315778197_506651831496551_8846993483582120300_n

November 18 2022

WHEELING PARK RENOVATIONS

WHEELING PARK TO BEGIN MAJOR RENOVATIONS AT THE WHITE PALACE

WHEELING, W.V. — The Wheeling Park Commission announced today a major renovation project to Wheeling Park’s White Palace. American Rescue Plan Acts (ARPA) funds awarded to the City of Wheeling combined with contributions from donors will assist in making these renovations possible.

The $3.2 million dollar project includes a new café and café deck, a veranda, and major improvements to the ballroom.

Plans call for a redesigned façade at the White Palace side entrance, a grand staircase leading up to the second-floor lobby and through to the newly designed 7,130 square-foot ballroom. A sky-lit veranda will run across the front of the building with a long wall of windows and French doors.

Renovations also include a café on the west corner of the White Palace main floor extending outward through doors and leading to a new deck.

“The new café is just one of the many reasons for the community to come out and enjoy Wheeling Park. It will become the center where guests can relax, have a light snack and pick up coffee before or after swimming, golf, tennis or ice-skating,” said Bob Peckenpaugh, President and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission. “The future is bright for Wheeling Park with the many improvements scheduled to happen over the next few years.”

“The American Rescue Plan Act funding allocated to the Wheeling Park Commission will help pave the way for many improvements to Wheeling Park, a true community park that is an asset to our City,” said Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott. “Countless local residents have very fond memories of Wheeling Park from their childhoods, and City Council is pleased to support projects like this one that will benefit our citizens and visitors alike. We look forward to the completion of these exciting upgrades.”

Construction is set to begin this month and is slated for completion in the spring of 2023.

November 16 2022

Bob & Amy Mead

mmyles Your Oglebay Story

Having grown up in Wheeling, their paths crossed a number of times. Amy Stauffer and Bob Mead didn’t know each other then, but both attended Oglebay summer day camps during their grammar school years. On October 7, 2021, Bob and Amy celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the Pine Room with family and friends. In honor of this long history the family is making gifts to renovate and endow Speidel Cottage #4. Thanks to the family’s generosity and love of Oglebay, the Speidel Cottage is now the newly renovated Mead Cottage– a great romance indeed. Read more here.

OF_AmericanIdeal_ImpactReport_Dec2021-3-11

November 16 2022

C.J. & Debbie Kaiser

mmyles Your Oglebay Story

In 2020, Debbie and C.J. saw firsthand the challenges pandemic related closures were having on the park and decided to make a generous donation using IRA funds. The gift was used in part for a matching campaign that raised $715,000 to support Trees and Trails, the Good Zoo and Gardens – a great fit for the couple’s interest and use of the park. The Kaisers continue to support the park in many ways… talk about making a difference! Read more here.

November 16 2022

Jay Keefer

mmyles Your Oglebay Story

The Keefer Family established a fund to support the walking trails in Susanne Keefer’s memory. Jay continues to fund tree removal and planting in the park that has meant so much to him during his lifetime through annual gifts to the Oglebay Foundation. He has also made estate plans to support the park’s trees, which will continue to provide for all of us for generations to come. What a gift indeed. Read more here.

November 16 2022

Carl Nix

mmyles Your Oglebay Story

Realizing the important role sports has played throughout his life, Carl decided to fund youth tennis and golf activities at Oglebay and Wheeling Park with an IRA Charitable Rollover. Carl has also included the Foundation in his estate to support the lifetime sports that have shaped his life. Read more here.

July 13 2022

Maintaining Greens

mmyles Leave your Mark

Maintaining Greens

Improving Pathways at Crispin

Crispin is Oglebay Golf’s ground zero. The first round was played following a dedication of a temporary sands-green, nine-hole course on July 4, 1930. Five years later the now permanent 18-hole course was completed and the game of a lifetime has continued to be an Oglebay mainstay.

As with all things in the park, improvements to facilities and programs fall to community champions who make investments in the park they love, and more often than not, the sport they play. Golf enthusiasts established the Oglebay (Men’s) Golf Club in 1938 and the Oglebay Women’s Golf Club was established in 1963. Both organizations have done a superb job promoting amateur golf throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, through their active involvement with most of the tournaments, and in raising funds for improvements to the courses.

