Deerassic Park Education Center
Expands One-of-a-Kind Facility
Deerassic Park’s brand-new Welcome Center is a one-of-a-kind facility that is sure to be a favorite for visitors of all ages. The center has packed as much Ohio native wildlife information as possible into this brand-new, 5,400-square-foot space. Every display has been designed and built to be hands-on, interactive, informative, and fun.
While here, guests will increase their knowledge of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and much more while also learning about the history of Deerassic Park. With a mission to reconnect youth and their families with outdoor activities and recreation, the park provides youth and families with exceptional outdoor education opportunities.
No trip to Deerassic Park would be complete without getting a chance to view the live deer herd. Deerrassic Park offers two different viewing areas to see Ohio’s state mammals up close and personal.
In addition to the Welcome Center, guests can also tour Deerassic Park’s Whitetail Hall of Fame. Since the park’s inception in 1996, Deerassic has been lucky enough to collect some of the largest whitetails to ever live in the great state of Ohio. The goal of the Hall of Fame is not only to showcase these magnificent animals but also to tell the stories behind them.
The National Whitetail Deer Education Foundation (NWDEF) is headquartered at Deerassic Park. It is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting respect and compassion for the whitetail deer and all of nature through innovative educational programs and events. One of the organization’s main goals is to help youth reconnect with the outdoor world and to help reverse the trend of declining youth participation in outdoor activities. Throughout the year, NWDEF and Deerassic Park host a variety of day camps for all ages and interests.
Deerassic Park Education Center and the NWDEF wouldn’t be able to provide learning opportunities for youth and families without their primary fundraiser, the Deerassic Classic Giveaway and Outdoor Expo, held on the first Friday & Saturday of August. Deerassic Classic (Aug. 5-6, 2022) is a one-of-a-kind event featuring up to $2 million in prizes and boasts one of the world’s largest 50/50 raffles ($421,000 in 2020). This two-day event is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for supporters of quality outdoor education to enjoy themselves while providing the funding needed to provide the parks programs throughout the year. The event begins on Thursday Night with a campground kickoff party and concert. On Friday, the gates open, and everyone enjoys the vendors, stage shows, and the Big Buck Bonus Drawing. On Saturday, the main events are raffles and prize drawings, with an evening concert and fireworks.
Deerassic Park is easily accessible and near the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77 in Guernsey County, Ohio. The Deerassic Park Welcome Center is open to the public for the season through Oct. 1, 2022, Thursdays & Fridays 2-6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed Sunday-Wednesday). There is no admission fee.
Learn more about Deerassic Park Education Center at https://deerassic.com.
For more information, contact the Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB office at 627 Wheeling Avenue, Suite 200 in downtown Cambridge, call 740-432-2022, email info@visitguernseycounty.com, or visit VisitGuernseyCounty.com.
