About Hocking County, OH

Updated 1/18/09....here's the Visual Tour of 2009's Winter Hike.....

It might be a bit nippy, but the cold will no doubt make for some incredible "special effects" from Mother Nature during this Saturday's Hocking Hills State Park Winter Hike. If you're at the park on Friday, you can start things off at the park's dining lodge for the fireside pre-walk talk and "winter hike game"...doors open at 5:30pm. The hike itself gets underway Saturday morning beginning at 9am, through the Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls areas. Parking will be available in various locations; you can expect the lot across from Old Man's Cave to fill up fast and first.

If you're there for the hike on Saturday, please stop by the booth set up by The Friends of the Hocking Hills...members will be happy to tell you more about how to become more closely involved with the parks, along with the planned astronomy center and the upcoming annual "Shoot the Hills" event.

For a look at how things looked a year ago, take a look at Hocking Hills State Park - Winter Hike 2008.

Doug & Karen Parker, www.ikarensell.com

Friends of The Hocking Hills, an all-volunteer non-profit group dedicated to ensuring the future of the scenic and historic region's Ohio state parks, is moving forward with its plans for a new Astronomy Park. The park will be adjacent to the existing Lodge, located near Old Man's Cave just off Route 664...where you'll find one of the most "light-free" areas in the state. It's a most ambitious undertaking, with the members looking forward to raising well over a million dollars to fund the building, telescope, and other equipment necessary, along with an endowment to keep things running for generations to come. The group has now put over $7,000 in its Restricted Funds Account for the Astronomy Park. Group members will be available to discuss the project, as well as others, at the upcoming Annual Winter Hike on January 17, 2003....always a highlight of the year for the state parks and their visitors.

The initial case statement provides more information about the whats and whys of the project, prepared by The Friends and the Philanthropy Group of Ohio, a firm selected to assist with fundraising efforts.

Planning for a sibling sort of project is also underway, with primary surveying mostly completed on the projected re-routing of highway 664 where it curves for about one mile through the primary destination area of Hocking Hills State Park. If you visited Old Man's Cave this fall, you might have noticed some of the surveyors at work. The goal is to eliminate the traffic-pedestrian hazards that have grown so significantly along with park visitors in recent years. Re-routing will also minimize air and noise pollution and help reduce vibrations that can destabilize the gorges and rock formations that make the Hocking Hills Region so famous. It can also provide more space for additional public facilities.

If you need a bit of encouragement to leave the TV and make the trip, here's a sampler fall tour of Hocking Hills State Park - Old Man's Cave!

©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com

Down in "The Hills" we're sitting amidst the spaces and shadows between fall and winter. There was enough sunshine bouncing off the fallen leaves yesterday to reawaken fall thoughts, but today the light snowfall suggests the different sort of views around the corner. The views along Clear Creek (Metro Park) in the late afternoon yesterday were as refreshing as they come, and any visitors pretty much had the place to themselves. Unfortunately, my camera couldn't come along for the trip.

So while there's always plenty to see in the Hocking Hills Region, no matter the season, by just taking a hike along the many trails. We'd suggest the trails at Clear Creek and perhaps Lake Hope if you want to avoid any real semblance of crowds.

And there's also plenty to do, as well. If you've taken the fairly easy stroll to Ash Cave, join folks for the "Christmas at Ash Cave" event December 13 from 5-7pm. You'll find a lighted walkway, carolers, Santa, and a tree for decorating (for the wildlife, that is).

At Lake Hope State Park in the evenings, there's the "Holiday Trail of Lights" from 5:30-10:30pm, through the month of December. Begin your evening at the Nature Center, or call 740-596-3030 for more information.

Although you might remember Nelsonsville as that place you drive through just before you get to Ohio University, there's lots going on there these days. The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is offering its annual "Santa Train" (www.hvsr.org), and (weather-permitting) there's an outdoor skating rink for a bit of exercise and fun. And check out the shops, restaurants, and galleries around the square or see what performances are upcoming at the restored Stuart's Opera House.

