COLUMBUS, OH - Celebrate New Year's Eve with family and friends in the serene woodland setting of an Ohio State Park resort lodge. Seven lodges are offering getaway specials to help couples and families ring out the old year and ring in the new in surroundings that are quiet and secluded, yet close to home.
Resort lodges at Burr Oak State Park in Morgan County; Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County; Punderson State Park in Geauga County; Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County; Maumee Bay State Park in Lucas County; Deer Creek State Park in Pickaway County; and Mohican State Park in Ashland County are offering New Year's specials that include lodging, most meals and entertainment. Specials are priced for couples; but children under age 18 can stay in adults' rooms at no extra charge in most instances. Rollaway beds are available.
All Ohio State Park resort lodges offer indoor pools, full-service restaurants, lounges, gift shops and fitness facilities. Each standard double room features a color television with cable, coffee maker, phone, clock radio, full bath and balcony (except Punderson and Burr Oak). Specialty rooms include additional amenities such as microwaves, refrigerators and VCRs.
The New Year's special at Burr Oak State Park provides visitors with a choice of two or three nights of lodging in a standard double room between December 29 and 31. A New Year's Eve buffet dinner for two, two admissions to the lodge dance party, favors, snacks, and champagne for toasting are included. Checkout on New Year's Day is 3 p.m. Price per couple: $270 for two nights; $315 for three nights.
The resort at Hueston Woods State Park offers lodging on December 31, two buffet dinners, two admissions to the lodge's disc jockey dance, breakfast buffet for two, and a $25 gift shop voucher. Price per couple: $240 for a standard double room; $249 for a lakeview room; $258 for a king room; $358 for a hospitality suite.
Maumee Bay State Park's special also offers lodging on December 31, two dinner buffets, two breakfast buffets, a $10 gift shop voucher and chaperoned children's activities on New Year's Eve. Price per couple: $279 for standard room; $299 for a king room; $339 for a hospitality suite or loft room. Additional adults in a room: $99 each.
Children staying at Mohican State Park Lodge on December 31 will attend a chaperoned pizza party while their parents enjoy a dinner buffet in the resort dining room. Pianist Eddie Blue will provide the mealtime entertainment. A New Year's Eve party with disc jockey and champagne toast will follow the dinner. The special also includes two brunch buffets on New Year's Day and college football on the lodge's big-screen television. Prices per couple: $255 to $275, depending on the room.
Punderson State Park's special includes two nights of lodging between December 30 and January 1, a welcome gift, two buffet breakfasts and two buffet dinners on December 31, a New Year's Eve party with disc jockey, favors and champagne for toasting; and two New Year's Day brunch buffets. Price per couple: $400 for estate double room; $438 for double or queen room; $458 for estate queen or king room; $558 for hospitality room; $600 for hospitality suite. Cottages at Punderson are included in the special. Cottage price for four people: $596.
The lodge at Salt Fork State Park is emphasizing family fun this New Year's Eve with a special that includes a family party and chaperoned children's activities. The lodge lounge will feature a disc jockey show for adults. The entire package includes two nights of lodging between December 30 and January 1, as well as two breakfasts for two and a voucher for the lodge gift shop. Price per couple: $369.
Deer Creek State Park will hold a "New Year's Eve Family Memories Celebration" on December 31. The one-night special includes two New Year's Eve dinners in the award-winning lodge dining room, county fair carnival games, a family party with disc jockey and two New Year's Day brunch buffets. Late check out is allowed on January 1. Price per couple: $229. Additional weekend nights, $69 each night. Children under age 6 can stay in parents' rooms at no charge. There is an additional room charge for older children and adults.
For reservations at Burr Oak, Hueston Woods, Punderson, Mohican, Maumee Bay and Salt Fork state park resorts, call 1-800-AT-A-PARK. Deer Creek State Park's toll-free resort reservation line is 1-877-678-DEER. Information on all fall and winter specials at Ohio State Parks is available via the Internet at www.dnr.state.oh.us
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