THREE YEARS AND COUNTING

9/1/2007
Posted by Ron Bell

Just recently we reached a milestone of three years in business. We started with two cabins and little knowledge at a time when many said (and are still saying, by the way) that the Hocking Hills are too saturated with cabins and success would be difficult to achieve. Well, here we are three years later, now with five cabins and, I can proudly say, over 1200 satisfied guests, not to mention having gained a textbook of knowledge. It's a good thing we turned a deaf ear to the naysayers.

After three years, I thought it would be fun to look at some stats from all of reservations we've had since day one. Here are a few:

• 1258 total reservations equaling 2858 nights
• Average length of stay: 2.27 nights
• We've had guests from 20 states, with Alaska being the farthest
• Most stays by a single guest: 5
• The city that has provided the most guests: Columbus at 116
• We've gone through approximately 3145 rolls of toilet paper
• Over 10,000 towels have been laundered
• We have had over 150,00 gallons of drinking water delivered

ONLY THE BEST FOR OUR GUESTS

7/24/2007
Posted by Ron Bell

I can't believe it's been so long since our last post; time has certainly flown by. We are well into the busy summer season and trying to keep everything running smoothly so that our guests leave the ridge with pleasant memories. In the last three years we have gained many repeat guests. I think that speaks volumes for how our guests feel about the job we are doing.

Part of our job is to keep our cabins fresh and well maintained for our guests. In the past few months we have completed many updates. The Nature's Pointe Cabin received all new log furniture, giving it an entirely new warm and cozy feel. Personally, I think the presence of log furniture in a room is very inviting and conducive to relaxation. The Settler's Hollow Cabin received all new log bedroom furniture. Again, much warmer than the old dark cherry furnishings that were replaced. The old steep front steps at Settler's Hollow were also replaced with new and gentler steps. At the Bellwoode Cabin, we covered the hot tub half of the deck with a permanent roof so that guests can still go tubbing in the rain.

Our most exciting change so far this year has been the purchase of the Cricket's Cove Cabin. For the past 2 ½ years we've only managed this cabin for out-of-area owners, but just recently we purchased it from them. We've already completed many updates to the cabin and grounds, including many new furnishings. The cabin used to have an oversized futon right in the middle of it. Believe me when I say it was the first thing to go. I can honestly say our updates have greatly enhanced the coziness of this great little couples cabin. We invite you to come and stay a couple of nights.

Lastly, we haven't been the only creatures busy this summer on the ridge. The raccoons have been busy emptying our hummingbird and bird feeders almost on a nightly basis at all of the Main Property cabins. If only we could collect rent from them.

DAPPER LITTLE BIRDS

3/15/2007
Posted by Ron Bell

Recently, while enjoying an unusually warm and sunny March day from the deck of our Bellwoode Cabin, I was entertained by a couple of "tree walking" birds feasting on seed I had just put in the bird feeder. These nifty birds are called nuthatches. They are gray, black and white sparrow-like birds with the unusual characteristic of easily walking, or hopping, up and down and pretty much all around the trunks of trees.

I see them on our property regularly but never stopped to watch them closely. During my viewing, one would fly to the tree the bird feeder is hanging on, walk up the trunk to the feeder and then, with its beak, carelessly sift through the seed until it found a sunflower seed, which it would then grab and fly to a nearby tree and eat. After one would leave the feeder the other would fly in. This feeding exchange went on as long as I was there and I'm sure lasted until all of the seed was either eaten or knocked to the ground. I'm sure raccoons and other birds enjoyed the seed lying on the ground below the feeder.

Nuthatches are found throughout Ohio, so if you're ever in the woods and see a small bird hopping up and down the trees you can be pretty certain it is one type of nuthatch or another.

WINTER'S GRIP

2/4/2007
Posted by Ron Bell

As of this writing, winter has a tight grip on the ridges and hollows of the Hocking Hills. If you dare to brave the cold, now is a fantastic time to visit Old Man's Cave and the other state parks. Not only are the parks free of crowds, but before winter's grip tightened the Hocking Hills received several inches of rain, which has now frozen into fantastic ice formations.