Part of the strategy is improving play on the course itself, especially the cart paths.

The 18-hole Crispin Center underwent extensive renovations in the mid-60s including expanding the automatic water system and replacing the old wooden bridge with an earthen walkway that spans the ravine on No. 5. The new walkway made the use of golf carts possible for the first time. The cart paths have since been paved and widened, to accommodate the number of golfers we see annually.

Since the addition of the Jones and Palmer courses, Crispin’s usage has hovered between 19,000 and 23,000 rounds annually. In 2021 Crispin saw a recent record of 25,500 rounds, and Oglebay’s golf staff, headed by General Manager Danny Ackerman, is working hard to promote and maintain this level of play into the future.

Part of the strategy is improving play on the course itself, especially the cart paths. The path’s age is one factor, but the topography of our beloved West Virginia hills play a role in the paths’ wear-and-tear. Water runoff from rain and ground maintenance eats at the paths’ edge creating mini culverts that can make navigating the course tricky.

The cycle of play is important to upgrades and improvements and our golf leagues make a tremendous difference. More play leads to more investment which leads to a growth in membership and the cycle continues. Women’s Golf Club member and former president, Chris Muroski brought her concerns about Crispin’s cart path conditions to Ackerman, anticipating upcoming tournaments in 2021 and beyond. They toured the path discussing what needed to be done, but Ackerman knew there was no budget for repairs. Muroski, no stranger to finance asked, “Can we at least get a number?”

“Oglebay’s list of maintenance projects is ongoing. The casual park user probably doesn’t think about how much money it takes to keep the parks in top condition. I knew when I raised my concerns, I needed to follow-up with a gift to get the ball rolling,” Muroski shared.

In addition to her leadership gift, the ever-quiet advocate for Crispin sought donations from friends and asked the Women’s Golf Club to use funds raised by the group’s events, such as the June Invitational Tournament, as funding sources. It wasn’t a hard sell. Muroski, “… reminded the membership that this is the course we love and we need to do what we can to support it.”

Muroski moved to Wheeling in 1989. “Oglebay is so important; it’s such a blessing for the community. We can’t take it for granted. If we expect the park to continue into the future, we have to do our part to support it. That means understanding that Lodge revenue isn’t enough to sustain the park, private contributions are required.”

Thanks to her efforts, enough money has been raised to start the cart path project.

“Oglebay’s list of maintenance projects is ongoing. The casual park user probably doesn’t think about how much money it takes to keep the parks in top condition.”

“Chris’s efforts make Oglebay and the greater Wheeling community a special place to work and live. It was her initiative that brought this project to fruition,” Ackerman said.

This year, the 1.4 mile path will be made wider and curbing will be added to minimize the runoff problems. Aprons at the end of the paths will also be made larger. Additionally, tee upgrades and repairs will be completed for holes 1-8 and No. 12. The No. 9 green will be improved as well. The work will be completed by Cast & Baker of Canonsburg, PA.

July 13 2022

Forever Grateful

mmyles Leave your Mark

Forever Grateful

Skiing opens up the world

Skiing at Oglebay had humble beginnings back in 1939. It all started with two tracks on the hill above the Crispin Golf Course, one was designated for skiing, the other for sledding and tobogganing. These tracks welcomed winter sports to the park and with Oglebay’s tradition of hospitality, a log fire was set in the Pine Room to keep everyone warm with refreshments offered.

The Oglebay Ski Club (OSC) was organized in early 1940. The club raised money and purchased a ski-tow consisting of one thousand feet of rope that ran back and forth from the No. 9 green to the No. 4 hole powered by a tractor.

The popularity of winter sports was apparent from the start. By 1962, a wood and stone clubhouse was erected on the opposite side of Route 88. Built to support both, the Par-3 golf course, and the newly-reoriented ski slope on the north edge of the park which now featured a 385 foot drop. The idea of combining the ski area with the Par-3 golf course streamlined operations because the facility was designed to convert easily from a ski lodge to a golf shop with the change of the seasons.

The OSC assisted with the purchase of compressors that could manufacture enough snow for skiing in two days, provided the temperatures dipped below 28 degrees. The snow-making equipment and a 1,200 foot Pomalift (the first of three) cost approximately $30,000.

