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Feature Story : Mohican Wilderness
 By Dave Mast For many, traversing across the highways and byways of rural America isn’t just about seeing the world... it’s a passion. And with that passion comes a zest for life which makes every excursion an adventure. Mohican Wilderness knows exactly how these passionate travelers feel about being one with nature, experiencing something new and, above all, having a great time. When Ken Wobbecke, owner of Mohican Wilderness, created the campground nearly four decades ago, his idea was to provide a quiet, peaceful sanctuary for considerate families and youth groups who wanted to “play by day and sleep at night.” The incredible complex Wobbecke has provided allows patrons to enjoy being active, yet still providing them with a peaceful night of rest. “When we first started, we wanted to offer a place where people could come and relax and enjoy the outdoors,” said Wobbecke. “We love to share our vision of what we see as exciting and peaceful with others who share that same love of the outdoors. “There’s so much to do here, and people can come, relax and get lost in nature and in history in a quiet setting.” The tranquil refuge provides 600 acres of God’s country, complete with two miles of Mohican River meandering through the campgrounds. It is also one of the largest campsites in Ohio, and each individual campsite is quite a bit larger than the average sites campers may be used to. “We wanted to give our campers some space and not have them on top of one another,” said Wobbecke. In addition, there are two miles of the gorgeous Wally Railroad Scenic Byways, part of a trail traversing Ohio, which connects the Ohio River to Lake Erie. However, despite the utter beauty of the campgrounds, perhaps the one thing that sets Mohican Wilderness apart from other campgrounds is the number of activities and sightseeing opportunities within the grounds themselves. There is so much to do there that campers will not have to venture out of the campgrounds to stay busy for several days. “That’s one of the things we pride ourselves in,” said Wobbecke. “Mohican Wilderness has all kinds of things for any kind of family lifestyle. Campers won’t have to leave the confines of the park to have a good time. It’s all right here for them.” One of the highlights is Kenhurst Valley, a truly unique look back at life in the 1800s. Visitors can step back in time and visit the artisan shops peppered throughout Kenhurst. They can admire the blacksmith shop, see how old-fashioned weavers perfected their craft, enjoy the precision of the candle making technique and more. Or visitors can take in the sights of the many different structures around the facility, including an old one-room schoolhouse, an 1825 cemetery, a trio of bank barns, three original log cabins and three Scandinavian log cabins, silos, a corn crib, covered bridge, a swinging bridge, two river crossings, Johnny Appleseed statue and orchard. “One of the things we’ve been able to recreate is a village which is reminiscent of life in the old days of America,” said Wobbecke. “People can see how homesteaders lived and how they survived. It’s a neat place for historians, families, and your average Sunday driver out to explore the area, can see the 1800s come to life.” While the natural surrounding beauty is breathtaking, don’t think that seeing the sights is all there is to do at Mohican Wilderness. There are plenty of activities to keep even the most gung-ho families on the move. For those who live an active lifestyle, there is horseback riding through the numerous winding trails, biking, mini golf, tubing, kayaking and canoeing down the Mohican River, archery, boomerangs, horseshoes, shuffleboard, swimming, softball, volleyball, basketball, crafts, nature programs and even bingo games. There’s even a beautiful shower house facility for campers to use afterwards. “We’ve really tried to create something for everyone here,” said Wobbecke, whose camp has received the highest rating in the recreational diversity category, five stars, from Woodall’s, a company which ranks campsites across America “We’ve got a lot to offer, and that is something that we feel not every campground has. “Whether people come for the scenic beauty of the grounds, to experience the activities, or whether they come to relax and enjoy nature, we believe we have something that will make their experience here special.” Mohican Wilderness also offer bluegrass festivals, a wood carver’s convention, or the always inspiring River of Fire Spectacular, which sets the Mohican River aglow at night. They also are home to a large population of cub scout, boy scout and girl scout troops, which Wobbecke absolutely loves. “I’ve been involved with the scouts for nearly 70 years, and we have lots of scout groups here every weekend,” said Wobbecke, who sponsors 12 troops. “We love getting involved with the kids, and what better place to have them come and learn than here.” To learn more about Mohican Wilderness, find them on the Web site at www.mohicanwilderness.com, where rates, activities, maps and directions, special events and more are listed. |
Address: 22462 Township Rd 357 Glenmont, OH 44628 740-599-6741 Email Us: wilderness@ecr.net Visit Our Website: www.mohicanwilderness.com
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