Currently in Ohio, there are Nine State Parks with Lodging that are now under what is called “Great Ohio Lodges.” This brand was created to showcase what an incredible resource the State Park Lodges are in Ohio. The lodges boast beautiful water views, grand common areas, casual & fine dining, great indoor & outdoor pools, and of course all the amenities associated with the state park in which they are located. The value you receive when staying at a Great Ohio Lodge is truly remarkable.
Here are the Top Seven Reasons You Should Stay At Deer Creek State Park Lodge:
1. Nearly The Entire Property Will Be Renovated By The End Of 2023
Kind of an amazing fact. Deer Creek has a brand-new Grand Entryway, New Roof in many areas, and most importantly, all new rooms & cabins. We looked at the ongoing renovations, and they are beautiful! The rooms have real tile, special embellishments in the bathrooms, lighted mirrors, refrigerators, microwaves and more. Plus, these are not just standard Queens and Kings. At Deer Creek you can also choose Bunk Rooms, Loft Rooms, Suites, and Cabins that can sleep 6 to 8! The My Town Family stayed in one of the newly renovated cabins. This was a great use of space. We had 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, fully stocked kitchen, and covered porch.
What We Loved Most:
- Plenty of space- as a family of 5 we had lots of room.
- Updated amenities- The Cabins have the same bedding, linen, and towel service as the Lodge Rooms, and the lamps and even the bunk beds were outfitted with USB outlets.
- The Covered Porch area was great for our toddler. If you have small children, this space was wonderful for rambunctious kiddos.
- The semi-circle “pod” design of the cabins is great for families. Each “pod” of cabins is in its own cul-de-sac and many have water views. This makes these cabins a great spot for multiple families to get together. Plus, all the cabins are in their own area- making it a safe, quiet, space for walks, kids to ride bikes, etc.
- We loved our Fire Ring. Each Cabin has its own outdoor fire area, great for cooking, s’mores and more!
Every family looking for a getaway usually wants a pool, and Deer Creek has 2 beautiful pool areas indoor and out. The outdoor pool has a beautiful view of Deer Creek Lake and the indoor pool looks out to the outdoor pool area. The outdoor pool also has a Kiddy Pool & Tiki Bar—Something for everyone! If you are booking a trip with children, this is a great set up to keep an eye on them. Plus, many of the Lodge Rooms are pool facing.
Beautiful New Beach & Kids Play Area
Deer Creek Beach is truly a wonderful resource. Recently renovated, it has an incredible playground, lots of lovely shaded areas, and the beach is very clean. Our family was fortunate to go during a “Beach Party” night where there was live music and food trucks. It was a lovely evening.
Deer Creek State Park is actually located in three different counties- so, make sure to check out the Pickaway, Fayette, and Madison Counties websites before visiting for special events. Plus, make sure to stop in down the road at locally-owned Frosties Bait & Tackle for ice cream & snacks!
Probably the best part of this trip is the location of the Lodge on Deer Creek Lake. The Lodge has been situated to see these views from Outdoor Porches, Pool Areas, Guest Rooms, and even the Dining Area. The constant views of the water made us feel immediately relaxed and wanting to spend a little extra time in quiet spaces taking in the views and relaxing our minds.
Our boys love to golf, and to have an 18-Hole Course right on-site was wonderful. Costs are very reasonable, and this is a great way to split family activities. In our family we have two that wanted to spend the day at the pool, and two that wanted to golf, so this amenity worked out great! The Course has challenging greens and beautiful fairways on its 350 acres. Click Here for course details!
Obviously, since this is at Deer Creek State Park, it is a public golf course. In some ways it is sad how little use this course gets. On the other hand, it is a gem for players and hacks, alike. Tee boxes are in great condition. Greens also are in very good shape. The fairways are cut well and have very few divots with which to contend. Some of the fairway bunkers are being converted to waste bunkers.
