Quail Hollow State Park is a 701-acre landscape of rolling meadows, marshes, and pine and deciduous woods surrounding a 40-room historic manor. Scenic woodland trails, gardens and the house offer a variety of natural and cultural experiences for visitors.
In 2016, the Stark County park system assumed responsibility for the operations of the manor home and surrounding land. Contact Stark Parks about group camping, tours and rentals of the manor, and hours for the gift shop, nature center, and visitor center.
Activities
Fishing
Fishing is permitted at the 2-acre Shady Lane Pond.
- Ohio fishing regulations apply.
- A valid Ohio fishing license is required (16 and older).
Trails
Eight interpretive nature hiking trails explore the unique natural habitats for which each is named:
- Coniferous Forest Trail - 1.25 Miles - easy
- Deciduous Forest Trail - 1.25 Miles - easy
- Nature For All Trail - 1/2 Mile - easy
- Woodland Swamp Trail - 1.5 Miles - easy
- Peatland Trail - 3/4 Mile - easy
- Tall-Grass Prairie Trail - 1/4 Mile - easy
- Meadowlands Trail - 1.5 Miles - easy
- Beaver Lodge Trail - 1.5 Miles - easy
Riders who bring their own horses can enjoy the moderate, 5-mile Bridle Trail. Horses are not available at the park.
A scenic, moderate 5-mile Mountain Bike Trail passes through forest, meadow and pine woods in the park. The trail provides access to surrounding roads, allowing cyclists to complete a 7-mile loop with paved and off-road segments
The Nature For All trail is a specially designed, 2,000-foot paved interpretive trail for visitors of all abilities. Brochures are available at the visitors center as well as along the trail.
A portion of the Buckeye Trail passes through the park.
History & Natural Features
History
The turn of the 19th century witnessed the coming of frontiersmen to northeastern Ohio. Although the land was still wilderness, the American Indians were already being forced westward. Tribes native to what is now Stark County, principally the Delawares, were virtually gone by 1810.
One of the earliest settlers to enter the region was Conrad Brumbaugh. His first home on the new property was built around 1820 on land that was to become the park.
Acquisition of the Brumbaugh homestead and other properties, ultimately totaling 720 acres, was begun in 1914 by Harry Bartlett Stewart. The Stewart's original tract, adjacent to the Brumbaugh homestead, was called the Minnie Taylor Farm after Harry Stewart's wife.
The small farm house on the Minnie Taylor Farm was built in 1838. During the first few years the Stewards owned it, the home was used mainly on weekends during the autumn hunting season. By 1929, additions to the farm house and construction of its two neighboring structures were completed and the home became the permanent residence of the Stewart family. The main house, the adjacent servant's cottage and the garage appeared as they do today, reflecting strong Greek Revival and Federal architectural influences.
The Stewart's son, Harry Bartlett Stewart, Jr. and his wife Catherine moved into the manor in 1937. Mr. Stewart, like his father, was chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad.
The Stewart family resided in their home until 1975 when they offered the acreage and building to the state for one-half the appraised valuation. The U.S. Department of Interior provided funds for the state to acquire Quail Hollow State Park. On May 15, 1975, Quail Hollow came under the administration and management of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. In January 2016, the park's management was transferred to Stark County park system.
Natural Features
The rolling fields, stately woodlands and moist wetlands of Quail Hollow are evidence of the effects of glaciation which occurred over 14,000 years ago. Glaciers have had a profound effect on the drainage system, topography and soil/mineral composition of the area. Natural lakes are a feature of the glaciated landscape. These bodies of water were formed when large pieces of ice broke off the glacier and melted in depressions forming these kettle lakes. Most are small, old and more properly classified as bogs or marshes. Nearby Congress Lake is one of Ohio's natural lakes.
Quail Hollow's habitat diversity allows for an abundance of plant and wildlife populations. A tall-grass prairie supports blazing star, sneezeweed and other prairie plants. The woodland swamp is home to spring peepers, chorus and green frogs while the deciduous and coniferous forests provide shelter for the red fox, raccoon, white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
