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Tar Hollow State Park
16396 Tar Hollow Road
Laurelville, Ohio 43135
(740) 887-4818
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
Twisting park and forest roads pass through deep ravines and dense woodlands.
Scattered shortleaf and pitch pines growing on the ridges were once a source of
pine tar for early settlers, hence the name Tar Hollow. Dogwoods, redbuds and a
variety of wildflowers color the hillsides in the springtime. Fall's pageant of
color is spectacular.
Camping
The campground is set in a wooded hollow near the lake offering sunny and shady
sites to suit every camper. There are 71 sites with electrical hookups, 11
non-electric sites, 12 walk-in sites, and 5 primitive sites along the backpack
trail. The campground is equipped with showers, laundry facilities, pit latrines
and a dump station. The beach is close by.The General Store offers camping
supplies, souvenirs and snacks. Pet camping is permitted on all sites. Camping
is permitted at six picnic shelters by reservation.
Boating
Boating with electric motors only is permitted on the 15-acre Pine Lake. The
lake is perfect for canoes and rowboats. A launch ramp is located near the
beach.
 Fishing and
Hunting
Bluegill and other panfish provide good sport for the fisherman on Pine Lake.
Excellent hunting opportunities exist for squirrel, deer, grouse and turkey in
the adjacent state forest. A valid Ohio hunting and fishing license is required.
Picnicking
Picnicking is a popular pastime at Tar Hollow. The picnic areas offer excellent
scenery and a peaceful setting. Six shelterhouses can be reserved through the
park office, while two others are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Trails
Ross Hollow Hiking Trail (yellow blazes), located near the camp, provides foot
access to the hills of Tar Hollow. The 21-mile Logan Boy Scout Trail (red
blazes) traverses the park and forest. A section of Ohio's Buckeye Trail (blue
blazes) also passes through the area. Bridle trails (white blazes) and a horse
camp are located on the forest land. A backpack camp is located at the fire
tower. The 2-mile Pine Run mountain bike trail begins at the general store.
More To Do
Bike and boat rentals are available at the park's General Store. Volleyball
and basketball courts are also available along with horseshoe pits and a
miniature golf course. There is playground equipment for the younger visitors
and a game room featuring a ping pong table, air hockey and fooseball. A
basketball court is also available at the campground. The camp office has
various games and sporting eqipment to loan to registered campers.
Nature of the Area
At one time, Ohio was covered by a warm, shallow sea. As land rose to the east,
sand and gravel were washed westward into Ohio's waters. Southeastern Ohio's
sandstone was formed from this sediment. These sandstone hills are covered with
a rich, diverse forest. Oak and hickory prefer the dry ridge tops of the area,
while sycamore, black willow, buckeye and silver maple line the stream valleys.
The forest not only supports a variety of hardwoods but also contains a vast
array of ferns, mosses, mushrooms and wildflowers. Bloodroot, wild geranium,
cardinal flower and Solomon's seal are typical wildflowers found in the forest.
Surrounded by the rugged foothills of the Appalachian Plateau, Tar Hollow State
Park and surrounding state forest are characteristic of the wilderness that
blanketed Ohio in the days of early settlers. It is a stronghold for many
exciting species of wildlife. Numerous reptiles and amphibians, colorful game
birds, songbirds and secretive mammals can be found here. The timber
rattlesnake, dwindling in Ohio due to deforestation, holds on in Tar Hollow's
forest. The five-lined skink, distinguished by its brilliant blue tail, is found
in the area along with the elusive fence lizard. Painted turtles can be seen
along the shores of Pine Lake while the lumbering box turtle inhabits the dry
land. Salamanders such as the red-backed, dusky, long-tailed and northern
two-lined thrive on the cool, moist forest floor. In spring, the wooded hollows
echo with the gobbling of wild turkey and the drumming of the ruffed grouse.
Rare sightings of bobcat have been reported in this unique, wild region.
History of the Area
This region was wilderness to early man. Indians and settlers both found the
land, especially in the valleys, to be rich and fertile. Many different Indian
tribes contributed to its history. From about 200 B.C. to 500 A.D., the Hopewell
inhabited the area. This culture left burial mounds that can still be seen.
Later both the Shawnee and Mingo claimed the area as hunting grounds.
In 1796, Nathaniel Massie platted a town on the Scioto River just north of
the mouth of Paint Creek which he named Chillicothe. One hundred of the first
lots were offered free to the first settlers. Farm lots in the area were sold
for one or two dollars an acre, in 100- to 200-acre tracts. The area attracted
many Kentuckians and Virginians. In 1803, Chillicothe became the state capital.
 For a time,
the ridges to the east of Chillicothe remained wilderness because the hills were
too steep to farm. But as the pressure for land and lumber increased, the hills
of Tar Hollow were gradually cleared and inhabited by marginal farms. Life was
difficult and settlers took advantage of every resource available. The region
derives its name from pine tar, an essential commodity in early Ohio households.
It was taken from the knots and heartwood of the native Pitch Pine tree to be
used in the home manufacture of balms, animal liniments, and lubricants for
pioneer wagons and equipment.
In the 1930s, the Tar Hollow region was purchased for conservation purposes
under a New Deal program, the Ross-Hocking Land Utilization Project. People were
given a new financial start in life and were encouraged to move to the cities.
Most, however, bought more poor ground outside the park and continued to live as
they always had.
During the Depression years, recreation facilities including the 15-acre Pine
Lake and group camp were built by the WPA and NYA programs. In 1939, the Ohio
Division of Forestry accepted operational control of the land which was then
known as Tar Hollow Forest-Park.
When the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949, the
Division of Parks and Recreation accepted land of several state agencies
including the old Division of Forestry. Tar Hollow State Park was developed from
the earlier forest. The park, today, is bordered by Tar Hollow State Forest --
Ohio's third largest state forest.
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