Leaves are falling, and autumn is calling in Zanesville-Muskingum County. You are covered this Fall season, from pumpkin patches, and corn mazes to ghost tours.
“Fall is one of the absolute BEST times to explore Muskingum County – the fall foliage, the cooler weather, touring the Wilds, hiking the trails, cruising the Muskingum River aboard the Lorena Sternwheeler and the tasty treats of local favorites makes for an incredible getaway,” said Kelly Ashby, Director of Visit Zanesville.
Board the Lorena Sternwheeler for a relaxing Fall cruise as it travels up the Historic Muskingum River Water Trail. Enjoy the smells of autumn’s crisp air and listen as the sternwheeler paddles its way down the river leaving ripples in the water. Linger around the scenic woodlands full of vibrant color throughout the foliage.
The Lorena Sternwheeler is 104 feet long, 17 feet wide, and can carry 45 passengers. It is available for public rides, birthday parties, anniversaries, twilight cruises, and charters. For more information on Fall cruises, visit www.visitzanesville.com/Lorena/.
Head over to the family-owned McDonald’s Greenhouse and Corn Maze for fall memories with the entire family. Find your way out of the five-acre corn maze, wander through the pumpkin patch, looking for the best one, and enjoy a relaxing hayride.
Kids will enjoy a pedal tractor track, a gaga ball pit, a giant shelled corn “sandbox,” a petting zoo, a jumping pillow, and more. Take a walk-through of Bambi’s home, the Enchanted Forest, and indulge in some apple cider. Garden mums and fall décor can be purchased on your way out. For more information and hours of operation, visit www.mcdonaldsgreenhouse.com or call 740-819-5814.
Another excellent place to visit is PV’s Pumpkin Patch. Paul and Wendy Vensil live on the land where Paul’s family has lived since 1874. When Paul was younger, his grandfather would call him PV (hence the name PV). In 2017, Wendy created the idea for a pumpkin patch as a fun place for children to love.
Seven years later, Wendy has three different varieties of pumpkins and many activities for children to enjoy. Start your visit with a wagon or barrel ride through a spooky Halloween trail in the woods. Other activities include a child-friendly zipline, playset, jumping pad, duck races, corn box, basketball gravity, a pumpkin slingshot, a hay bale maze, a petting zoo, and more.
No fall activity is complete without a corn maze, and two adorable dragons guard the maze. Enjoy food concessions on the weekends, and be sure to stop and check out the gift shop full of fall finds. For hours of operation, visit www.pvpumpkinpatch.com.
Apples and apple cider are necessary during autumn, and Yearly Orchards in Adamsville provide both. For over 55 years, Doug and Betty Yearly have built a 100-acre orchard empire with one of the largest varieties of apples and peaches in Ohio. They are open from August through Christmas (or until the apples are gone). One may visit the orchard Monday-Saturday, 8 am to dusk, and Sunday, 2 pm to 6 pm.
Mark your calendar for the National Road and Zane Grey Fall Festival Saturday, October 7. Enjoy a time of crafts, pumpkins, games, music, hotdogs, snacks, drinks, and spinning demonstrations. It will be a fun-filled day of memories.
The National Road and Zane Grey Museum contains exhibits highlighting important pieces of the area’s history. The National Road exhibit- America’s first federally funded highway, which opened the doors to the west, also known as America’s first “Main Street.” The Zane Grey exhibit- a locally born Western author who wrote over 80 novels that have been made into 110 movies. Lastly is the Art Pottery, Ceramics, and Tile – The area is sometimes known as the “Pottery Capital of the World” because of the rich clay deposits. An array of pottery pieces and decorative tiles are on display in the museum’s center.
Nothing says fall like a bit of spookiness. Keep your eyes open as you explore Zanesville’s supernatural activity and history. Guided tours scripted by Gary Felumlee’s book, Ghosts in the Valley The Return, gives a range of traditional stories and individual experiences of the phenomena. Tours are offered with a reservation every Friday and Saturday throughout October. For more information and times, visit www.visitzanesville.com.
Once you finish touring the supernatural’s of downtown Zanesville, try your fate at Nashport’s Trail of Terror. Embark on a half-mile trail deep in the woods if you dare. But watch your step and keep your eyes peeled for some of the scariest scenes. Zanesville-Muskingum Counties is the place to be this autumn season, with many activities to attend. A complete list of activities can be found at www.visitzanesville.com, including Prospect Place, a Haunted House, Downtown Zanesville First Friday, Free Trail of Treats Collegial Woods, a scarecrow contest, and Mt. Perry Train Rides.
