Rock House, nestled within the scenic Hocking Hills State Park, stands as a captivating, cave-like formation with a rich and varied past. This remarkable geological feature is distinguished by its series of seven natural “windows,” each carved through the sandstone cliff and separated by imposing stone pillars. Ascending carved steps in the rock face, visitors can pass directly through these windows and enter the unique tunnel-like interior of Rock House. Inside, a spacious passageway unfolds, reaching approximately twenty-five feet in height, extending for two hundred feet in length, and spanning twenty to thirty feet in width, creating an awe-inspiring natural chamber.
The Rock House Hocking Hills area has served as a refuge and gathering place for diverse groups over millennia. Archaeological investigations have revealed evidence of Native American inhabitation within the cave. Early European settlers noted small recesses in the cave walls, dubbing them “hominy holes,” and these are believed to have been utilized by Native Americans as primitive baking ovens. Furthermore, troughs etched into the cave floor served as ingenious water collection systems, ensuring a vital water source for those dwelling within Rock House.
Long before Ohio officially designated Hocking Hills as a State Park, Rock House had already gained recognition as a popular destination for tourists. Around 1835, recognizing the site’s appeal, Levi Friend established the Rock House Hotel, catering to the burgeoning number of visitors. Later, in 1878, Colonel Rempel, a retired military officer and entrepreneur from Logan, Ohio, acquired the hotel and its surrounding gardens, transforming it into a full-service establishment. His vision included a substantial 16-room hotel, complete with amenities such as a ballroom and livery stable, positioned conveniently near the Rock House itself. Although the grand hotel structure is no longer standing, remnants of its gardens and landscape features can still be discerned today, whispering tales of a bygone era of hospitality.
The legacy of the Rock House Hocking Hills area also includes the significant contributions of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In 1934, Company 505 of the CCC, based near Conkle’s Hollow, undertook the construction of a shelter house on the former grounds of the Rock House Hotel. The CCC, a pivotal New Deal initiative active from 1933 to 1942, provided employment for young men in conservation projects across America’s public lands, enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities. Another CCC unit, Company 526, composed of African American men, many hailing from Ohio’s urban centers, was stationed at Camp Logan near Cantwell Cliffs from 1934 to 1937. During their presence in the Hocking Hills region, Companies 505 and 526 were instrumental in constructing shelter houses, planting nearly half a million trees, combating forest fires, and developing the network of hiking trails that continue to be enjoyed within the park today. Their dedicated labor played a crucial role in shaping Hocking Hills into the beloved and frequented destination it is today.
