FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2000 

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources encourages Ohioans to beat the high price of gas this July 4th holiday with a getaway to a nearby state park where much of the fun is free of charge.

"Most of Ohio’s 73 state parks offer dozens of family-oriented activities including camping, fishing, boating, golfing, swimming, hiking, and in some instances, houseboating and areas reserved for mountain biking and horseback riding," said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. "Best of all, Ohio’s state parks are just a short drive and a single tank of gasoline away."

Vacationers can get away from it all in a variety of accommodations ranging from luxurious resort lodges to rustic cottages to family campgrounds. Campgrounds run the gamut from premium, modern campsites with full electric hook-ups to primitive, walk-in sites with only water provided.

This year, campers are checking www.ohiostateparks.org before leaving home for the latest information on campground availability. Campers can also call the state’s toll-free tourism hotline at 1-800-BUCKEYE for up-to-date campground information.

For people who want to taste the camping experience without laying out the cash for necessary gear, Ohio State Parks offer a range of rental programs. Paint Creek State Park, near Hillsboro, offers houseboat rental for weekdays or weekends. Houseboats are also available for rent at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County.

Rent-A-Camp packages with an already-erected tent, a sheltered picnic table, two cots and sleeping pads, a cooler, cook stove, light, fire extinguisher, broom and dustpan are available at 27 parks across the state. Rent-A-RV sites, equipped with a 29-foot travel trailer, picnic table, fire ring, as well as electrical hook-up and sewer and water lines, are available at six state parks: Alum Creek in Delaware County, Caesar Creek in Warren and Clinton counties, East Fork in Clermont County, East Harbor in Ottawa County, Geneva in Ashtabula County and Punderson in Geauga County.

Weather-resistant canvas tepees anchored to wooden platforms are for rent at six state parks: Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, Grand Lake St. Marys in Auglaize and Mercer counties, Indian Lake in Logan County, Jackson Lake in Jackson County, Lake Hope in Vinton County and Mohican in Ashland County. Rent-A-Tepee sites accommodate five adults and come with cooler, sleeping pads, cots, lantern, broom, dustpan – and in most instances, a canoe and lifejackets.

Yurts, camp structures that are half tent and half cabin, are for rent at three state parks: Delaware in Delaware and Marion counties, Pymatuning in Ashtabula County and Maumee Bay in Lucas County. Yurts, which sleep five adults, are furnished with bunk beds, a sofa bed, stove and refrigerator, along with indoor electrical outlets. Premium yurts are also available on the waterfront at Kelleys Island State Park in Erie County. They feature efficiency kitchens, bath with shower, furnished living/dining areas and sleeping accommodations for six. All rental arrangements must be made in advance with the individual park. Prices vary according to the area.

For one tank of gas or less, families can enjoy activity-filled vacations and savor Ohio’s beautiful outdoors all at the same time. Ohio State Parks staff can help with the planning. Call (614) 265-7000 for brochures and information packets. Or, call the state’s toll-free tourism line at 1-800-BUCKEYE.

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