Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Archive for April, 2026

Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area

The rugged terrain includes many ponds and creeks.

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” ~ John Muir

Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area was purchased from American Electric Power from 2018 -2021. Many may not be familiar with its new name. The Wildlife Area is located in portions or Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, and Guernsey counties in Southeastern Ohio. Primary access to the area is from State Route 78 or State Route 83.

Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area consists of 54,525 acres, which surrounds Jesse Owens State Park. Various types of coal mining, including strip mining, took place here during the 20th century. This offers the perfect place of habitat for many wildlife species as it contains forest, grassland, wetlands, small streams, and ponds.

The new Visitor Center at Appalachian Hills Wilderness Area opens on April 25

A new Visitor Center will provide an educational experience to celebrate southeast Ohio’s wild spaces. Ribbon cutting ceremony is on April 24, 2026. This two-story center will highlight a variety of indoor and outdoor activities for all Ohioans to enjoy. Inside, educational and interactive displays highlight the history of the region. Outside, a 350-degree scenic ramp and observation deck is a great place to observe wildlife.

The Visitor Center as it appeared when near completion in late March.

Jordan Skates, manager of the Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area and Visitor Center, expressed her hopes for the area. “The Visitor Center will have various displays that capitalize on aspects of the wildlife area, almost as a gateway to adventure of the property. Our staff looks forward to hosting a variety of educational programming in partnership with Jesse Owens State Parks to provide interactive hunting, fishing, and naturalist programs. We look forward to welcoming both newcomers and those who have been coming to the property to explore or camp for generations.”

A herd of buffalo borrowed from the Wilds will be near the Visitor Center.

Plans are to have a herd of bison at a nearby site for ease of viewing. Bison are native to Ohio but were wiped out in the 1800s. By placing a herd here, visitors will learn the history of the bison as well as the importance of conserving land and habitats so other species will not be eradicated. The herd of bison will be on loan from The Wilds, where a bison breeding program is taking place.

Over 360 scattered lakes and ponds created during the reclamation process provide great fishing prospects for anglers. Largemouth bass and bluegill are the predominant species of fish found here.

Grab A Life Jacket at this handy station in Owens State Park.

Life jackets save lives and now they are easier to borrow than ever! There is a Life Jacket Loaner Station to help keep people safe on the water. The station is located at Sand Hollow Campground right beside the boat ramp, and is stocked with free-to-borrow life jackets in sizes from infant to adult oversized. Grab what you need, enjoy your time on the water, and return them when finished. No matter if you are boating, fishing, or paddling, wearing a life jacket can make all the difference in your safety.

White Tailed Deer are a popular attraction for hunters.
Wild turkeys are also plentiful throughout the Wilderness area.

Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area is a popular destination for hunting. The places left undisturbed during the mining process make great fields for hunting. Here you will find white-tailed deer, wild turkey, cottontail rabbit, mourning dove, squirrel and grouse and perhaps some surprises.

Several stories about Bigfoot’s appearance in the area make for added excitement.

The rugged terrain is dissected by numerous small streams. Trappers take delight as here is an opportunity to find nearly all Ohio furbearers due to the diverse nature of the area.

The map shows where Appalachian Hill Wilderness Area is located as well as Jesse Owens State Park.

It’s also a great destination for bird watching. Many bird species, some rare, are found throughout the unique grassland/brushland landscape. They annually plant acres of food plots for dove fields.

For astronomy observation and astrophotography, Grieser Field provides a great view of the nighttime sky. It is located in Morgan County near Lawrence Road. This area is for nighttime hours.

Free primitive camping is available with no reservation required but spots fill up quickly.

If you want to spend a few days, visit their free primitive campsites. No reservations are required with a 14-day camping limit so everyone has a chance to enjoy the area. You have to provide your own water and firewood but fun and relaxation are available at no cost.

This is one of the new cabins that were inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. A beautiful place to spend a relaxing vacation.

While in the area, visit Jesse Owens State Park, where several improvements have recently been made. There are ten new cabins showing three distinct architectural styles inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Their campground has expanded to 50 full hook-up RV sites.

Stop by Miners’ Memorial Park to see the huge bucket of the Big Muskie.

Don’t forget to stop by the Miners Memorial Park on St. Rt. 78 to see the Big Muskie bucket, which could pick up over 300 tons of soil and rocks in a single bite in order to get to the high sulfur coal beneath. The Big Muskie was the largest dragline ever built for use in the coal fields. There’s a great place for a picnic nearby.

If you enjoy nature and wildlife, Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area is a great place for a day trip or to spend a weekend. Plan a drive to their new Visitors Center to learn more about the area.

