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Shadyside Cabin last minute booking opportunity

Mary

Due to a family medical emergency, our Shadyside guests had to cancel their vacation. That means Shadyside (as of 3:45 pm this afternoon) has 5 days available at the end of August: today, August 27 through Wednesday, August 31. You don’t have to book all 5, but we do have a 2 night minimum.

If you’ve always wanted to stay at Shadyside, but are always blocked out, this is your opportunity to stay at this premier Hocking Hills cabin. Shadyside sleeps up to 6, is pet friendly and has a hot tub, of course.

Call John at 614-499-8205 or email him at john@marsh-hollow.com.

August 18 Tourism Association Update & Dining Suggestion

Mary

The Hocking HIlls Tourism Association’s Weekend Update  is now available. I almost forgot to share it after promising that I would. It is packed with stuff to do, not only for the weekend but for the week ahead and beyond.

As an extra, here is a dining suggestion, based on my lunch with my friend Pamela today at the Hocking Hills Dining Lodge: try the Caveside salad. Baby spinach, goat cheese, toasted almonds, sun dried tomatoes, shredded carrots, onion, craisins/raisons and a champagne vinaigrette dressing. Delicious!

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Internet/Wifi now available at The Cottage

Mary

We could hardly believe our ears when we heard that our telecomm provider Frontier confirmed that there were 48 new ports available in the Laurelville area. Well, folks, it was true and The Cottage now has one of them (Shadyside and Pinewood were connected several years ago.) I set up the modem/router this morning and am writing this as I’m watching the Janis Joplin documentary on Netflix on HDTV.

Might just stay here the rest of the morning!

Mary at Marsh Hollow

P.S. We will provide access to Netflix and Pandora at The Cottage.

The Cottage opens July 1 – book now!

Mary
Cottage exterior

The Cottage

Last December, Dave and I had to cancel a vacation to Nashville so we could be home to close on the purchase of the 20 acre parcel that adjoins our Marsh Hollow property. The parcel included a cozy cedar-sided home that we thought would make a great addition to our lodging business. So we stayed home, completed the sale, then spent the winter and spring bringing “The Cottage” up to Marsh Hollow standards. And when I say “we” that includes John, our son-in-law, operations manager and heavy lifter in chief.

Our improvements: new HVAC, new water heater, new plumbing fixtures, new lighting, new flooring (although we kept the loft carpet for now), new stair railing inside, new steps and stair railing outside, new patio, new hot tub pad, and mostly new furniture. Oh, and a completely renovated upstairs deck.

Hopefully, Frontier Communications will install Internet/Wifi by June 21. We don’t want to count our chickens before they’re hatched, so we are not advertising The Cottage as “Internet available” til we’ve tested it with our own devices. We’ll keep you posted on this important feature. In the meantime, there is an HDTV, bluetooth soundbar and Blu Ray player available. And a small collection of movies.

We are accepting bookings for July and on, but there’s still a bit of painting to do, and a lot of groundskeeping. Currently, we do not have a well-cleared trail from The Cottage to our existing nature trail which connects to Shadyside and Pinewood Cabins. Working on it!

 Mary at Marsh Hollow

Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt

Mary

From November 1 to December 13, visitors to the Hocking Hills get a chance to take home one of almost 50 prizes. Visit at least six of the participating merchants, obtain a sticker (no purchase necessary), affix the stickers to an entry form, then drop it off at the Welcome Center, Logan, or mail it in.

In addition to individual prizes, there will also be a GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE:

TWO nights stay in cabin for 4
Canopy tours for 4
Canoe tours for 4
Adventure Golf for 4
Candle making for 4
Lunch for 4
Dinner for 4

Winners will be chosen in a random drawing on December 15. Prizes will be mailed in time for Christmas gifting (or keeping!). Please visit the Hocking Hills Tourism Association web site for more information, including a list of participating merchants.

