Oglebay Park

The land that became Oglebay was, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the summer estate of Earl W. Oglebay, an industrialist whose wealth came from Great Lakes iron and shipping. He ran the property as a model farm and country retreat, and when he died in the 1920s he left the estate to the city of Wheeling, asking that it be used for the good of its people.

Wheeling took up the charge, and over the following decades transformed the estate into a full public resort park, adding gardens, recreation, lodging, and attractions while keeping the mansion and grounds at its heart. The Mansion Museum still stands, preserving the Gilded Age rooms of the original estate and telling the story of the family and the gift that created the park.

At the center of Oglebay are its gardens: formal beds, a greenhouse and conservatory, and rolling landscaped grounds that change with the seasons and reward a slow wander on foot. They give the park a genteel, estate-like feel even as families picnic and children play nearby.

Around the gardens spread the park's recreation. Golfers have their choice of courses laid out across the hills, a lake offers paddling and fishing, and a network of drives and paths threads through the woods. A lodge and cluster of cabins let visitors stay overnight and settle into the park's unhurried rhythm.

Oglebay's signature event is its winter Festival of Lights, a long driving route through the park lined with elaborate illuminated displays that stretch across the hills, the drives, and the water. It has grown over the years into one of the largest holiday light shows in the country, and for many families in the tri-state region a drive through it is an annual tradition.

On peak evenings the light show draws heavy traffic, and the whole park takes on a festive glow, with the lodge, gardens, and shops joining in. Even outside the winter season, the park stays lively with seasonal events, but the lights are what put Oglebay on the map for visitors far beyond Wheeling.

Tucked into the park is the Good Zoo, a small, well-regarded zoo focused on North American and endangered species, with a train ride and a planetarium that make it a favorite with children. It is compact enough to see in an easy visit and thoughtful in the animals and habitats it presents.

All told, Oglebay packs a remarkable range into one park: you can wander a garden, play a round of golf, visit a zoo, tour a mansion, and paddle a lake in a single stay. That variety, combined with its history and its beloved lights, is why the park remains a point of pride for Wheeling and a genuine hidden gem for travelers passing through the Northern Panhandle.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.