclusion that many campers seek," said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. "That same sense of privacy is also available in our most-frequented campgrounds to campers who visit mid-week."

Just seven miles from Interstate 70 in Greene County, John Bryan State Park’s campground is a slice of peaceful woods tucked into one of southwestern Ohio’s busiest tourist areas. About 350,000 people a year visit the park, but only a fraction of those have discovered its 100-site campground.

For 9-year-old Dana Luker of Dayton, camping at John Bryan means lots of open space for throwing frisbees and baseballs with her father, Walt, without the worry of hitting a neighboring camper.

The Lukers camped at John Bryan on a Thursday night in June, anticipating a Friday of rollerblading on the nearby Little Miami Scenic Trail. Walt Luker grew up in southwest Ohio and knows that John Bryan’s quiet green spaces are one of the area’s best-kept secrets.

"This is the kind of camp where people can go and have quiet reading time," Luker observed.

Although 10 sites at the campground are currently being electrified, park manager Scott Fletcher said the campground traditionally attracted guests who preferred camping without electricity. For those campers, the payoff came in a quiet, deep-woods environment without the whir of generators and air-conditioners.

The campground is on a high setting, sprinkled with mature trees. Campsites are not "carved out" of the woods. Presence of a fire ring and a picnic table indicates a place to pitch a tent or pull up a camper.

"It’s a really old-fashioned park where (campers) just come in, find a spot and camp," Fletcher said.

Although the interstate provides drop-in business, most campers at John Bryan are returnees who appreciate the park’s quiet ambiance and its efficient, friendly staff, he added.

The peace and quiet can be deceptive. John Bryan is really in the thick of things when it comes to history and activity. Just down the walking path, Clifton Gorge beckons visitors with its unique blend of natural history and pioneer lore. Young’s Jersey Dairy, the Miami Valley’s number one tourist attraction, is less than five miles away. The U.S. Air Force Museum in Fairborn is only 12 miles away.

The villages of Clifton and Yellow Springs are within hiking distance of the park that adjoins Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve on the east and Glen Helen Nature Preserve on the west.

On weekend nights, a naturalist conducts programs on the natural history of the area in the campground amphitheater. A Cold War-era satellite tracking station in the park is now open to the public as the observatory of the Miami Valley Astronomical Society.

John Bryan is just one of the largely undiscovered "jewels" among Ohio State Parks that offer campers quiet, solitude and a chance to get acquainted with the state’s natural beauty and colorful history. Others include:

Northwest: Mary Jane Thurston State Park on the Maumee River between Henry and Wood counties encompasses 20 miles of open water and some of Ohio’s best stream fishing. Park facilities include a marina and boating access.

Northeast: Beaver Creek State Park in Columbiana County is one of the most picturesque areas in the state. Little Beaver Creek, a state and national wild and scenic river, cuts a deep, rocky gorge in the park. The creek is navigable only with rubber rafts or canoes. History buffs can explore remains of Ohio’s canal and lock system which lie within the park. Guilford Lake State Park, also in Columbiana County, is a quiet fishing area situated among gentle, rolling hills. The campground recently acquired flush toilets and showers.

Southeast: Forked Run State Park in Meigs County provides boat access to the nearby Ohio River. The park is heavily forested, providing wildlife habitat for gray fox, raccoon, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and opossum. Wolf Run State Park in Noble County features 20 fly-in primitive campsites near the Noble County Airport on the north side of Wolf Run Lake.

Southwest: Kiser Lake State Park in Champaign County is home to some of Ohio’s most interesting wetlands - remnants of the great glacier that once covered most of the state. Fen and wet meadow habitats are filled with pitcher plants, sundew, tamarack and spruce.

Campers familiar with Lake Hope State Park, nestled deep in the Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County, know the 223-site campground bustles on weekends, but can be nearly deserted through the week. Assistant park manager Mike Sowers said only about 30 to 50 campsites are occupied on summer weekdays.

"It’s not as crowded mid-week and visitors can get out on the lake early before anyone else is moving," Sowers said.

Early risers can get a generous peek at the area’s abundant wildlife which includes deer, wild turkey, beaver, red and gray fox, wood chucks, squirrels, and an occasional bald eagle.

For the Don and Cindy Shearer family of St. Paris, camping at Lake Hope during the week means getting a choice of prime campsites and having nearly sole possession of the campground’s two shower houses.

The Shearers are veteran campers who prefer mid-week outings to avoid crowds. During the last week of June, the Shearers camped at Lake Hope along with their St. Paris neighbors, the Gary Keller and Mel Melms families.

"Lake Hope has beautiful, remote and roomy campsites," Cindy Shearer said. "And the kids like the bike trails."

Built in the 1930s as a public works project, the lake covers 120 acres and features a swimming beach and active boat rental facility. Forty years ago, acid runoff from abandoned mines in the area nearly killed off the lake’s fish. But the runoff was halted and now the fish – especially yellow perch, crappie, largemouth bass and catfish - have returned in abundance, Sowers said. And in the summer, pink water lilies blanket portions of the lake surface in continuous blooms.

Historic remnants of Vinton County’s days as a major iron-smelting region dot the park’s landscape. Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave and Cantwell Cliffs at Hocking Hills State Park are within a 20-minute drive, as is Lake Alma State Park. Head of the Zaleski Backpack Trail, part of the Buckeye Trail, lies in the park. The park naturalist offers programs and activities for both adults and children virtually every day of the week in summer months.

Prospective campers can visit the park’s Web site at lakehope@ohiohills.com for a preview of what’s available. Web visitors can also view live action of birds and animals feeding at the park’s nature center through a special camera linked to the site.

Campers who lack equipment, but not a taste for adventure can take advantage of Lake Hope’s Rent-A-Camp or Rent-A-Tepee programs. The park’s boat rental concession also offers a canoe-in camp package complete with tent, equipment, canoe and a map to a primitive lakeside campsite.

Similar peaceful and quiet camping is available mid-week in some of the state’s most active parks. Here’s a run down of some of the best spots:

Northwest: East Harbor, Kelleys Island and South Bass Island state parks on Lake Erie tend to be jammed on summer weekends, but much quieter through the week. East Harbor is just moments from Cedar Point amusement park. Campgrounds at Kelleys Island and South Bass Island are a short walk from some of the North Coast’s most popular entertainment attractions.

Northeast: Punderson State Park Resort in Geauga County puts campers just minutes from the Six Flags Ohio amusement park. Mohican State Park Resort in Ashland County offers mid-week calm in the heart of Amish country.

Southeast: Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County is home to Ohio’s most gorgeous scenery and three of its most famous natural wonders – Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave and Cantwell Cliffs.

Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County is the largest (more than 20,000 acres) in the system and is less than a 30-minute drive from The Wilds animal preserve in Muskingum County.

Southwest: Caesar Creek State Park in Warren County is close to both the Little Miami Bike Trail and King’s Island amusement park. Hueston Woods State Park Resort in Preble County offers good fossil hunting and 200 acres of old-growth forest for walking and bird watching.

Central Ohio: Indian Lake State Park in Logan County has another campground that’s busy on weekends but open through the week. Numerous antique markets and tourist attractions are a short drive away. Activity at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County dies down mid-week. The park offers quick access to Columbus. The campground is fully electrified and has a beach and boat ramp for the exclusive use of campers.

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For Further Information Contact:
Jean Backs, Ohio State Parks
(614) 265-7077
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860