 

Update on Old Man’s Cave trail work

Mary
Yesterday, our Shadyside guests reminded us of the trail work going on at Old Man’s Cave in the Hocking Hills. Here’s an update from Ohio State Parks:
The first phase of the capital improvement project at Old Man’s Cave has been completed.
The upper falls accessible ramp and deck has been installed. It will take hikers from the existing accessible sidewalk down to the stone arch bridge spanning the upper falls region. The new ramp and deck will offer a safe view of the upper falls region for all of our visitors.
The second phase of the project will be the replacement of the wooden staircase that leads hikers down to the lower falls region. The new staircase will be a metal spiral design and will require the closure of this trail for approximately 3 weeks during construction.
The trail closure will include the portions of trail near the lower falls overlook, the long tunnel section, and the trail that leads down to lower falls, including closure of the short side trail to Broken Rock Falls.
A majority of the trail system at Old Man’s Cave will be unaffected by the closure and all of the most popular features will remain open including the upper falls, devil’s bathtub, Old Man’s Cave itself and the lower falls waterfall area.
Beginning the week of October 6, there may be daily, week-day closures of the main trail causing short-term hiking inconveniences but these will not impact weekend hiking. Also, hikers will still have access to all of the features of the trail.
The closed section is expected to reopen by mid-October. Signs will be posted at the closed areas to keep visitors at a safe distance in these work zones. ODNR will continue to post updates regarding the construction scheduling and closures as information is received. Please contact the park directly with any questions regarding the project; the park’s phone number is 740-385-6842.

Comfort Food in the Hocking Hills

Mary

The September 2014 issue of Country Living, the official publication of our electric company, South Central Power, includes a great article “Head for the hills! A foodie our of the Hocking Hills.” Now don’t get me wrong, Dave and I love the Inn at Cedar Falls, Glenlaurel Inn and the Grouse Nest for fine dining, and this same issue also devotes a separate article to them. But sometimes you want something a little more laid back and let’s face it, less expensive.

The comfort food article lists some great local restaurants including Laurelville’s Ridge Inn. Simply put The Ridge Inn know how to cook a good steak and surround it with delicious sides. The most welcome addition to the comfort food category is the Hocking Hills Dining Lodge. It’s been under new management since last year and is now one of our favorite places to have a glass of wine and dinner. We’ve been to all of the restaurants mentioned but would like to add one more: The Home Tavern in Logan.  It’s located near the Washboard Factory. Last time I was there, I had the country fried steak sandwich. They serve it smothered in gravy. Yum!

Read about all of these restaurants, except the Home Tavern at http://www.countryliving.coop/departments/head-hills/.

Happy dining!

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Temporary trail closures at Old Man’s Cave, August – December 2014

Mary

From the ODNR Division of State Parks web site: A capital improvement project at Old Man’s Cave is slated to begin in mid to late August with a completion date of December 31, 2014. The project includes improvements to trail access at the Upper Falls area, replacement of the A-frame Bridge spanning the gorge and replacement of the wooden staircase that leads down to the Lower Falls region.

This project will require the temporary closure of the trail at these 3 locations at the Old Man’s Cave area. Work is being scheduled so that closure of all 3 sections will not be required at the same time. Signs will be posted at the closed areas to keep visitors at a safe distance in these work zones. ODNR will continue to post updates regarding the construction scheduling and closures as information is received. Please contact the park directly with any questions regarding the project; the park’s phone number is 740-385-6842.

Biking in the Hocking Hills

Mary

I planned to write this post for a recent guest, a lovely lady and avid biker (the non-motorized kind). Several years ago, I know I found a web site that described several bike routes along roads in the Hocking Hills. Personally, I wouldn’t bike on our roads, too curvy, too hilly and cars going too fast. But there are many brave souls who do bike and might appreciate some guidance.

While I can’t find that site anymore, the Inn at Cedar Falls has a very nice page that describes dedicated bikeways like the Hockhocking Adena Bikeways from Nelsonville to Athens, mountain biking trails at the Hocking Hills State Park, and finally, suggested road routes.

Check them out at http://innatcedarfalls.com/hocking-hills/cycling/.

Please be careful out there, bikers. Stay away from busy tourist times, have appropriate equipment for road riding, and obey all traffic rules and regulations. This is for you, Martha!