Christmas at Oglebay

Oglebay Resort is a wonderful place to spend the holidays. The resort is festively decorated and there are plenty of activities to keep everyone in the family happy. Many tourist attractions are located directly on the property. These include: The Winter Festival of Lights, The Good Zoo and Benedum Planetarium, The Mansion Museum, and the Carriage House Glass Museum and Craftsmen Center. Many more attractions await in downtown Wheeling and nearby towns.

Quick Tips:

Make your holiday reservations early, as the resort was completely full during our stay.

Best Way To Get Around:

Once you're at the resort, you don't really need a car (unless the temperature is below freezing like it was when we were there.)

The atmosphere at the Wilson Lodge put the whole family into the holiday spirit immediately. A cozy fireplace, hot cider, and a gingerbread house display greeted us in the lobby. The lodge was beautifully decorated for the holidays with poinsettias and decorated Christmas trees everywhere. Even though check-in time was somewhat chaotic (everyone seemed to arrive at the check-in time of 3 PM), it did not take long to relax and unwind.

Plenty of recreational opportunities and activities are available right inside the lodge. The indoor pool area is lushly landscaped and includes a hot tub, sauna, and fitness center. Nearby are a video arcade and the Hickman Lounge with a pool table and many other tables for playing games or working on crafts. A few weeks before our family reunion, we each received a list of activities scheduled during our stay. The kids enjoyed decorating their own racing car and creating dinosaur sand art during the day, while the adults participated in family pictionary and karaoke in the evenings.

My family received a group package rate of $99 per room per night. Included in this rate were a pass for the Festival of Lights and a free buffet breakfast for two adults per room per night. The breakfast buffet was held in the Ihlenfeld Dining Room, which provided views of snow-covered hills while we were dining. The buffet included just about every breakfast food imaginable and is probably one of the best that I''ve ever been to.

The rooms at the Wilson Lodge were clean and well-appointed. My room had a balcony off of it, from which I was able to view some of the lights from the Festival of Lights. My family also reserved a suite with a bar for family gatherings. We were also able to arrange a private banquet room for our annual family dinner and gift exchange.

The Good Zoo and Benedum Planetarium are conveniently located on the property of Oglebay Resort and Conference Center. There is an admission charge. From Monday through Thursday, adults pay $4.50, youth (3 to 17) pay $3.25, senior citizens pay $4.25, and 2 and under are free. From Friday through Sunday, adults pay $5, youth pay $3.75, and seniors pay $4.75. Hours vary, so call ahead.

Highlights of the zoo include: Discovery Lab; indoor exhibits of birds, bats, frogs, and other small animals; desert display with roadrunners and burrowing owls; a 3000 gallon fish tank; and barnyard animals. During the holiday there are also live reindeer adjacent to the outdoor patio of the main building. Due to the cold weather, that was as far from the main building as I got. I understand there are also bears, otters, bison, and red wolves on display.

If you go to the Good Zoo, don't miss the Miniature Railroad and Village or Laser Light Show at the Benedum Planetarium. During the holiday season, the laser light show is choreographed to Christmas music.

Oglebay's Winter Festival of Lights features a million lights on more than 300 acres along a six mile drive. Many of the displays are animated and each year new displays are added to the existing ones.

Our pass for the drive was included with our package at the Wilson Lodge. Normally, the expected donation is $5 per car, which is good for the whole season. There are collection booths soon after the entrance to collect this donation.

We started the drive around 9:30 or 10:00 at night and did not run into any traffic. We heard there was a little more traffic earlier in the evening. From what I've heard, the traffic can get pretty backed up earlier in the season. So, if you go earlier in the season, I recommend arriving there just before dark to avoid the traffic.

This season, the Festival of Lights runs through January 7, 2001. So, if you want to catch it, you'd better hurry!

The 1846 mansion and surrounding acres made up the former estate of Cleveland industrialist, Earl W. Oglebay. Upon his death in 1926, Oglebay willed his estate to the city of Wheeling, and it became Oglebay Park. Each year during the holidays, the mansion is decorated in a different theme. This year the theme was The Twelve Days of Christmas, with each room decorated for each day of Christmas.

Hours vary during the holidays, so call ahead. Adults pay $5 for admission and students pay $2. Twelve and under are free with paid adult. Wilson Lodge and cottage guests pay a discounted price of $3.

The Oglebay Institute's Glass Museum features an extensive collection of locally made glass and a working glass factory and artisan area where glass making and decorating demonstrations are available. Hours vary during the holidays, so call ahead. Admission is $3.25 for adults, $1 for ages 13 to 17, and free for twelve and under.

Here is a list of other activities/facilities available at Oglebay Park:

Golf Courses and Packages
Sled riding
Outdoor Pool and Tennis Courts
Walking Trails
Playground
Gardens
Stables
Seven specialty shops spread throughout the park
Six restaurants and refreshment stands throughout the park
If your family needs more space, cottages are available for rent as well. I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the activities/facilities available. Believe me, you and/or your family will not be bored. There are also plenty of attractions in downtown Wheeling. These include: gaming and entertainment at Wheeling Downs; Victorian homes; and various museums, shops, and restaurants.