At our property on Pole Ridge it seems as if it has snowed every day for the past two weeks. Although the most we've received at one time has only been about 2.5 inches, the near daily snows have kept us extra busy in keeping our driveways and cabin walkways and paths clear for our guests.

It's interesting to see how this time of year the climate can be drastically different at our property than the more open areas around Laurelville and the valley of Salt Creek to our north. The valley receives more sun and thus the snow does not linger as long. Because of the forest and our northerly exposure, snow and ice doesn't melt nearly as quick and will linger for days or even weeks after the snow has left the valley. This is evident as you drive east on State Route 56 from Laurelville, the hills to your right (south) will be covered with snow while the hills on your left will be green.

Even though the snow creates a magical scene around our cabins, we are ready to welcome spring.

LAURELVILLE APPLES & CIDER ARE HERE!

10/1/2006
Posted by Ron Bell

Just like peaches were worth exclaiming for in our 7/18 post, so are the apples and cider now. You'll find both and more in Laurelville at the Laurelville Fruit Co. Heading east, LFC is on your way out of Laurelville on SR 56, right across from the Hocking Hills Visitor's Center.

CROWD FREE HIKING OPTIONS

8/20/2006
Posted by Ron Bell

There's no doubt that Old Man's Cave and the areas that make up Hocking Hills State Park are beautiful and worth the visit. However, if you've ever visited the parks on a weekend you know how crowded it can be. Many hiking opportunities exist in the Hocking Hills that will get you away from the crowds; I thought I would cover a few of them here.

First, did you know the entire Hocking State Forest is opened to hiking? During daylight hours visitors are free to walk forestlands, but be wary of the many cliffs throughout the area. Maps and info can be found here:
www.ohiodnr.com/forestry/forests/hocking.htm

Within the state forest, off of Big Pine Road and a couple of miles past Conkle's Hollow, you'll find the State Rock Climbing and Rappelling Area. Here you'll find many trails leading to high cliffs and waterfalls. If you're lucky you'll catch some climbers in action. The Buckeye Trail also cuts through this area as well. One of our favorite hikes is to scramble up Big Spring Hollow (no ropes required) to the top of a 150' waterfall and then follow the Buckeye Trail along the cliff tops back down to the parking area. Along the way you'll pass a balanced rock formation, which is pictured here.

Another crowd free hike in this area takes off from the rock climbing and rappelling parking lot. Instead of crossing Big Pine Road into the rock climbing area, head out the back of the parking lot into a valley, which is named Long Hollow. You can either follow the horse trail or walk the streambed if it's dry. We prefer to walk the streambed. In about ¾ of a mile this hollow terminates in a box canyon at the base of 150' cliffs and a wet weather waterfall. A couple of side hollows also offer some fun exploring.

Several miles of the Buckeye Trail traverse the Hocking Hills and are an option for hiking. Although much of the BT follows existing roads, one lightly traveled stretch of the BT just off of Kreashbaum Road travels through the scenic Rocky Hollow. This is a nice out and back hike that you can do in an hour or so. Be sure to look for the blue blazes marking the BT.

A couple of other parks in the area you may wish to visit that don't draw the huge crowds are Clear Creek Metro Park and Rock Stalls.

Clear Creek is a Columbus Metro Park and contains several miles of crowd free hiking within its 5200-acre extent. This park lies in the narrow, secluded valley of Clear Creek and is worth driving through even if you don't stop. Clear Creek Metro is located west of US 33 a few miles north of Logan on Clear Creek Road. A park map and info can be found here:
www.metroparks.net/ParksClearCreek.aspx

Rock Stalls is a smaller park in northern Hocking County with no improvements other than a 2 mile trail leading to a secluded valley with rock formations, caves and waterfalls. You won't find the cliffs here as high as the ones in the state parks, but this spot is scenic and worthy of a visit. The park is owned by a nearby church camp and was still open to the public during our last visit. Follow SR 664 North out of Logan to Logan-Horns Mill Rd. and turn left, turn right on Rock Stull Road and go about ½ mile to a gravel parking area on the right.

I'll cover some additional crowd free hiking spots in a future blog entry.

