[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":150},["ShallowReactive",2],{"gql:data:ddtXj0Rvmy":3},{"flexPage":4},{"heading":5,"body":6,"cta1":7,"cta2":10,"detailCtaBody":9,"detailCtaHeading":9,"detailCtaImage":12,"detailCtaLabel":9,"details":9,"details2":9,"directory":15,"heroCta1":16,"heroCta2":18,"heroImage":20,"heroIntro":9,"heroIntroSubhead":9,"listBody":32,"listHeading":33,"pageTitle":34,"derivedSeoDescription":35,"derivedSeoTitle":36,"derivedSocialMediaDescription":37,"derivedSocialMediaImage":38,"derivedSocialMediaTitle":50,"updatedAt":51,"flexComponents":52,"pagePromos":149},"A Gift for Generations","Nearly 100 years ago, Earl Oglebay gifted his estate to the people of Wheeling, West Virginia. Discover how that vision became Oglebay Park Resort, a place where history, recreation and family traditions come together.",{"id":8,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1552","",{"id":11,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1551",{"id":13,"alt":9,"caption":14,"assetUrl":14,"assetUrlXs":14,"assetUrlSm":14,"assetUrlMd":14,"assetUrlLg":14,"assetUrlXl":14,"assetUrlXxl":14,"width":14,"height":14},"3740",null,"About",{"id":17,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1554",{"id":19,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1553",{"id":21,"alt":22,"caption":14,"assetUrl":23,"assetUrlXs":24,"assetUrlSm":25,"assetUrlMd":26,"assetUrlLg":27,"assetUrlXl":28,"assetUrlXxl":29,"width":30,"height":31},"3741","Oglebay Park Resort surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills, featuring a grand mansion and winding pathways in a tranquil setting in Wheeling, WV.","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3741/2572x1590_drone.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3741/xs_2572x1590_drone.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3741/sm_2572x1590_drone.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3741/md_2572x1590_drone.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3741/lg_2572x1590_drone.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3741/xl_2572x1590_drone.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3741/xxl_2572x1590_drone.jpg",2572,1590,"* Founded in 1926\r\n* 2,000 Acres\r\n* Millions of Guests Welcomed\r\n* Four-Season Destination\r\n* Home to West Virginia's Only AZA-accredited Zoo","Highlights","The Story of Oglebay","Explore the history of Oglebay Park Resort in Wheeling, WV. Learn how a private estate became a year-round destination for recreation, conservation, events and family traditions.","History of Oglebay Park Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia","Nearly 100 years ago, one man's gift transformed a private estate into a place where generations gather, explore and create lasting memories. Discover the story of Oglebay.",{"id":39,"alt":40,"caption":14,"assetUrl":41,"assetUrlXs":42,"assetUrlSm":43,"assetUrlMd":44,"assetUrlLg":45,"assetUrlXl":46,"assetUrlXxl":47,"width":48,"height":49},"28","A picturesque landscape featuring a stately white mansion surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills, showcasing serene natural beauty.","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/28/Oglebay-OpenGraph.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/28/xs_Oglebay-OpenGraph.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/28/sm_Oglebay-OpenGraph.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/28/md_Oglebay-OpenGraph.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/28/lg_Oglebay-OpenGraph.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/28/xl_Oglebay-OpenGraph.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/28/xxl_Oglebay-OpenGraph.jpg",1200,630,"The Story Behind Oglebay Park Resort","2026-07-31T13:52:52",[53,78,102,123],{"instance":54},{"__typename":55,"reverseLayout":56,"storyTiles":57},"StickyStoryTilesComponent",false,[58],{"heading":59,"intro":9,"pdf":60,"cta":61,"image":63,"storyTileContentItems":75},"The Story of Oglebay: Then, Now & Next ",{"assetUrl":14},{"id":62,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1555",{"id":64,"alt":65,"caption":14,"assetUrl":66,"assetUrlXs":67,"assetUrlSm":68,"assetUrlMd":69,"assetUrlLg":70,"assetUrlXl":71,"assetUrlXxl":72,"width":73,"height":74},"3742","Oglebay Park Resort at dawn features lush green lawns, trees, and a peaceful lake, with Oglebay Lodge nestled among the natural beauty.","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3742/1284x1605_droneoverviewlodge.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3742/xs_1284x1605_droneoverviewlodge.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3742/sm_1284x1605_droneoverviewlodge.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3742/md_1284x1605_droneoverviewlodge.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3742/lg_1284x1605_droneoverviewlodge.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3742/xl_1284x1605_droneoverviewlodge.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3742/xxl_1284x1605_droneoverviewlodge.jpg",1284,1605,[76],{"body":77,"heading":9},"Every year, families gather at Oglebay Park Resort to celebrate weddings, explore the [Good Zoo](/explore/zoo/), play golf, stroll through the gardens and create holiday traditions during the [Festival of Lights](/calendar/event-calendar/festival-of-lights/).\r\n\r\nFew realize that nearly 100 years ago, none of those experiences existed.\r\n\r\nLong 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.\r\n\r\nNestled 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.\r\n\r\nAs beautiful as Waddington Farm was, its future was uncertain.\r\n\r\nWhat would become of the property after Earl Oglebay was gone?\r\n\r\nIt 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.\r\n\r\nRather 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.\r\n\r\nThat decision changed the course of Oglebay's history.