Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Posts tagged ‘Miners Memorial Park’

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.

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Back Roads, History, Ohio, Uncategorized, Wildlife

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Big Muskie Bucket Exhibited at Miners Memorial Park

Big Muskie 325 tons of earth in a single bite!  The Big Muskie took that bite quite easily while mining over twenty million tons of coal in  Muskingum County of Southeastern Ohio from 1969-1991. Today all that is left of the Big Muskie, one of the world’s largest draglines, is this bucket capable of holding many tons of earth.

Miners Memorial ParkOn a crisp winter afternoon, the curvy, scenic road happened to meander past the site of the Miners’ Memorial Park in Morgan County, Ohio where the Big Muskie Bucket is the centerpiece of the park. While the ground was covered in a light snow and the gates were closed, the sign said : Walk-Ins Welcome. That was invitation enough to explore a little closer. My footsteps were the first to leave imprints in the snow this January afternoon.

Big Muskie BucketConsidered one of the seven engineering wonders of the world, this bucket weighs 460,000 pounds empty. If you look closely in the bottom left of the picture, a teddy bear can be spotted on the left hand side of the bucket…and it truly looks like “just a drop in the bucket”! When you consider this is only the bucket of the dragline…well, the magnitude overwhelms you.  It has been estimated that twelve car garages could fit inside.

This massive mechanical wonder was last used by the Central Ohio Coal of American Electric Power, or AEP, in the rolling hills near Cumberland, Ohio. Lucky it was being used by AEP as this huge machine was run basically by electricity, using enough electricity daily to power over 27,000 homes.  Big Muskie had a crew of five and worked around the clock to take advantage of the lower nighttime per kilowatt-hour rate. When you check out the first picture, knowing the size of the bucket, you then realize how gigantic the entire Big Muskie really was, actually twenty-two stories tall!

The WildsAfter the land was mined, it was beautifully reclaimed as can be seen in this picture. The ground was smoothed, trees were planted, and it was again an inhabitable place for animals.  In fact, The Wilds, a haven for wild animals from all over the world, is located within a short drive and is where this picture was taken. If you look closely in the open range, you can spot a herd of buffalo grazing in the snow with a beautiful lake in the foreground. The Wilds is one of the largest wildlife conservation centers in the world with some type of safari available most of the year to explore nearly 10,000 acres of that reclaimed land.

Today, AEP maintains this Miners’ Memorial Park. It is a great place to relax, even on a quiet winter day, while strolling around the huge bucket. There are several areas available for picnics as well as a shelter, which houses displays on the Big Muskie when it was working as well as other information on the area. As land was reclaimed, many camping areas with lakes and fishing were included so it is a great place for family fun during the summer months.

Even though the Big Muskie is no longer in operation, coal mining is still an important occupation in these rolling hills. Warning: Watch out for fast moving coal trucks on every curve!

To visit the Big Muskie Bucket on your next visit to Ohio, travel I-77 and take Exit 25 in southeastern Ohio. Be certain you stay on Route 78 and after many bends and curves – a rollercoaster ride – of about 16 miles, you will arrive at the Miner’s Memorial Park. The area is open May – October, but you can walk in and explore at any time.  Be sure to stop and scan the hillsides.

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Ohio, Uncategorized, Wildlife

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