A white woman and black bear are just two things that set Coshocton County apart from the rest of Ohio
You won’t believe you’re in Ohio when you sample Coshocton County by land, sea and air. It’s just different.
What do you expect from a place where a mad man built a canal boat and stones sparked controversy?
An unusual adventure!
If your favorite pastime is climbing buildings a la the French Spiderman and sitting on a flag pole to take your nuptials, wouldn’t you have the perfect resume to build a canal boat? Such is the biography of “Mad” Marshal Jacobs, who built the Monticello II canal boat as a replica of the first canal boat to reach the region. Today, Coshocton’s canal heritage is showcased at Historic Roscoe Village, depicting what canal town life was like in the 1800s. Glide the same canal today aboard the horse-drawn Monticello III. Then shop, dine and explore the site where you can see the stones that turned the world upside down.
The Newark Holy Stones were discovered in the 1860s while excavating the Newark Earthworks of the Hopewell Indian culture. Astonishingly, these stones depicted Moses and were inscribed in Hebrew, sparking a major controversy. This story and that of Native Americans and a famed white woman are revealed at Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum.
Coshocton was originally the capital of the Delaware nation, called Goschachunk meaning Black Bear Town. Long before white soldiers and settlers invaded these lands, a lone white woman named Mary Harris called it home as early as 1750. This white woman inspired renaming of landmarks to White Woman’s River and White Woman’s Town through the ages to today’s Whitewoman Street. Again, where most places would honor a person by name, you’d have to visit Coshocton to understand why Mary Harris went down in history as White Woman.
It’s just different in Coshocton.
Unusual Junction, a renovated train depot, features wonderful dining and eclectic shopping, but it may be best known for a sign – the original The Price Is Right sign, autographed by Bob Barker. Some other unusual adventures feature Old Glory and Missionary Maintenance Services.
If you ever thought it uncanny that many American flags are sewn overseas, you’re not alone. In a strange twist, it has become unusual to have an American flag made in the U.S.A. But in Coshocton, the unusual becomes usual just the same. And tours of Annin Flag Company can be arranged to prove it. Another unique tour is the aviation repair shop where missionary airplanes from around the globe are brought so they may fly again.
Perhaps the greatest attraction for visitors coming to Coshocton is its 20,000 acres of preserved natural splendor. The Woodbury Wildlife Area is well known to birding and hiking enthusiasts and, in-season, it offers the largest public hunting grounds in Ohio.
We’ve already covered sea and land adventures so let’s turn toward the rainbow of colors that dot the heavens above Coshocton’s fairgrounds the first full weekend in June every year.
One of the most spectacular and long-running hot air balloon events anywhere is Coshocton’s annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, which takes flight June 5–7. Originally called the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Race, the name was changed to reflect the more encompassing events that occur at this festival. Balloonists from all over Ohio and Michigan come to show off their colorful aircraft. Balloon launches are held at dawn and dusk, and a “night glow” of balloons occurs after dark. Balloonists take part in various events, such as dropping markers while in flight in attempt to hit a target on the ground. A traditional hot air balloon race sanctioned by the North American Balloon Association is also held during the festivities.
Although Coshocton has unique attractions that differentiate it from anywhere else, it also appeals to mainstream interests and offers four distinct wineries, an award-winning cheese factory, artistic endeavors, parks and other outdoor activities, performances at an amphitheater, covered bridge and scenic country drives, Old Stone Fort, dining, lodging, events and lots of history.
If you sample Coshocton County by land, sea or air, you’ll experience why it’s so different from Ohio’s other 87 counties. For more information about Coshocton County, call 740-622-4877 or visit www.visitcoshocton.com.
