About Hocking County, OH

This year's run through Hocking Hills State Park, centerpiece of southeast Ohio's famous vacation destination region, attracted a record-setting 757 participants to this growing annual event hosted by the Hocking Hills Tourism Association.. Runners came from 16 states, including Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia (and of course, Ohio). Pre-registrants included runners between of all ages, from 7 to 81.

500 runners preregistered for the race, with 149 people signing up for the 5k version, 136 for the 10k run, 158 for the 20k contest, 32 for the 40k course, and 25 for the grueling 60k route. Running through the woods and hills presents a significantly unique challenge, to say the least, but listening to folks at the finish describe how much they really enjoyed it was truly ear and eye-opening. Also more than interesting was seeing the various types and sizes of those who took this challenge.

The 2008 Indian Run drew 635 runners; this year's total, along with a generous helping of their friends and family to cheer them on, underscores recent upticks in annual visitors to the Hocking Hills Region. Find more information and results at http://www.1800hocking.com.

Copyright 2009, ikarensell Enterprises Inc....Karen & Doug Parker, Prudential Calhoon, http://ikarensell.com

Hocking Hills State Park staff and members of The Friends of the Hocking Hills, Trail Trolls and other volunteers hosted 2009's 28th Annual VIP Campout (Volunteers in Parks) at the family campground September 10-14. About 300 volunteers from around the state, representing the estimated 7,000 VIP's statewide who annually contribute about 350,000 hours of their time, enjoyed free camping for the weekend and events that included special naturalist tours and the much-anticipated Friday evening cookout. Visit Ohio State Parks VIP Campout for a Visual Tour of Friday's evening's events....

Still lots to see and do as the seasons set and change in southeast Ohio's famous vacation destination, the Hocking Hills Region. Upcoming events include the statewide "VIP Campout" (Volunteers in Park) to be hosted by Hocking Hills State Park, September 10-13, 2009. For a Visual Tour of some recent sights and sites near summer's end in the hills, please see: http://tinyurl.com/HockingHillsSummerSets

Including this year's proceeds, and since its birth in 1986, the Hocking Valley Community Hospital Foundation has raised over one-million dollars from its annual Auction and Golf Tournament. The funds have brought improvements in medical care facilities for residents of the Logan-Hocking Hills area that include last year's additions of an ultrasound machine and ventilator units for improved patient care. 2009's auction alone featured 360 items, and netted about $28,000. Next year's event is scheduled for Friday July 16 and Saturday July 17, again at the beautiful Brass Ring Golf Club.

Karen & Doug Parker, Prudential Calhoon Company Realtors, http://ikarensell.com, http://hockinghillshomes.info, http://hideawayhillshomes.com

Photographers Gather for Friend of the Hocking Hills State Park "Shoot the Hills" annual competition, 2009 Photographers from various states gather for The Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park's annual "Shoot the Hills" competition, April 2009

Ohio State Park superintendents have been directed to drop another three-and-a-half percent from their current budgets. For the Hocking Hills State Park operations, that means about $70,000 less for services this year. Superintendent Tim Archer says he'll have to determine from what areas the cuts will come, so the impacts on both visitors and the region's major tourism business remains to be seen....so stay tuned. Or better yet, let your voice be heard in the legislature.

It's estimated that about three million people visit the Hocking Hills State Park each year (including Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, Lake Logan and Rock House). Visitors spend an estimated $180-million in Hocking County (not to mention neighboring counties such as Fairfield, Vinton, Ross, Jackson and Perry), and local tourism-related businesses employ almost one-thousand workers.

The state is also considering elimination of Ohio's Tourism Division by the end of next year. According to the Ohio Tourism Roundtable, the state's tourism industry brings in $1.5-billion in state taxes revenues, and $1.1-million for local taxes. Ohio tourism provides jobs for more than 450,000 workers, estimated on a full-time-equivalency basis.

Ohio Senator John Carey represents the 17^th District, and sits on the legislature's key Budget Conference Committee. You can give his office a call at 614-466-1856. Email address is sd17@senate.state.oh.us

You can also gather more information from the Hocking Hills Tourism Association and The Friends of the Hocking Hills.