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July 11, 2006
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Malabar Farm State Park |
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Closed in the aftermath of Monday’s storm, will reopen to the public on Wednesday, July 12.
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Mohican State Park
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Lodge remains open and is conducting business as usual.
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Campgrounds and rental cottages are closed, and expected to reopen by Friday, July 14.
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Hiking, horse and mountain biking trails remain very wet and may be blocked by fallen trees. Visitors are strongly advised that trails should not be used until trees are cleared and surfaces are dry. |
TWO OHIO STATE PARKS AFFECTED BY
WIND, STORM DAMAGE
Mohican State Park campground and cottages closed; resort lodge remains open
COLUMBUS, OH - Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County and parts of Mohican State Park in Ashland County are closed temporarily while the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) assesses and repairs damage from severe storms in the area last night. More than 600 visitors were safely evacuated from Mohican’s cottages and campgrounds when heavy rains caused the Mohican River to rise rapidly. High winds and heavy rain downed trees and flooded buildings at both parks.
At Malabar Farm, the roof of the Sustainable Agriculture Library was extensively damaged. The library’s holdings, which include many valuable books and documents, received minor damage and are now being moved while the roof is repaired. The roof of a maintenance shed was also damaged. There are six inches of water in the basement of conservationist Louis Bromfield’ s “Big House,” and two inches in the gift shop. Roughly 50 trees were downed. Mansfield Correctional Institution (MANCI) and Mohican Juvenile Correctional Facility have sent work crews to help clean up debris and make repairs to pasture fences and buildings. ODNR expects Malabar Farm State Park to reopen Wednesday, July 12.
The lodge at Mohican State Park lost power during the storm, but electricity has been restored. Water damage at the lodge is limited to the indoor pool area and the lodge remains open for business.
Five hundred campers were evacuated from the main Mohican State Park campground, 100 from the cottages and 30 from a smaller campground, to Red Cross shelters in Loudonville. There were no injuries. Camp offices are flooded, and approximately 100 trees are down. The ODNR Division of Forestry and the Division Parks and Recreation are currently clearing trees from the campgrounds and roadways, assisted by the Ohio Department of Transportation. As soon as access is restored, campers will be able to retrieve their belongings.
Trails at Mohican State Park and the adjacent Mohican Memorial State Forest, which remain excessively wet, will be cleared last. Trails are subject to damage when overly wet and visitors are asked to avoid using Mohican’s hiking, horse, and mountain biking trails until trees are cleared and the trails have dried.
Water levels are receding and camping areas are no longer flooded. Mohican State Park cottages and campgrounds are expected to reopen on Friday, July 14.
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