Munsee

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was first published at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.

COLUMBUS – This Thanksgiving, skip the hours in the kitchen and savor a festive meal with breathtaking views of Ohio’s award-winning state parks.

Ohio’s state park lodges will take care of the cooking and cleanup, giving you more time to relax, explore, and enjoy the season with loved ones.

On Thursday, Nov. 27, reserve your spot at one of our lodges for a Thanksgiving feast you’ll remember. After your meal, take a leisurely walk through scenic landscapes or join holiday weekend activities. It’s the perfect mix of family time, delicious food, and nature.

Thanksgiving buffets & dining options by Location:

Burr Oak Lodge & Conference Center
Thanksgiving Buffet: Nov. 27, noon to 4 p.m. (Last seating at 3:30 p.m.)
Reservations required by Wednesday, Nov. 19: 740-767-1210

Deer Creek Lodge & Conference Center
Thanksgiving Buffet: Nov. 27, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Reservations: 740-869-6311

The Lodge at Geneva
Thanksgiving Meal by Horizons Restaurant: Nov. 27, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Reservations: 440-466-7100 ext. 2

Hueston Woods Lodge & Conference Center
Thanksgiving Buffet: Nov. 27, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Reservations: 513-664-3527

Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center
Thanksgiving Buffet: Nov. 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reservations: 740-267-0741

Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center
Thanksgiving Buffet: Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Reservations: 419-836-1466 x 2
Seating times available at 10 a.m. currently. Walk-ins will be accepted in the Ice Breaker Lounge on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mohican Lodge & Conference Center
Thanksgiving Buffet: Nov. 27, noon to 5 p.m.
Reservations: 419-938-5411

Punderson Manor Lodge & Conference Center
Thanksgiving Buffet: Nov. 27, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Reservations: 440-564-9144
Thanksgiving To-Go: Order by Sunday, Nov….

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A year into new ownership, violence still plagues Ohio’s largest youth treatment center

By: Kendall Crawford | The Ohio Newsroom
Posted on: Friday, November 21, 2025

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PERRYSVILLE, Ohio (The Ohio Newsroom) — Several years ago, the state tried to shut down the Mohican Young Star Academy youth treatment center over frequent 911 calls, runaways and the use of restraints in the 110-bed Perrysville facility.

Those efforts failed. But even after a year of new ownership, problems persist at the rural facility, which houses children with behavioral and mental health problems.

Brittany Hailer investigated the rising violence at the facility and efforts to address it in her reporting for The Marshall Project in Cleveland.

She sat down for an interview with The Ohio Newsroom.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

On the nature of the Mohican Young Star Academy

“This is the largest licensed facility in the state of Ohio. We learned that kids are brought into these facilities through different avenues. It can be through the foster care system. It can be that a juvenile judge is sending them there as a part of treatment after they intersect with the justice system. But these are children with very high needs. Whether it’s a behavioral need or a mental health need, they’re often coming from a traumatic background of some kind, and they are getting placed in a facility like this in order to rehabilitate or address those behavioral and mental health issues.”

On what inspection reports and body camera footage revealed

“We found that the facility itself could not contain violence without police intervention. Children were hitting each other, hitting staff, hitting teachers, staff were also hitting children. On…

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Fulfill your childhood dreams of sleeping in a treehouse with an elevated experience.

By Brittany Anas on November 20, 2025

Joe Thomas – Courtesy of The Chatwal Lodge

Treehouse hotels offer the perfect blend of childhood whimsy and grown-up luxury, providing an elevated escape high in the forest canopy. Think of them as Mother Nature’s answer to a penthouse suite, complete with leafy views, a birdsong soundtrack, storybook charm and plenty of fun nearby to fill an outdoor-centric vacation itinerary. 

This unique travel trend is growing, and companies like Airbnb and other rental platforms offer an abundance of treehouse hideouts for rent, making for unique trips that tap into a halcyon sense of youth. But a new travel trend is emerging as some hotels are also, well, branching out, and starting to add treehouses as a room category.  Ahead, discover five treehouse resorts in the U.S. where you can sleep in the sky and plan an unforgettable getaway. 

Bolt Farm Treehouse

Bolt Farm Treehouse

Near Chattanooga, Tennessee

The story of Bolt Farm Treehouse all began a decade ago when treehouse designer Seth Bolt built his first luxury treehouse as a honeymoon hideaway for himself and his bride, Tori. With help from his father – a skilled custom builder – the duo brought The Majestic Treehouse to life on Bolt Farm in Tennessee.

Inspired to recreate that same sense of magic for others, Bolt set out to build the perfect escape where couples could slow down and reconnect. Today, Bolt Farm has grown into a design-rich collection of treehouses, mirrored homes and domes. Set on 55 acres in Tennessee’s breathtaking Sequatchie…

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