Logan Town Center (http://logantowncenter.com/index.html), a group working toward Historic District designation for the center city, is sponsoring a Holiday Window Decorating Contest from December 1-20. Get your ballots at participating merchants and the library, and make your way around the area to vote for you "People's Choice."

If shopping and antiqueing are your games, don't forget the Flea and Farmers Market at the Hocking Hills

More info on these and other events at 740-385-6841, or stop by the Hocking Hills Tourism Association's visitors center at the Route 664 exit off Route 33 (and also in Laurelville).

If you need a bit of encouragement to leave the TV and make the trip, here's a sampler fall tour of Hocking Hills State Park - Old Man's Cave! And don't forget to check how how you can help for years to come, at http://www.friendsofhockinghills.org

©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com

15 homes were recorded as sold in the 3rd quarter of 2008 for Hide-A-Way Hills, Ohio. These sales are one sale shy of reaching 4 times the number of homes sold in the 2nd quarter of this year along with reaching an 88% increase over the number of homes sold in the 3rd quarter of 2007.

Home prices ranged from $48,400 for a small 2BR/1BA cabin to $285,900 for a 3BR/2BA new log home. Average sales price was $111,554. This is an 11% decrease from the average sale in the 2nd quarter and a 36% decrease of average home sale in the 3rd quarter 2007. Median sales price was $108,000 which helps illuminate the reduction in average sales price. With the diveristy in HAH, one can not equate the reduction in average sale price necessarily to a reducation in value, but rather in the number of homes sold in a particular price range as noted with the current 3rd quarter median price.

Days on market ran from 17 to 664 days with an average of 149 days which is below last year's average of 166 days. My personal average for days on market for my 3rd quarter sales was 147 days.

This quarter saw a lakefront home sell at $240,000 on the Lake of Four Seasons for a 3BR/2BA. This home sold very quickly in 17 days to a current Member of Hide-A-Way Hills.

Two Hide-A-Way Hills home sales involved bank owned properties which equates to about 15% of the listed and sold market.

2 lot parcels were recorded as sold. Both were sold to new owners who owned homes on the lots next to them.

80% of all home transfered in Hide-A-Way Hills, Ohio in the 3rd quarter involved myself, Belinda Augustus Real Living HER. I'd love an opportunity to work with you too.


Look at the Raw Numbers

Past Year of Hide-A-Way Hills Sales

The 11th edition of this Hocking Hills Region spring event was quite the success, with photographers from many states dropping in for the weekend to compete for over $3,000 in cash and other prizes. The competition continues to grow in national stature, and pre-registrations were double the number of 2007. And this year, "Shoppe the Hills" was added to allow artists and other sponsors to show and sell their offerings in the Lodge at Hocking Hills State Park....word is that they all did a nice bit of business through the weekend of April 18-20.

The event is one of the highlight annual fundraisers for the Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park, an all-volunteer organization that works to provide funding for various state parks needs and projects (watch for more information about plans for the astronomical observatory....).

The competition rules meeting on Friday morning was standing-room-only, and just about all the chairs were filled for Sunday's awards ceremony in the very-large lower-level meeting room at the Lodge. The Lodge staff also put out a nice spread of goodies for those in attendance, and there wasn't much left to eat at the end! Looks like The Friends will have some additional logistical planning to do for 2009....many more amateur, pro and junior photographers can be expected next year, and Shoppe the Hills is likely to grow as well. By the way, although most folks know the famous Hocking Hills Region is in Hocking County, Shoot the Hills photo entries can be also be taken in Athens, Fairfield and Vinton counties....which underscores how the Hocking Hills has been growing in appeal beyond its traditional boundaries.

The event's official Web site is http://www.shootthehills.com/. Winning photographs will also be displayed in June on Time Warner Cable, by the way....stay tuned for additional information. You can take a peek at some of the event activities in a quick Visual Tour.

©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com