There is a new fountain at the entrance of the park, there is a children's playground, many…read moreshelters to have get togethers, a pool and a Waterpark, basketball, tennis, and a pickleball court. Also a pond with birds. Plenty to do, beautiful views.

This is a very lovely park. There is a Victorian Water Fountain near the entrance. Not sure if it…read moreis the original one, since it was hit by a major storm and damaged. Hoping it is and was just repaired. The art work is amazing and very detailed on the fountain. There is a nice duck pond, several shelters for picnics, tennis courts and swimming pool. Very nice and Very well maintained park

The Muskingum River system of locks and dams is the oldest of its kind in the USA. No wonder. At…read morethe business end of the river is the town of Marietta, the oldest settlement in the Northwest Territory. But during the 1800s and early 1900s, the river flooded terribly in the spring and dried up in the summer. Starting in 1836, Ohio built 11 hand-operated locks and dams that made the Muskingum navigable from Marietta to the Ohio and Erie Canal. But the locks and dams deteriorated to useless until about 1960 when the state took ownership again. Today it's managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Thankfully! Today the 11 locks are: #11 Ellis, #10 Zanesville, #9 Duncan Falls/Philo, #8 Eagleport, #7 McConnelsville, #6. Stockport, #5 Luke Chute, #4. Beverly, #3. Lowell, #2. Devol's, and #1 Marietta. You can see the engineering of #2 in this video of the Valley Gem in lock #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F764XLNZaI I have been on the Valley Gem in the lock. The engineering is stunning in its simplicity in controlling the better part of a million gallons of water. On my visit to #2 way back in the fall of 2018, I got to meet the manager of the lock, who showed us around. Free tour. It's one those places where you can sense the awesome power even when it's quiet.

Confusing to navigate. We tried to use gps and the spots marked on it do not take you to the fire…read moretower. We eventually found a paper map and found our way to the lake. It is a pretty area. The roads can be gravel in some places.

best part about blue rock state park? we went during the week and there was nobody there, the fire…read moretower was deserted so easy to get up to (beware your car if it doesn't have done oomph, there IS loose gravel on the steep roads!!!) you can tell it's foothills and get the general feel of a small mountain area without having the severe altitude you do just a few miles to the east! already working on planning another trip back next year!!!

The park sits along the Ohio River at a bend known as the Great Bend, a landmark noted on maps as…read morefar back as the 1700s. - George Washington himself claimed two land tracts in this area, one at Ravenswood and another at Millwood, which inspired the park's original name. The park is home to a 1918 lock house, which now houses the Great Bend Museum. Unfortunately, that was closed when we were here late on a Saturday but we were able to explore the park and enjoy being near the Ohio River. The park includes a refreshed Civil War Trails marker commemorating Confederate Gen. Albert Jenkins' crossing of the Ohio River at Ravenswood to capture Racine, Ohio. There is plenty of parking, some picnic and playground facilities and a boat launch. All have a view of the beautiful William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge. [Review 586 of 2025 - 170 in West Virginia - 24147 overall]

Tonight went to Ravenswood Riverfront Park to see the Christmas Lights with Kayla Beth Fields and…read moregrandbabies Saige & Deacon Hunt. We had a really nice time seeing all the lights. The day was long but full of so much love and fun!!!

Marietta is a charming river town. So why go to a cemetery? Best I can say is it's like a piece of…read morehistory really. And in Marietta, the entire town is rich with history from the Indians and America during the pre- and post-Revolutionary War. You can't throw a stick without hitting a street named after one of Washington's generals, and many soldiers settled here with free land in lieu of pay from General Washington's army. The mound is a big hill built by the Indians. After driving down bumpy cobblestone roads lined with homes that look like Martha Washington might come out onto the porch at any minute, you come upon the Mound Cemetery, nestled among the homes looking quite like it belongs there is the Mound Cemetery, bordered with an ancient looking wrought iron gate that at once says both KEEP OUT and "welcome." Odd that. Climbing the stairs to summit the Mound is part of your initiation to the Marietta culture. The stairs are steep, which adds to the allure. Once atop, the scene is one of history, art, tranquility, and ... Marietta. Other than lounging in the Gun Room at The Lafayette downtown, it doesn't get much more Marietta than this.