\r\n\r\nNearly 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.",{"instance":79},{"__typename":55,"reverseLayout":80,"storyTiles":81},true,[82],{"heading":83,"intro":9,"pdf":84,"cta":85,"image":87,"storyTileContentItems":99},"The Beginning of a Legacy",{"assetUrl":14},{"id":86,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1557",{"id":88,"alt":89,"caption":14,"assetUrl":90,"assetUrlXs":91,"assetUrlSm":92,"assetUrlMd":93,"assetUrlLg":94,"assetUrlXl":95,"assetUrlXxl":96,"width":97,"height":98},"3745","Bissonnette Gardens is a serene garden filled with vibrant flowers and greenery, brick pathways lead to low hedges and trees under a clear blue sky.","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3745/1284x1605_gardens.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3745/xs_1284x1605_gardens.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3745/sm_1284x1605_gardens.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3745/md_1284x1605_gardens.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3745/lg_1284x1605_gardens.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3745/xl_1284x1605_gardens.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3745/xxl_1284x1605_gardens.jpg",629,787,[100],{"body":101,"heading":9},"Earl Oglebay was more than a successful businessman. He was a visionary, a philanthropist and a man with a deep appreciation for the outdoors.\r\n\r\nAfter building a successful career in banking and the iron and steel industry, Oglebay turned his attention to another passion: creating a place where agriculture, horticulture and nature could thrive together. That vision became Waddington Farm.\r\n\r\nNestled among the hills of Wheeling, the estate grew into one of the region's most admired country properties. Its gardens, greenhouses, orchards and innovative farming practices reflected Oglebay's belief that beauty and stewardship of the land should go hand in hand. Visitors came to experience the peaceful surroundings, while Oglebay continued to experiment with new ideas in agriculture and landscape design.\r\n\r\nYet what makes Earl Oglebay's story remarkable is not what he built.\r\n\r\nIt is what he chose to leave behind.\r\n\r\nRather than allowing Waddington Farm to become another private estate after his death, Oglebay imagined a different future. He believed the property should continue serving the community and be enjoyed by generations of families long after he was gone.\r\n\r\nHis gift transformed Waddington Farm from a private retreat into a public treasure. Nearly a century later, that vision continues to shape Oglebay Park Resort, creating opportunities for recreation, education, conservation and family traditions that connect generations of visitors.",{"instance":103},{"__typename":55,"reverseLayout":56,"storyTiles":104},[105],{"heading":106,"intro":9,"pdf":107,"cta":108,"image":110,"storyTileContentItems":120},"A Place That Grows With Every Generation",{"assetUrl":14},{"id":109,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1558",{"id":111,"alt":112,"caption":14,"assetUrl":113,"assetUrlXs":114,"assetUrlSm":115,"assetUrlMd":116,"assetUrlLg":117,"assetUrlXl":118,"assetUrlXxl":119,"width":73,"height":74},"3746","Vibrant hanging flower baskets frame a serene water fountain, set against lush greenery and charming buildings at the Hilltop at Oglebay Park Resort.","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3746/1284x1605_flowerfountain.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3746/xs_1284x1605_flowerfountain.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3746/sm_1284x1605_flowerfountain.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3746/md_1284x1605_flowerfountain.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3746/lg_1284x1605_flowerfountain.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3746/xl_1284x1605_flowerfountain.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3746/xxl_1284x1605_flowerfountain.jpg",[121],{"body":122,"heading":9},"Many historic places preserve a single moment in time. Oglebay has always been different.\r\n\r\nWhile 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](/explore/grow-lab/), while conservation and education thrive through the Good Zoo and camps.\r\n\r\nOver 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.\r\n\r\nFor 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.\r\n\r\nAs 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.\r\n\r\nHistory is not something you simply learn about at Oglebay. It is something you can walk through, taste and experience for yourself.",{"instance":124},{"__typename":125,"backgroundColor":126,"heading":127,"intro":9,"cta":128,"featuredSlideshowItems":130},"FeaturedSlideshowComponent","Sumac","Explore the Stories of Oglebay",{"id":129,"ctaAltText":9,"ctaLabel":9,"ctaLink":9},"1560",[131],{"image":132,"videoId":9,"logo":144,"heading":146,"body":147,"ctaLink":148},{"id":133,"alt":134,"caption":14,"assetUrl":135,"assetUrlXs":136,"assetUrlSm":137,"assetUrlMd":138,"assetUrlLg":139,"assetUrlXl":140,"assetUrlXxl":141,"width":142,"height":143},"3753","Oglebay Mansion features classic white columns and lush green landscaping under a bright, partly cloudy sky.","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3753/1597x987_mansionsummer.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3753/xs_1597x987_mansionsummer.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3753/sm_1597x987_mansionsummer.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3753/md_1597x987_mansionsummer.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3753/lg_1597x987_mansionsummer.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3753/xl_1597x987_mansionsummer.jpg","https://oglebay.com/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/3753/xxl_1597x987_mansionsummer.jpg",1597,987,{"id":145,"alt":9,"caption":14,"assetUrl":14,"assetUrlXs":14,"assetUrlSm":14,"assetUrlMd":14,"assetUrlLg":14,"assetUrlXl":14,"assetUrlXxl":14,"width":14,"height":14},"3752","The Gift That Started It All","The story behind Earl Oglebay's donation","/about/the-gift/",[],1785507318150]