Buck Creek receives funding to renovate cabins

John Bryan and Kiser Lake to get new playgrounds.

Three cabins at Buck Creek State park will undergo renovations after state officials recently approved funding for several capital projects for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Earlier this month, the Ohio Controlling Board approved about $7 million statewide to allow the ODNR to upgrade cabins at Buck Creek, as well as Cowan Lake in Clinton County, Hocking Hills in Hocking County and Pine Lake in Pike County, according to information from Ohio Sen. Chris Widener.

The funding will allow the ODNR to completely renovate three of the 25 total cabins at Buck Creek, said Hiedie Gibson, park manager. Gibson also manages John Bryan State Park and Kiser Lake State Park, which both received capital funding to build playgrounds, Gibson said.

The cabins at Buck Creek will undergo a total overhaul, including new flooring, new lighting and furniture. None of the cabins have had a complete renovation since they were first built, Gibson said.

“Those cabins are rented roughly 90 percent of the time, especially in the summer,” she said.

The park only keeps seven cabins open during the winter months, but demand picks up early in the spring.

“It will be a huge improvement for them,” Gibson said. “We’re excited to get three. We’re excited to get anything.”

The long-term plan is to continue to replace all of the cabins eventually as long as the funding is available.

Buck Creek is a roughly 4,000-acre park in Clark County that includes a 2,120-acre lake. It also offers walking and hiking trails, as well as fishing and kayaking opportunities for guests.

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