5 Ohio Parks That Make Great Meeting Venues

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the 2020 edition of Great Meetings in Ohio. The information contained within has been recently checked. 

From boating to golfing to walking along the boardwalk through the wetlands, Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center in Oregon is filled with ways to help your attendees feel refreshed. With eight indoor meeting rooms, there’s plenty of space to gather, and guests can participate in team-building activities or enjoy a bonfire at the end of the day. The waterfront setting along Lake Erie also encourages ice breaking conversations centered around memories of days on the lake.  

You don’t need to leave the city to escape to nature. At Cox Arboretum MetroPark, attendees can wander specialty gardens and 100 acres of a mature hardwood forest, including two groves of pawpaw trees, all within the city of Dayton. Host a meeting outdoors at the arboretum’s Great Lawn, which includes a tent, seating and magnificent views, or utilize one of the four indoor meeting spaces, like the Huffman Gallery, where glass walls offer views of the arboretum. Enchant your attendees with a visit to the pollinator garden, which features native butterfly species, or climb the 81-step Tree Tower for a panoramic view of the Miami Valley.

Creative charm meets function when it comes to the English-Tudor style architecture of Punderson Manor Lodge & Conference Center in Newbury, providing just the inspiration your attendees need. The steeply pitched gable roof, decorative windows and earth-tone colors contribute to the inviting atmosphere, and meeting planners are sure to appreciate both the outdoor and indoor functional spaces. Be sure to take advantage of the beautiful glacial lake and 14 miles of trails, allowing you to relax and refocus in the heart of Amish Country.

Unplug from distractions and reconnect with your team at Cedar Ridge Lodge at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park in Galloway. With a stone fireplace and window-lined walls looking into the forest, this cozy meeting space is the perfect place to bond and brainstorm. Sit peacefully on the lodge’s deck, overlooking the Big Darby Creek, or take a short hike to the Nature Center where a 53-foot living stream flows through the indoor exhibits and showcases native species. Also, be sure to catch a glimpse of the roaming bison who call the park home. 

Surrounded by natural hardwood forests and the rolling hills and valleys of Appalachia, Burr Oak State Park Lodge in Glouster is the perfect setting for hosting corporate getaways. Gather in one of the four meeting rooms or utilize the lobby with its cozy wood-burning fireplace and picturesque floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Burr Oak Lake. The closeness with nature is sure to rejuvenate attendees and reduce stress. Find new ways to connect as a team with horseback rides at the nearby Smoke Rise Ranch and evenings spent stargazing under the dark skies.