MAKING MEMORIES

8/1/2006
Posted by Ron Bell

When we got into this business a couple of years of ago, I was expecting it be rewarding. I was expecting the rewards of being a business owner and not having to depend on others for a paycheck. I was expecting the rewards of having a place my family could come to and enjoy. I was also expecting the rewards of providing to others a peaceful getaway from the hectic world. However, there is one thing I never expected, and it has turned out to be more rewarding than all else, as well as given us a whole new perspective on the business we're in. That one thing is how we've affected people's lives and provided lifelong memories for them.

You'll find in each of our cabins a guest journal intended for our guests to write about their stays with us. So many entries contain heartfelt narratives of how our cabins have provided a haven for someone to slow down and rejuvenate, allowed for a couple to re-discover one another, for a family to spend quality time together as, well, a family, or time for old friends to catch-up. Being the cause for so many happy memories is very satisfying to us and makes the long days spent cleaning a little easier to handle.

Just as much as we love reading the heartfelt journal entries, we also enjoy a laugh or two. One of our favorite journal entries so far is a brilliant one-sentence narrative recorded last year and, although poignant, was masterfully written by an obvious true expert of the English language. This entry reads as follow: "We saw some deers, and drank some beers." Breathtaking.

LAURELVILLE PEACHES ARE HERE!

7/18/2006
Posted by Ron Bell

If you like peaches then you have got to stop in Laurelville at the Laurelville Fruit Co. and grab a bag or two. So many people across central Ohio--my wife and I included--look forward to these few weeks in summer when the peaches arrive. Many folks come to the area just for this reason; it's like a peach pilgrimage or something. If you're coming through Laurelville to stay with us or to visit the caves, you'll find LFC on your way out of Laurelville on SR 56, right across from the Hocking Hills Visitor's Center.

On a recent stop and discussion with one of the employees, I was told they would have peaches up to about the middle of August. I also received an education on the three different varieties of peaches they raise. The sweetest variety will start coming on toward the end of July and will last about 3 weeks. Of the three peach purchases I've made so far this year, all were peaches that were picked that same morning.

LFC is also widely known for their apples and cider in the fall.

SUPPORT THE HOCKING HILLS

7/12/2006
Posted by Ron Bell

We have guest journals in all of our cabins for our guests to tell us about their stays. Almost everyone writes about a favorite hike at Hocking Hills State Park or how beautiful the park is. I thought it might be a good idea to pass along some information about becoming a "Friend" and how you can assist Ohio State Parks in preserving for future generations the truly unique natural attributes found in Hocking Hills State Park.

Your membership in Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park will: preserve and protect the natural beauty of Hocking Hills State Park, promote and support educational projects within the park, increase public awareness of Hocking Hills State Park and fund projects like a new astronomical observatory, wildlife viewing blinds and trail updates and improvements.

In this era of dwindling state funding, the role of organizations like the "Friends" has never been so important. Membership starts as low as $25 and the next time you visit the park you can take pride in knowing you are helping to preserve this truly spectacular place.

THE THIEF

6/28/2006
Posted by Ron Bell

A few weeks ago we hung a new bird feeder on a tree at the Bellwoode Cabin. For the first couple of weeks the feeder saw little action, and then all of the sudden we couldn't keep the thing filled for more than a day. Well, I had an opportunity to stay overnight at Bellwoode recently and was able to see firsthand where our birdseed was going. Just after sundown I walked unsuspectingly out onto the deck and was startled by a raccoon hanging half from the tree and half on the feeder scooping up birdseed by the handful. I as able to snap a couple photos of the little moocher before he scooted down the tree and into the night. As of this writing I have yet to decide how to raccoon-proof our bird feeder. Also that night I observed a flying squirrel walking on the side of the cabin. This was the first siting of this animal I've seen on the property.

WILDLIFE RETURNS TO THE RIDGE

6/26/2006
Posted by Ron Bell

Last year at this time hardly an animal could be found on our property. Why? Last summer was very dry, and since we're located high on a ridge, there's not much water to begin with. Most of the animals that normally visit our property left last summer in search of water. You know it's dry when even the squirrels leave. The corn we would leave out in our wildlife feed plot at the Nature's Pointe Cabin would go days without being touched.