Columnist Leah Keiter suggests a Valentine's Day date away from Court Street.
When I sit down to write this column each week, it’s a pretty nostalgic experience for me. I try to write about places and things that I can remember making me really happy or inspiring a great day, so I can pass that along to my fellow Bobcats. This week, with Valentine's Day fast approaching, I thought about somewhere that I have great memories of that would also be the perfect place for a Valentine's date off of Court Street.
Similar to Strouds Run, Lake Hope is a state park within the Zaleski State Forest that features 15 miles of hiking and walking trails. Lake Hope State Park is a true Southeastern Ohio landmark, with evidence of abandoned mines and ancient mounds marking the trails of what Hocking Hills calls “one of Ohio’s most historic and scenic state parks.”
The state park itself is awesome and a must-see (and will definitely be featured in this column), but this week, my focus is on Lake Hope Lodge, the restaurant in the park.
The Lodge itself is a beautiful building with rustic wood and stone accents as well as a huge patio overlooking one of the most beautiful views at Lake Hope. It's best known for its Sunday brunch buffet, which features all of the breakfast classics from applewood smoked bacon to fresh cinnamon rolls and hearty savory dishes for lunch, like pulled pork and smoked turkey. The buffet is weekly, and all-you-can-eat for an adult is $14.95 — and that includes the custom omelet bar.
Lake Hope Lodge’s website proudly boasts that its dishes are all “fresh and made from scratch,” and as a past customer, I can definitely testify to the truth of that statement. Aside from the buffet, the Lodge has daily lunch and dinner menus featuring local Ohio ingredients, a selection of wood fired pizzas after 5 p.m. and classic college fare with a twist, like its ‘Zaleski fries,’ which are hand cut fries topped with shredded barbecue beef, cheese and onions.
In preparation for Valentine's Day, the Lodge is currently taking reservations for its special buffet on Saturday, Feb. 13. With seatings from 5 – 8 p.m., the $28.95 buffet menu includes prime rib smoked brisket, grilled salmon lobster macaroni and cheese and chocolate covered strawberries. The cozy setting and beautiful views provide a perfect backdrop to have a delicious Valentine's dinner and explore one of Ohio’s coolest state parks all in one. The Lodge is located at Park Road 1 in McArthur.
Leah Keiter is a junior studying journalism. Have you been to Lake Hope Lodge? Email her at lk969912@ohio.edu.