There is wildlife aplenty. The boys saw birds, deer, geese, turtles, frogs, and more. For a flat course, it is challenging enough for scratch golfers, and not overly difficult for high handicappers. The clubhouse is quaint and sufficient. It doesn’t pretend to be something it is not, and it’s a great find. The bathrooms are clean and there is enough of the essentials in the pro shop to cover anything you forgot. Kitchen has expected clubhouse fare.
It was a real treat and privilege for the boys to experience this hidden gem. Won’t likely host any world tournaments, but is perfect for a day when you don’t feel like doing more than going to the pool or the beach.
Spending time on the water is something that was natural for me & my husband as kids. If our families went on vacation- there was going to be a large body of water involved. But today, kids are getting away from these simple pleasures, and the price to enjoy them is making the decision to go hard on families. That’s why we love what Great Ohio Lodges can offer. Every lodge has a lake to enjoy with activities ranging from kayaking to fishing and boating, and it’s affordable. Plus, there is no time to be looking at a screen when you’re bouncing on a tube on the back of a boat!
We were thrilled with our experience at Deer Creek Lake. This is a clean, fish-filled lake that is great for a family outing! We rented a pontoon at The Deer Creek Marina for a couple of hours and had a blast! But, you can also just bring your own boat out for the day. Check out all you can rent and what the Marina and Marina Store offers here.
Centrally Located for Ohioans and Surrounding States
We really can’t say enough good things about this experience. Even little Finn had a blast! Which, by the way, if you do a boat rental they will provide all the life jackets, including infant jackets. Plus, you can rent the tubes for $30 for the entire day. For families looking for good value close to home, this is it. Just think how much you pay for a theme park ticket?!
In my opinion, just getting away from the crowds alone makes this experience worthwhile in comparison. But the one-on-one time with family puts this type of experience high on the “to do” list.
5. Great Free or Low-Cost Amenities for “Screen Free” Activities
We learned Disc Golf, Played Mini Golf, went Fishing, and explored the Storybook Trail. But there are so many other options, like Kayaking & Games in the Lodge. Click here for more.
When you are tens of miles away from a store, you will want to participate in food options on-site, and we were very impressed with the food options and quality at Deer Creek. Food service is done out of Rafter’s Restaurant and Harding’s Lounge. Rafter’s overlooks Deer Creek Lake and offers casual options as well as a few fine dining. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our favorite items were the Great Ohio Lodges Burger and the Bavarian Pretzel Rods.
Additionally, You can get food in Harding’s Lounge. This is where you can order everyone’s favorite item- Pizza! And we’ll tell you what, the Meat Lovers is one of the best we have had. It’s LOADED with toppings! We had a lot of fun one night – just mom and our two older boys- hanging out in the lounge and playing pool. Mom had a beer and the boys ordered virgin daiquiris, they thought they were so cool!
The nice thing about staying at a place like Deer Creek, is that you can budget for food. If you are staying in a Lodge Room you will have a microwave and refrigerator; in a cabin you will also have a stove. So, you can budget for your meals however it works for you!
7. Great Small Towns Nearby To Explore
Deer Creek is located near several Small Towns to venture out and explore. One day we went to Washington Courthouse. Here we explored its beautiful historic downtown, coffee shops, locally-owned businesses and had lunch at the local watering hole Rancher’s Roast Beef.
We also went out one morning to explore Mount Sterling. We went to breakfast at a great locally-owned restaurant (Ben and Joy’s) and watched as the town set up for an upcoming festival. There are also great boutique shops to explore in Mt. Sterling. What will you find?
What You Get At Deer Creek Is Value
Overall, what stands out the most from the Deer Creek Experience is Value. To do the number of activities in the amount of time we did was incredible. You can do everything listed here without breaking the bank, and still be able to grab a few quiet moments.
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My name is Kristy Burns (@mytowntravels). I am a travel entrepreneur, writer, influencer, and founder of the platforms My Town Travels & My Town Today. As a lover of small towns, travel junkie, and small town foodie; I work with small towns to showcase their unique attributes, experiences, and businesses to the My Town website, podcast, and social media audience, to tell their unique stories. Click Here for Full Bio.