FIELD TRIP: Oglebay Park

Description: Oglebay Park is a 1,650-acre resort park, conference center and home to some of the state’s premier environmental education opportunities. Oglebay was once the summer estate of Cleveland industrialist Col. Earl Oglebay. The estate was later given to the city of Wheeling for use as a park and recreational area.

Viewing Information: The park grounds include the new state-of-the-art Henry Stifel Schrader Environmental Education Center. Built using “green architecture,” it is dedicated to encouraging a responsible use of natural resources and the environment.
The Center includes several wildlife, nature and environmental education exhibits, including a 15,000-square-foot butterfly and wildflower exhibit and the A.B. Brooks Discovery Trail -- four miles of well-maintained interpretive trails.
The EarthTrek Exhibit Hall presents the story of the earth through three dimensional exhibits and techno features. It also includes a Children’s Awareness Area, the W.E. Stone Theater and the Bird Cafe where one can watch birds “up close and personal.” The Schrader Center is also well known for its wildlife and environmental educational programs for children.
The park also includes the Good Zoo which has over 80 species of animals nestled in 30 acres of flowers, trees, hills and valleys. The zoo is dedicated to the memory of a seven-year-old boy named Phillip Mayer Good, who loved nature.
Watch native North American animals: bears, river otters and rare red wolves in their natural habitats, and visit an ocelot, red pandas and tamarin monkeys. In addition, don’t miss the exhibits featuring species from Africa - meerkats, lemurs and naked molerats!
The indoor Discovery Lab is designed to make learning about animals fun and easy for children. It includes a variety of hands-on activities as well as animal exhibits such as the colorful poison dart frog and tiger salamander.
Visit the barn filled with friendly domestic animals such as llamas, ponies, pigs and donkeys. Your kids may have the opportunity to feed the animals.
The Good Zoo also includes the Benedum Planetarium, which underwent significant renovations this past year and offers exciting programs year-round. A walk through the Wonders of the Wetlands introduces visitors to cranes, bald eagles and various other plants and animals that call these fragile areas home.
Once spring arrives, you can journey through the zoo on the historic C.P. Huntington Train Ride which passes through the grasslands exhibit and participate in the extensive educational programs.

Directions: I-70 to the Oglebay Park Exit (2A). Take Rt. 40 east to Rt. 88 north. Four miles off I-79.

For More Information: Go to www.oglebay-resort.com or call 304-243-4030 (Good Zoo) or www.oionline.com or call 304-243-6855 (Schrader Center).