Posts Tagged ‘Capture the Wild’

The Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of summer activities at Oglebay and John Hargleroad, Director of Operations, says that all the Oglebay facilities will be open beginning Friday, May 24 with some special activities planned for the Memorial Day weekend.

 

“The always-popular inflatable rides will be at the Schenk Lake area on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Doozy the Clown will also be at the lake area all three days from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.,” said Hargleroad.

 

Oglebay will begin offering daily activity wristbands on Friday, May 24.  The wristbands are available at the Good Zoo and Visitors Center through Labor Day and provide all day use at the Par III Golf, Good Zoo and Train Ride, Miniature Golf, Pedal Boats, Fishing, Outdoor Pool, Tennis, Glass Museum, Trolley, and the Mansion Museum. “The wristbands will also provide one admission to the inflatable rides this weekend,” reminded Hargleroad. The wristbands are $16.00 each plus applicable fees and taxes.

 

The Memorial Day Weekend is also a great time to catch up with old friends at the Good Zoo and check out what’s new including the Dinosaur exhibit.  On Saturday, May 25, the zoo will hold “Dino Discussions,” from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

The zoo is also accepting entries for the second annual “Capture the Wild” photography contest.  “We had a great response last summer to our photography contest and are looking forward to this year’s entries,” said Penny Miller, Director of the Good Zoo.  “We’ll be awarding some great prizes!” Contest rules and entry forms are available on the zoo’s website at www.oglebay-resort.com/goodzoo.

 

Miller also added that the zoo’s Animal Encounters programs are getting more and more popular.  “This program allows guests to get into animal exhibits with the keepers to help feed and train some of the zoo’s animals including the new mongoose lemurs,” said Miller. Animal Encounters also include the ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, river otters and kangaroos. The encounters must be scheduled in advance by calling 304-243-4030.

 

The Good Zoo is open daily at 10 am. Admission is $9.00 for adults, $5.75 for ages 3-12, and ages 2 & under and members are free.

 

The popular Segway Tours have also returned for another season.  “Join our friendly guides for an exciting tour on a high tech personal transporter,” said Hargleroad.  “It’s a great way to experience the picturesque natural beauty of Oglebay.” The tours begin at Schenk Lake at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Reservations for Segway Tours can be made by calling 304-243-4090.

 

The Easy Street Band will present a free concert at the Anne Kuchinka Amphitheater on Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.  “This performance is the beginning of the Summer Sunday Entertainment Series featuring a different band every Sunday through Labor Day at the amphitheater,” added Hargleroad. The entire summer’s schedule is available at www.oglebay-resort.com/summer_ent.htm.

 

“For those who want to celebrate the weekend with an all-American picnic, many beautiful picnic sites are available at Oglebay and can be reserved by calling 304-243-4010,” added Hargleroad.

 

The Seafood Gala is available at the Ihlenfeld Dining Room at Wilson Lodge on Friday evening and the new Smokehouse, featuring Prime Rib, is offered on Saturday evening.  For dining reservations call 304-243-4080.

Good Zoo staff announced today the winners of their first “Capture the Wild” photography contest. Nine winners and 12 honorable mentions were chosen from 129 entries in child, youth and adult categories. Local residents and Oglebay guests from as far away as Illinois entered the contest.

 

“Nature photography is a wonderful way for kids and adults to appreciate nature in all of it strange and beautiful forms. The fact that we had so many entries the first year, and that 68 entries were from children and teens absolutely thrills me,” said Penny Miller, Director of the Good Zoo.

 

Contest judges were Caren Knoyer, Oglebay’s Director of Marketing, local nature photographer Bill Beatty from Wild and Natural, and Gary Zearott of Zee Photography.

 

“It was encouraging to see the participation of youths of different ages, most are in the early stages of understanding the complexity of photography,” Zearott said.

 

Beatty added, “The quality of the photography was impressive.  I was pleasantly surprised by the photography abilities of the younger, under 18, categories especially the under 12, child category.  It made judging more of a challenge.”

 

Adult winners in first and second place was Bill Brezinski, and third place, Tom Johnston; Youth winners were Veronica  Chapman Casey, Emily Street and Michaela Fisk, and child winners were Danika Vrtar, Gabriel Larance, and Lillian Kuzma. Nine entrants won honorable mentions: Daniel O’Leary, Becky Kuzma, Carmen Heil, Jarrett Galloway, Brandon DeLaratta, Austin Douglass, Bill Brezinski, Veronica Chapman Casey, and Gabriel Larance.

 

The winning photographs will be on display to the public August 10through the September 10 in the Good Zoo entry building lobby. A reception will be held for all contest entrants on August 11 at 1:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served at the reception and all photographs entered in the contest will be on display to entrants and the general public on the day of the reception.

 

Miller said the Good Zoo will definitely offer a Photography Contest next year.

 

The Good Zoo is currently open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Admission is $8.00 for adults, $5.50 for ages 3-12, and free to members and ages 2 and under. For more information call the Good Zoo office at 304-243-4030 or visit www.oglebay-resort.com/goodzoo.