GOhio! Adventures Around Columbus

Rhino Barn Tour @ The Wilds

Sat, Feb 28 · 12:30 PM EST

The Wilds, 14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH, US

Summary

For this event, we will do the Rhino Barn Tour at The Wilds, a ten-thousand acre conservation center in Muskingum County. It is the largest such center in North America and one of the largest in the entire world.

During this tour, we'll visit The Wilds' rhino herd in their state-of-the-art heated barns and learn how The Wilds' animal management team takes care of one of the largest herds of rhinos outside of Africa and Asia.

The date and time of this tour

We will be doing the 1:00 p.m. Rhino Barn Tour on Saturday, February 28. The tour is scheduled to last 90 minutes.

What you need to do to attend

Signing up here on Meetup will not get you into The Wilds for the tour. You must go out to The Wilds' website and buy a ticket.

Please purchase your ticket, then sign up here on Meetup so I know how many to expect.

Attendance cap

There are only eight total slots/tickets available for this tour. As I obviously have already bought one of the tickets, that leaves seven spaces for everyone else.

If you are interested in this event, I urge you to buy a ticket at The Wilds' website as soon as possible. Since their website is obviously public, nothing prevents other people having nothing to do with GOhio! from buying their own tickets, thereby potentially taking an available slot away from you.

Additional notes on attendance

I have now run several events at The Wilds. While the location of The Wilds and the pricing of the tickets generally leads to small turnouts, the people who have gone have all enjoyed it and were glad they went.

If you've never been to The Wilds and you like zoos or animals at all, you are likely to find any tour at The Wilds to be a rewarding experience.

Tickets and pricing

Tickets for this tour are $95, or $76 if you're a Wilds' member. I've posted screen shots, below, to help you be sure you're buying tickets for the correct event.

Wilds' memberships pay for themselves if you go to The Wilds at least twice a year, and Columbus Zoo members get a discount on memberships to The Wilds. I will always run at least two events a year at The Wilds.

Tickets for all Wilds' tours must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance of the actual tour.

Cancellations and refunds

Per The Wilds' Cancellation Policy: In order to be eligible for refund and accrue no rescheduling fees, cancellations must be made at least 14 days in advance of reservation. Cancellations made within 14 days of reservation will not receive a refund.

You may contact The Wilds at (740) 638-5030 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or you can email them at information@thewilds.org.

Waiver of liability

After you purchase your ticket, you will likely be asked to fill out a waiver of liability. This is a very short document and should take you no more than two minutes to complete.

Where we'll meet

We will meet at The Wilds, whose actual address is 14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43732.

Please try to be there by 12:30 p.m. For most Wilds' tours, a shuttle bus will take you to the actual spot of the tour. So think of this as though you're going to the airport to catch a flight. It helps to be on time.

The Wilds generally asks that people arrive at least thirty minutes because the scheduled start time of their tour.

GPS / Getting to The Wilds

The Wilds is in a very rural area, but I've never had a problem getting there with my GPS (I have Verizon). I've also uploaded a JPG map, below, of Muskingum County.

Sometimes, though, it's hard to get a signal when you're at The Wilds and getting ready to leave. So you might want to consider downloading an offline map in Google Maps. Your cell phone should pick up a signal, however, within a few minutes after you leave.

The Wilds' Visitor Center does have free Wi-Fi.

Carpooling?

If you want to carpool, I recommend discussing this in the comments, below, to this event. While I don't myself carpool, I will do what I can to help you arrange something if I can.

The weather

Dress for the weather. Just because the barn is heated doesn't mean it will be warm. And wear closed-toed shoes.

Wilds' tours typically run no matter what the weather is.

After the tour

Once we're done with the rhinos, we'll head over to the very highly rated Y-Bridge Brewing Company. The brewery is about thirty minutes from The Wilds, and it will be on the way back to Columbus for most, if not all, of us. The brewery's actual address is 1417 Linden Ave Ste D, Zanesville, OH 43701.

Y-Bridge Brewing does not serve food; however, they have several food options. I encourage you to check these out ahead of time on their website for yourself. However, here are a few of them:

Within walking distance -- 120 feet away

• Angry Bull Saloon (pizza & subs)
• The Corner Pub Sports Bar and Grill (classic bar food)

Delivery options -- Door Dash

• 4 Star Pizza, (740) 452-9300
• Donatos, (740) 452-7900
• Pizza Cottage, (740) 455-6000
• Dominos, (740) 455-3126
• Papa John's, (740) 450-4100

If you live in the area or can't make The Wilds but still want to meet us at the brewery, that's fine too.

Sunday Morning Coffee at Stauf's Coffee Roasters (German Village)

Sun, Mar 1 · 8:00 AM EST

Stauf's Coffee Roasters, 627 S 3rd St #1060, Columbus, OH, US

Coffee and conversation at Stauf's Coffee Roasters in German Village.

Street parking is free on Sundays.

Sunday Board Games at Land-Grant Brewing

Sun, Mar 1 · 11:00 AM EST

Land-Grant Brewing Company, 424 W Town St, Columbus, OH, US

We'll play board games at the Land-Grant Brewing Company. The brewery has multiple food trucks on Sundays, including Ray Ray's Hog Pit, Buck City Sammies, and Hai Poké.

