Overall this is a beautiful area and we enjoyed a short trip. Unfortunately there is a lot lacking. Signage is so educational and would certainly add to the experience of being able to learn and teach. What is the Sugar house? When was it built? Why? Is it still in use today? We drove to it and well that was pointless. We drove looking for Fossil Collection areas. Zero signage. We figured out we may have been in one of the areas but have signs listing types of fossils you may find. What are they? Trails. Clearly mark them. We started on one and it seemed to just close off into nothing and we turned around. Mark the trails. Mark within the trails. Something! Overall the park was pretty but I was disappointed and don't see myself returning. The parks in Montgomery County are educational, beautiful, and well marked.
I was born & raised in oxford & this place isn't what it once was, at all! The roads are falling apart, trails aren't kept or marked. I haven't been to the campground in years so I can't speak to that but the rest of the park is just sad! I'm not sure if it's funding or poor management? I only live 10 mins from here & would rather drive someplace else to go on a hike. It's depressing here, especially when you know what it once was. If you are looking for a place in oxford to hike go to bachelor woods & Miami's trails.
This park has a lot to offer, including paintball, water activities and a preserved rustic homestead. The weekend we went was for paintball for the sorority weekend and it was great. There was a apple butter festival that weekend and a park ranger was giving a nature talk about hawks, owls and falcons. He had the birds there and it was also great. The public areas of the lodge have nice views and nice seating areas around the fireplace. It is worth a visit while in the area.
Here in the Midwest there area lot of mountain biking opportunities if you know where to look, Hueston Woods is on of the places you should check out if you enjoy mountain biking in the Midwest.A good variety of trails for all levels with some cool jumps! Enjoy!
If in Oxford, this is a nice place to visit for lunch. It is rarely crowded or full. Beautiful lodge. Dining room is very nice as well. Lunch meals are very good. Dinners are okay but not spectacular.
We have stayed here at the hotel on several occasions. We have not been here for the state park, itself. The park itself is quite attractive, with a lake and would be a nice summer destination. We have only been there in the winter or spring. It has been upgraded in the past year or so in the hotel, but exercise facilities are lacking. The pool is nice, and there is no dining but some vending machines and coffee in the gift shop.
I love Houston Woods. It's one of my favorite places to go for a little solitude and relaxation. I enjoy walking the trails and looking at nature. the trails for the most part are clean and up kept. It is a Forrest so you never know what you will find. The beach for the most part is clean. As is the camping area. All areas are patrol by the park rangers and preble county sheriff department. There is plenty if fishing and boating and your able to rent boats and canoes for a nice day on the lake. I will admit they use to do more cleaning but what dies everyone expect when they cut park services??? I myself love coming here not always crowded although the weekends can build up on sunny nice days with picnickers and fishermans. Other then that go out enjoy nature and view your own opinion. Also there is a lodge and eating. Also cabins and irks!!! I say take a nice day and drive around and walk a trail and see what you might think of it.
The Eagles in the park are very active on the lake. This lake has good fishing, Camping, hiking, and boating. I have been going to this state park since I was a little girl and the family would go on camping trips. very nice park.
We stopped here solely for the hiking while going from Cincinnati back to our Indiana Home. IT was a warm December day, great for December, but I'm sure the hike would be prettier in the fall or other seasons. We hiked thru the Big Woods and almost all the way up the shore trail to the dam. I probably wouldn't do the shore trail again other than just to add miles, but the Big Woods area was nice. I wouldn't really call them big woods though, since that conjurs up a picture of virgin woods with exceptionally big trees, and nothing was exceptional in size, at least not to my Hoosier eye. Maybe Buckeyes have smaller trees to compare them too.The lodge looked nice, though we didn't stay.
We thought about staying here after we got kicked out of another hotel in Oxford. The rate was going to be $240.00 for another night due to parents weekend. But I did not even want to see the rooms since the outside was so old looking. We ended up leaving town and staying elsewhere.