I had read something about this but didn't think we'd have time to go; then we ended up parking…read moreright beside it for a basketball game at the college. After the game, just at sunset, we walked back and decided to go in. I've always had a thing for mounds, perhaps starting from visiting Mound City and Serpent Mound as a kid. I wish it had been a bit more light so we could read the tombstones, but there are clearly some pretty old ones here. The cemetery surrounds the mound, and sits in a residential neighborhood with a low fence. You can only enter at two points, which made for a bit of a walk in the cold. We climbed to the top of the mound where there are a few benches and a nice view. It's cool that this (presumably funerary) mound is preserved, and surrounded by, well, an appropriate companion. A nice little cap to our Marietta visit. We'll have to get back sometime.

What a great experience!…read more Ferry tickets have to be purchased at the Museum, which is a short walk from where you board the ferry. You can also purchase a package for the ferry, mansion tour, wagon ride, and museum ($39 as of May 2024). The mansion tour is really excellent. The docents are very knowledgeable. The wagon ride is a must - fun and informative. This is a great day trip!

Located on a small island in the Ohio River, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park features a…read morerecreated Palladian mansion to explore, horse drawn buggy tour, and back on the mainland an extensive museum to visit. We started our visit at the museum on the mainland which features many artifacts chronicling the history of the local area as well as several belongings of the original owners of the mansion (the Blennerhassetts) who fled to the US from Ireland after the Uncle and Niece duo decided to get married to much scandal. There is a free parking lot available to park in for visitors. The museum covers three floors and We started in the basement of the museum and made our way up. In the basement you'll find an extensive collection of Native American artefacts, as well as a short film about the island and their entangelment with Aaron Burr. The Blennerhassetts and their island home owe their notoriety to when they allowed their estate to become headquarters for Aaron Burr's military expedition to the Southwest back in 1805 which resulted in them all being arrested and tried for treason and sedition. One of the most interesting finds in the museum includes replicas of Aaron Burr's death mask as well as the pistols used by Burr and Hamilton in their infamous duel. After spending over an hour in the museum, we made the short 2 minute drive from the museum to the pier to wait for the riverboat to ferry us to the island. It was a bit of a drizzly overcast day and their was no signage out anywhere indicating where the ferry would be. Your ticket that you purchase to board the ferry will include the pick up times at the dock and on the island. The island itself and the structure on it are a trove of historical gems and natural beauty. Our guide for the house, Scott, was a wealth of knowledge and was very thorough in his stories about the people who made the island famous and the ultimate downfall of the entire Blennerhassett family. This was a highlight of our trip to West Virginia!

The property is massive, with wide open landscapes and views that stretch far across the hills…read more Waking up in the morning and looking out over the terrain was one of the highlights of the trip. It almost feels like stepping into another environment entirely, especially knowing the area is dedicated to wildlife conservation. Our campsite was quiet and well spaced out, which made it easy to enjoy the surroundings without constant noise from nearby groups. At night, the sky was incredibly clear, and the lack of city lights made stargazing surprisingly good. Facilities were simple but adequate, which fits the outdoor-focused setting. Everything we needed was available, and the grounds were kept in good condition. The staff we encountered were welcoming and clearly proud of the property, offering helpful guidance about the area. Camping at The Wilds is more than just pitching a tent--it's an opportunity to spend time in a unique natural environment that feels both peaceful and expansive. It's a great destination if you're looking for something a little different from the usual campground experience.

Second time visiting. We will be back again. Staff is super knowledgeable and friendly . We saw so…read moremany animals up close. I would absolutely recommend the wild side tour Our tour leader Faith was absolutely amazing.

This is a pretty area that offers a lake for water-based recreation (boating, fishing, a swimming…read morebeach, plus ice fishing when conditions allow during the winter) and woodlands to enjoy. There are three trails, varying in length from the 0.5 mile Cherry Tree Trail to the 3.5 mile Buckeye Trail. There's a nice looking camping area with both electric and nonelectric sites, some of which have great views of the lake and easy boat access for kayaks/canoes/etc., and a fun playground fro the kids. There are some nice picnic areas with tables and benches available in scenic areas. The one we used also had a great shelterhouse with several tables available and was reservable, though there were no events at the time of our visit. Very nice park!

Disappointing. My family has been coming here for 40+years and it was always a great place as a…read morekid. Now it's just run down. So much potential going to waste. There use to be activities for the kids like nature center with animals, hikes and a theater. Now nothing. No rangers at the office all day if you need them. The lights wouldn't work in the shower house but couldn't tell anyone. Also the beach is disgusting with geese poop everywhere and no life guard.

Love this place! Long trails with lots to see. The bike path is spacious and has amazing views.read more

Great place to bring family or just hang out with friends. Bring your kayaks for some fun and see…read morethe guys singing in the rocks. Pack you lunch and or snacks.