The Story of Oglebay

Every year, families gather at Oglebay Park Resort to celebrate weddings, explore the Good Zoo, play golf, stroll through the gardens and create holiday traditions during the Festival of Lights.

Few realize that nearly 100 years ago, none of those experiences existed.

Long before Oglebay became one of the region's most beloved destinations, it was known as Waddington Farm, the private country estate of businessman and philanthropist Earl Oglebay.

Nestled among the rolling hills of Wheeling, West Virginia, the estate was a thriving farm and horticultural showplace. Horses traveled winding roads beneath towering trees. Gardens bloomed throughout the seasons. Greenhouses, orchards and fields supplied the working farm. The property included a dairy, poultry houses, sheep barns, an apiary, blacksmith shops and warehouses. Many of the historic buildings guests admire today were once home to the men and women who worked and cared for the estate.

As beautiful as Waddington Farm was, its future was uncertain.

What would become of the property after Earl Oglebay was gone?

It was a question that could have ended the story of one of Wheeling's most remarkable estates. Instead, it became the beginning of something much larger.

Rather than allowing the property to pass into private ownership, Earl Oglebay imagined a future where families from across the region could enjoy the same beauty, recreation and opportunities that had meant so much to him. He gifted his estate to the people of Wheeling, describing it as "seven hundred acres, splendid drives, magnificent shade trees, beautiful gardens, lawns and rolling meadows" to be enjoyed for public recreation.

That decision changed the course of Oglebay's history.

Nearly a century later, every wedding celebrated here, every family vacation, every child feeding a goat at the Good Zoo and every guest making memories during the Festival of Lights can be traced back to that remarkable gift.

Many historic places preserve a single moment in time. Oglebay has always been different.

While it honors its history, it has never stopped evolving. The hills once explored on horseback now welcome hikers, cyclists and Segway riders. Gardens inspired by those Earl Oglebay created for his wife, Sallie, continue to bloom each season. The agricultural roots of Waddington Farm live on through initiatives like the Grow Lab, while conservation and education thrive through the Good Zoo and camps.

Over the decades, Oglebay has grown from a country estate into a destination filled with new traditions and experiences. Today, guests enjoy championship golf, gardens, trails, family events, overnight stays and seasonal celebrations like the Festival of Lights.

For generations, Oglebay has been the backdrop for family vacations, weddings, reunions and cherished traditions. Children who once visited with their parents now return with families of their own, creating memories for the next generation.

As Oglebay approaches its second century, the story continues. Historic spaces are being preserved, new experiences are being introduced and conservation efforts continue to grow. Today, Oglebay stands as the only self-supporting public municipal park of its kind in the United States. More importantly, it remains exactly what Earl Oglebay hoped it would be: a place where people can gather, connect and create memories together.

History is not something you simply learn about at Oglebay. It is something you can walk through, taste and experience for yourself.