Discover Harrison County

Several specific highlights can help you plan a trip to Harrison County: Custer’s birthplace, historic buildings and exhibits, and activities on the lakes and in the forest. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether cultural history, horseback riding, or water activities will shape your stay. The places and offerings below provide different starting points for planning.

Custer’s Birthplace and Historic Sites

George Armstrong Custer was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio. The Custer Monument marks the site of his birth. The grounds include an exhibit pavilion and a park with a picnic area along a country road. This brings together a tribute to Custer’s origins, an exhibition space, and a park with picnic facilities.

Historic buildings and streets also offer different perspectives. Deersville’s Main Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Ourant Schoolhouse is a renovated one-room schoolhouse dating from 1873 and is also listed there. While Main Street draws attention to a stretch of road, the schoolhouse focuses on a single building and its own history.

Exhibits and Visitor Offerings

The History of Coal Museum features exhibits on early and modern mining, as well as mining equipment. You can learn about different stages in the development of mining and the equipment associated with them. Clark Gable’s birthplace includes a museum and a gift shop; exhibits include his childhood sled and his Cadillac. Check the visiting arrangements for the birthplace before you arrive.

A public exhibit covers Scio Pottery, Scio College, and the region’s oil booms; visits are available by appointment. Another historic destination is a museum housed in the former Franklin College. Its exhibits cover the Civil War and the “College that divided a nation.” This museum can also be visited by appointment. For both destinations, arranging a time is part of planning your visit.

Boss Bison Farm offers tours, historical information, hot meals, and meat for sale. Its visitor offerings therefore include information, food, and items for purchase. Check current visitor offerings before you arrive, as operational details may change.

Horseback Riding and Water Activities

Faith Ranch offers horseback riding to the public year-round; reservations are required. Reservation and weather conditions may change, so check them before making plans. This lets you include horseback riding as a planned activity without assuming you can visit spontaneously.

The marina at Tappan Lake rents pontoon boats and fishing boats for periods ranging from a few hours to a week. This range allows for different rental durations: you can consider both the type of boat and the time you want to rent it when planning. Rental terms may change; check the current terms in advance.

At Tappan Lake, a launch site for kayaks with a gravel or natural-surface ramp is located on Deersville Road. This is a specific point of reference for planning a kayaking trip. Hunting and fishing are also permitted in Harrison State Forest in accordance with ODNR Division of Wildlife regulations. The applicable rules are part of planning these activities.

Lakes, Forest, and Types of Accommodation

Tappan Lake Park is a full-service campground operated by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. If you’re weighing accommodation options, you can factor this campground into your trip plans. The Tappan-Moravian Trail Scenic Byway winds through wooded hills around Tappan Lake and Clendening Lake. The water activities and the described woodland landscape offer different starting points to suit your interests.

When comparing hotels, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: historic sites, horseback riding, or activities on the lakes. You can then compare hotel options based on your personal travel plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Cadiz, Fayette County, Clermont County, Delaware County, Clark, Hocking County, Mercer County, Wayne

For the main travel overview: Ohio.