Gypsy Road Trip

Escape from the fast pace of life at Epworth Park in Bethesda. Experience the peacefulness of days gone by as you stroll along the lake, enjoy the beautiful fountain, and reminisce under the majestic oaks. It all began in 1870 as the “Garden of Oaks” for use as a Methodist Camp Ground – a place for spiritual fellowship, instruction, and renewal.

Horse-drawn wagons and trains carried as many as 10,000-15,000 people to camp meetings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With the park’s rising popularity, cottages were built in the late 1800s to serve as a retreat for people who wanted to escape city life. Epworth Park was “the place to be.”

In the early 1900s, the camp meetings were replaced by the National Chautauqua movement, which focused on education, culture, and entertainment for those living in small towns. It began at the Methodist retreat on Chautauqua Lake, New York. The Chautauqua assemblies attracted the most famous actors, musicians, and lecturers of the time including William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley.

Today that heritage continues with an annual Chautauqua Homecoming Days and the Bethesda Festival during the second weekend in July with a new, more modern form of entertainment. This is a community event where everyone comes to celebrate the history of Epworth Park through a variety of activities including entertainment, a car show, fishing tournament, and vendors.

A beautiful, three-story hotel was added in those early days as well as a lake and auditorium. Unfortunately, the hotel no longer exists but in those early days was near the site of today’s concession stand. The lake not only added to the beauty of the park but provided a place for swimming and boating. Today a fountain adds beauty along with two bridges over the lake.

This seven-acre park is surrounded by a grove of oak trees and consists of sixty privately-owned Victorian cottages, a common house for meetings, and the original outdoor chapel/amphitheater for services, weddings, and concerts with room for up to 250 guests.

May through October is the perfect time for a wedding in the “Garden of Oaks” in their open-air, covered auditorium. Take time to stroll down the sidewalks and enjoy the old Victorian cottages that have been around for quite some time. Notice all the beautiful flowers, gardens, and American flags on your walk.

Until 2018, the Methodist Church East Ohio Conference owned the entire park. Today they have maintained ownership of Epworth Center but the remaining land has been sold to cottage owners and the Village of Bethesda.

Epworth Lodge, the present home of Epworth Center, was built in 1967 as a learning center. Their outreach missions include home repairs, food pantry distribution, and community support. Today, it is a wonderful place for seminars, retreats, meetings, and weddings. Four cabins house 44 people and there are extra rooms at the lower level of the lodge.

Cottages are owned primarily by folks from the Upper Ohio Valley and have been passed down from generation to generation. Most are used as summer homes. The village purchased the south side of the property where the lake is located and has a wonderful recreational area there now with playground equipment, ball fields, and basketball court. It’s a great place for a picnic or family reunion as there are several shelters.

Many from Bethesda and nearby towns come to enjoy the fun of fishing with their children in the nearby Epworth Lake even if it is catch and release. It’s a great place to teach children the joys of fishing. While at the lake, take time to walk on a bridge across the edge of the lake so you can watch the fish below. It’s the perfect place to watch or feed the ducks and geese that live there.

For over 150 years, the people of Bethesda and surrounding area have enjoyed visits to Epworth Park. There are activities all year long from Easter Egg Hunts to concerts in the park – quite often on Saturdays. There are many locations perfect for photo opportunities.

Perhaps you will want to visit Epworth Park and see its charm. Check their schedule at www.epworthpark.org for upcoming events such as concerts and movies in the amphitheater. While it may not have the glamour of those early days, it’s still a great place for relaxation and family togetherness. Experience the tranquility of days long ago any time of the year at Epworth Park.

Epworth Park is located off I-70 Exit 208. Go south about two miles to the town of Bethesda. The park is located off Route 147. You can’t miss the entrance way!