Last Updated on February 14, 2021 by Natalie
I was poking around Ohio, looking for a winter getaway cabin. When I came across Burr Oak state park cabins in Glouster, they really seemed like they’d fill the needs of what I was looking for. Did they deliver? What is Burr Oak State Park in the wintertime?
Burr Oak State Park Cabins in Glouster, Ohio
If you’re looking for cabins to stay in Ohio, look at the Burr Oak State Park Cabins in Glouster, Ohio. The Burr Oak Lodge and Conference Center has awesome hotel rooms, too, but the cabins really shine. Especially if you’re looking to get away from people and enjoy nature.
I dreamt up a perfect mini-vacation and I wasn’t sure that Burr Oak State Park could meet my expectations. It didn’t meet them. The park exceeded them.
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Cabins in Ohio
There are many options in Ohio for cabins, but it’s difficult to find a clean, functional group of cabins for a small gathering. The luxury cabins come with a luxury price. The cabins at Burr Oak Lodge are simple, clean, modern, and the price is affordable. It’s a lovely place to have a remote family gathering or just get out into nature with your immediate family. Also, some of the cabins are pet-friendly!
If you’re looking for an adventure near Lake Erie, checkout Vermilion, Ohio!
Burr Oak Cabins in the Winter
Even with a lot of snow and bitter cold temperatures, the cabins were nice and warm. Since we were there with extended family, we ended up renting three cabins within close proximity to each other. On the first night, the water pipes froze in the cabin my parents were using. Their cabin was in a really good location for them (right next to the parking area and they didn’t have to do any treacherous walking to get in and out of it. The staff responded quickly, changing out the fuse. They asked if we wanted to change cabins, but we opted to wait and see. It was already dark, the snow was deep, and it was a really cold night. No one wanted to move all our stuff. Luckily, the pipes thawed quickly and the water returned within a few hours.
Photos of the Burr Oak Lodge Cabins
The photos above show the interior of cabin 12. The cabins can comfortably sleep 6. Some (or all) of the cabins also have pull out couches. Since they were close to the end of renovations at the time of our stay, the staff was unsure if all cabins had pull out couches.
Our adventures at Burr Oak State Park
We arrived on Christmas Day, after driving through very cold, snowy weather. We drove to the main lodge for check-in and then headed to the cabins (we chose the basic cabins that are around a mile from the main lodge and deluxe cabins). We were looking for something to accommodate around 14 people, while still providing privacy and outdoor space.
Though the other cabins were occupied, we only saw one other small group when they walked their dogs. We never saw the other cabin’s occupants during our visit, even with quite a bit of time spent outside, playing in the snow (in 18° F weather, brrr!) Even in the winter, the Burr Oak Lake is beautiful!
There are also trails around the park. We walked up the road a bit and found a trail. It was a bit treacherous in the snow and since it was late in the day, we probably only walked a quarter to a half mile of it. We descended down the trail, aware we’d also need to climb back up. My sister slipped on the snow and decided to head back up to the top and back to the cabin. I continued down with my husband and several kids. I wished we had more time to explore because this type of nature was just what the doctor ordered!
Family Time at Burr Oak
Our cell phones worked at the cabins, but my sister’s family’s cell phones did not work unless they walked up the hill. This made for bored teens. However, all of the cousins, ranging from ages 7 to 19 years old ended up playing games together. It was such wonderful family time and far exceeded my expectations. For a quick weekend trip, it was just fine. For a longer period, you may want to plan accordingly. The cabins do not have landlines and being completely cut off may not be acceptable for most people. Since between the families, we did have a few working cell phones, it was okay for us. Without any working cell phone, it would’ve been a challenge.
We did have to call the front desk for a couple of minor things (including the frozen pipes mentioned above, which is major) and would have possibly had to drive to the front desk to make the phone call.
Where is Glouster, Ohio?
Glouster isn’t too far from Athens, Ohio. Athens is one of the larger towns in the area and home to Ohio University. Glouster feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere and it’s a beautiful portion of the state of Ohio.
Would I stay at Burr Oak Lodge again?
A resounding yes! It was a perfect, physically distanced vacation for our extended family. Be aware that some cell services don’t work in that location. There also isn’t wifi, nor do the cabins have phones. They do have TVs with cable, a full kitchen (nod dishwasher), and lovely screened in porches. The lack of internet options made for bored teens yet incredibly lovely quality family time.
I dreamt up a perfect vacation and Burr Oak State Park and the Burr Oak State Park Lodge and Conference Center exceeded that dream! I finally felt like I could breathe and I got to see my family.
Have you visited Burr Oak State Park Lodge in Glouster, Ohio? Please leave a comment about it!