Category:

Back Roads, History, Ohio, Uncategorized, Wildlife

Tagged with:

Dana Warne at Salt Fork Miniatures

Their Salt Fork Miniatures’ horse trailer displays many of the ribbons they have won over the years.

Addicted to horses would describe the life of Dana Warne of Salt Fork Miniatures in Salesville. She has been around horses all her life, although until more recent years they were full size horses, which she rode while competing in barrel racing.

Dana and Tom spend time on the farm working with their mini-horses and mini-donkeys as well as putting up hay.

Dana and her husband, Tom, both grew up on farms where they had horses. While Tom was around miniature horses all his life, Dana didn’t become well acquainted with them until she married Tom in 2001. The following year, they added mini-donkeys.

Dana and Tom are with a favorite miniature, Scotch, who was with them for 24 years.

Dana graduated from Buckeye Trail and drove bus at East Guernsey Schools for 25 years. Driving a bus filled with children is never an easy task, but Dana made certain that the children behaved. She told them, “You’re not going to ride if you don’t behave.”

Life hasn’t always been easy for her as in 1998, a car went left of center and hit her bus, which luckily she said had no children on board at the time. This left her paralyzed for a while and since that time she has had 32 surgeries mostly on her back, which today is supported by 12″ rods. However, she is determined to keep on working on the farm as best she can. The miniatures gave her a special reason to keep on going as well as giving her comfort that she needs.

Dana enjoys a close connection with her animals as they give her a peaceful feeling.

Now they have both mini-horses and mini-donkeys, which Dana described as having completely different personalities. The horses are independent with a free spirit that likes to run. Donkeys are loving and caring, great guard animals, and give Dana a feeling of peacefulness. All their animals are under 34″ tall. That’s not even as tall as a yard stick!

Dana is wearing a beautiful shirt and ready for another show.

They take their animals to the Guernsey County Fair, of course, but also take them to major national shows in Oklahoma and Missouri. Some are sold as breeders and others for pets. These shows are special, always beginning with a prayer, as the people in attendance are all very helpful to each other and make friendships that last long afterward.

They have miniature horses and donkeys in several states such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Montana, Oklahoma, and Missouri to name a few. One baby even traveled to Australia.

Downtown Mr. Brown won Grand Champion twice in 2025.

Downtown Mr. Brown, a favorite donkey, began as an ugly duckling but ended up a champion in 2025. He won the ACOSA National Jack class with a 1st place and Grand Champion. He also placed 1st in his 2 yr. old NMDA Jack class and took Grand Champion Jr. Jack, too. He’s 2 years old now and this was his second show.

She will be the first to admit. “We couldn’t do what we do without friends and family.” When they need help or are at a show, neighbors help care for the animals.

Her dogs are also very important to her comfort.

This is a fully operating farm with more happening than just the mini horses and donkeys, which they show and sell. They also put up hay for their horses and sell some of that as well. Of course, the miniatures provide some great fertilizer for their garden.

Dana and Downtown Mr. Brown have a morning conversation.

Dana loves to garden and cans for winter use. One recent winter, Tom counted over 350 jars on the shelves. They also have fruit trees and she enjoys having flowers around as well. You can see that she is a busy woman on her good days. Their farm is often the place for family functions and all the canned meats, vegetables, and fruits make that easier and tastier.

While Tom works for Parnell and Associates, Dana is home full-time now. They have made things easier for her to handle by using mini buckets for feed and water as needed. She likes to purchase things from the Amish in the area as their leads and halters are excellent quality. Buying local when possible is important to Dana.

Once in a while, they both have to get dressed up just for the fun of it!

Honesty is the best policy. She said that if you tell the truth, you never have to be concerned about what you say in the future. People appreciate honesty and return to buy more animals or tell others about their animals.

Everyone has their dreams of places or things they would like to do. Dana is no exception. Her dream vacation would be to go to a Dude Ranch at Yellowstone National Park where she could herd cattle, eat at the chuck wagon, and sit around the campfire in the evening singing and listening to someone play their guitar. However, right now travel is not her friend.

Those little ones are so cute. Here’s Tango with baby Flashy Pants.

She believes in their miniatures. “If well-bred, gentle, and colorful miniature donkeys are what you want, take a look! And remember this, Color turns heads but personality is a must. If you see something you like, take the time to come meet them in person if at all possible. They are going to be a huge part of your life. If you can’t love them like family, don’t look. These are our babies and we want the best for them.”

If you are interested in seeing the miniatures or perhaps purchasing one, call or text Dana at 740-255-7106. 80% of her day is spent with the miniatures or working on the farm. She begins each morning around 7:00 with feeding, and is back in the house after 6 most evenings.

When asked what is important to her, Dana quickly answers, “God, family, farm, and honesty! Nothing else is worth worrying about.”

Category:

Farming, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with: