COLUMBUS — Join the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and US Hotels in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the lodge at Hueston Woods State Park on Sunday, Aug. 27, at noon. The day will include a variety of family-friendly activities such as a pool party, jet ski simulator, naturalist programming, disc golf demonstrations, giveaways, food and refreshments.

Inside the lodge, the lobby will feature a number of local organizations, including the Visitors Bureau of Hueston Woods Region. Naturalists will be presenting birds of prey programs, and the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft will be offering a trivia game with prizes. US Hotels will be offering other prizes throughout the day.

Construction of the modern lodge at Hueston Woods State Park was completed a few months before the lodge was dedicated on July 8, 1967, by Governor James Rhodes. At the ceremony, Gov. Rhodes described Hueston Woods as the “showcase of Ohio.” Approximately $3 million was invested in the lodge during construction, and a golf course was added the following year.

Situated on a bluff overlooking Acton Lake, today the lodge offers 92 modern rooms and 37 fully furnished cabins year-round. Amenities include meeting rooms, a dining room, lounge, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, game room, gift shop and lighted tennis courts.

To commemorate the event, the lodge will be offering a specially-priced 1967 themed buffet from noon until 4 p.m. in the dining room, as well as free food and refreshments by the outdoor pool with a DJ.

US Hotels has managed Hueston Woods State Park Lodge and its family cabins since 2013, and it manages two other Great Ohio Lodges, including Burr Oak and Shawnee.

The ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft is responsible for managing Ohio’s 74 state parks and providing the finest outdoor recreational opportunities, including first-class boat services, facilities and law enforcement for users of Ohio’s waterways and public lands.