The brewery also has (passable) drip coffee, free water, and Jeni's ice cream. You can also walk over to the Land Grant Extension for "real" coffee. (You may have to stand in line, though. The Extension is popular.)

You can come late or leave early. Please just sign up so I know to expect you.

Notes on Parking

• You'll (probably) have to park on the street, but street parking is free on Sundays.
• There are parking garages a little farther away if you want. These are obviously not free, though.
• There is a lot next door to the brewery that you're allowed to park in, but it is not free. I've never parked there, so I don't know anything about rates. (I'm told though that if you eat at Milo's Deli next door to this lot that Milo's will stamp your parking so it's free.)
• You're going to see odd signs on Lucas St (saying it's a "private street") that will lead you to believe you're not allowed to park there, but you actually are.
• Columbus parking cops literally do not work on Sundays. This means that, even if you're driving a non-EV, you can park in the EV spots near the brewery.

Games

I do bring many games, but please bring some of your own as well.

Trails & Ales Redux! Salt Fork State Park / Wildlife Lounge

Sat, Mar 7 · 1:30 PM EST

Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center, 11073 Natural Resources 3 Road, Kimbolton, OH, US

History

Salt Fork State Park, located in Guernsey County near Cambridge, stands as Ohio's largest state park, encompassing 17,229 acres of land and 2,952 acres of water with 75 miles of coastline. The park derives its name from Salt Fork Creek, where Native Americans historically gathered salt from natural mineral deposits. Established amid the rolling hills of the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau, it offers a diverse landscape of forests, meadows, and valleys. The area was once dotted with small farms and communities before state acquisition began in the mid-20th century. Today, it serves as a premier destination for outdoor recreation in eastern Ohio.

The geologic history of the region traces back to the Pennsylvanian Period, about 300 million years ago, when sediments from ancient rivers and swamps formed layers of sandstone, shale, and coal. These interbedded rock formations create the park's rugged topography, with sandstone cliffs and outcrops visible along trails. Differential weathering has led to features like detached boulders and small caves, such as Hosek's Cave. Coal mining was prominent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, leaving remnants like old shafts in the surrounding area. The lack of glaciation preserved these ancient bedrock structures, unlike northern Ohio parks shaped by ice ages.

Anthropologically, the Salt Fork region holds evidence of human presence dating to the Paleoindian era, including a Clovis tool assemblage discovered in the park. Native American groups, likely including Shawnee and Delaware, used the salt licks for hunting and resource gathering, as salt attracted wildlife. Prehistoric artifacts, such as stone tools and points, have been found, indicating seasonal campsites. The area's natural resources supported these early inhabitants for millennia before European contact. Bigfoot lore, tied to Indigenous stories, persists in local folklore since the 1700s.

European settlement began in the early 19th century, with pioneers drawn to the fertile valleys and mineral resources. The Kennedy Stone House, built in 1837 by Irish immigrant Benjamin Kennedy, represents early homesteads and is preserved as a museum within the park. Salt production from brine wells peaked in the 1870s, supporting local industry. Farming and timber harvesting dominated until the mid-1900s, when population decline and land erosion prompted conservation efforts. The region saw Revolutionary War land grants to veterans, shaping ownership patterns.

Planning for Salt Fork State Park started in 1956 as part of Ohio's push for water reservoirs and recreation areas. The state acquired land through eminent domain, displacing farms to create the reservoir. The earthen dam across Salt Fork Creek was completed in 1967, forming the lake by flooding valleys. Recreational facilities began construction in 1968, with the park officially opening in 1972. The lodge, a key feature, was added that year to boost tourism. This development reflected broader state initiatives to preserve natural spaces amid growing urbanization.

Salt Fork offers an extensive array of activities, including hiking on 15 trails, boating, fishing, hunting in designated areas, camping, swimming at a large beach, golfing on an 18-hole course, and archery. It also features bridle trails, disc golf, and a nature center for educational programs. Compared to other Ohio state parks like Hocking Hills or Burr Oak, Salt Fork's vast size allows for a broader combination of pursuits, such as equestrian camping and a full marina, which not all parks provide. While specialized features like extensive cave systems are unique to places like Hocking Hills, Salt Fork encompasses most common outdoor options found across the system. Winter activities include snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, mirroring offerings at parks like Alum Creek or Mohican.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Salt Fork.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the Shadbush and Storybook Trails. This will be about a five-mile hike. The Shadbush is moderately strenuous, mostly at the front and back ends of the trail. It's perhaps a bit more strenuous than Deer Creek at these ends, with the Storybook Trail being no more than minimally strenuous. The hills along this hike I find redolent of those at Mohican.

After the hike, we'll head to the Wildlife Lounge for drinks and food.

Where We'll Meet

We'll meet just outside the main entrance to the Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center. You can use the map pin I've provided here, or you can type "Salt Fork Lodge" into Google Maps, and it should come right up. I usually get pretty good cell service here.

After the Hike

Wildlife Lounge is a separate lounge facility within the Lodge. The Lounge serves drinks, food, and pizza that I find comparable to Marco's. We should be there by 4:30 if you live in the area and can't make the hike but want to join us for drinks.