Several local families have multiple generations of ski enthusiasts who have enjoyed Oglebay’s slope. Bill Jones, Oglebay Foundation Board Member and former Wheeling Park Commissioner, remembers his father putting a snow suit on over his business suit to ski on his lunch break from running Stone & Thomas Department Store. It’s incredible to think that the Ohio Valley has a ski area within 15 minutes of downtown Wheeling.

Thanks to the sport, my family and I have experienced so much. Skiing opens up the world.

Paul Exley started skiing at Oglebay in 1956. The then three-year old skied with his family and remembers the rope-tow crossing Route 88 with the slopes going right into the Crispin Golf Course. “My mom and dad started skiing in their 40s and it became a family passion. As their youngest, I would ride between my mom’s skis. Their passion for the sport was so contagious that in addition to our entire family enjoying the sport, they started taking business associates out west on ski trips to Aspen and Vail.”

Once bitten by the ski-bug, Paul was hooked. “As children we had to attend church and Sunday school weekly… unless it snowed. I prayed for snow.” Growing up, during the season, he skied at Oglebay after school every chance he got. He went on to captain the WVU club team and was a competitive skier on the pro-circuit from 1975-1979. Measuring life by ski seasons, Paul says he’s in his 65th ski-season, and it all started at Oglebay. “Thanks to the sport, my family and I have experienced so much. Skiing opens up the world.”

Paul and his wife, Hali, raised their two daughters, Jessica and Christina, in their home near the park. Given their proximity to the slopes, Paul and Hali along with Paul’s parents, Ben and Bonnie, made sure that the girls learned to ski – and at very early ages. Jessica’s lessons started at 18 months!

One hiccup in the family’s Oglebay skiing saga is the period from 1997-2004. During this time, the park made the difficult decision to close the slope due to the increased costs in making snow, but there was no greater champion about the power of the sport and its importance in the community than Paul Exley.

In 2004, technology improvements made snow making more affordable. Thanks to the leadership and generosity of the Nutting family and a group of enthusiasts spearheaded by Paul and Hali, the Oglebay Foundation raised more than $1 million to bring skiing back to the park. Combined with a grant from the National Park Service Land & Water Fund, the park was able to purchase and install a triple chair lift, a modern snow- making system and make possible other improvements, including purchasing new rental equipment. The 1962 clubhouse was then named the Nutting Winter Sports Complex. With the slopes re-opening, Paul saw an opportunity to encourage interest in the sport by opening Alpine Skis & Boards, a local ski shop selling equipment from all the top brands.

Paul and Hali have made ongoing annual investments improving the skiing experience at Oglebay. “My dad always told me, ‘We need to give back to the community.’” The fire pit and patio outside the clubhouse was funded with a gift in 2006 and the pit was converted to gas a few years later.

In 2020, the couple donated money to make Oglebay NASTAR (NAtional STAndard Race) certified. Bringing NASTAR to Oglebay, means that not only can skiers of all ages perfect their racing strategy but also qualify to race nationally. Paul has been NASTAR racing for 40 years and believes that this added dimension will create a new dynamic in the park – keeping our little hill feeling fresh and relevant.

“I can’t tell you how many parents express their gratitude for the ski area. They can bring their kids up to Oglebay after school or on a blessed-snow day, drop them off knowing the kids will have a great time without any problems. Mom and dad can watch from the lodge or set a pickup time to collect them,” Paul said. Additionally, some of their older neighbors and friends shared that they don’t want to drive two-plus hours, fighting big crowds at the next closest ski area.

Along the way the Exley family grew. Jessica and her husband Joe Hoover have two sons, Brayden (7) and Easton (4). Christina and her husband, Kyle Perkinson have a son, Paul (3). Paul shared that skiing was a requirement to joining the family for both sons-in-law. As with so much of life, Paul and Hali love having the opportunity to teach their grandsons not just to ski, but to love the sport; everything comes full circle.

2020 was a tough year on many fronts, but Oglebay was a safe haven. The park saw an amazing influx of golf and tennis play, lots of people on the hiking trails, people just wanting to be outside. Skiing was no exception. “People who may have tried a sport in the past gravitated to those sports again last year,” Danny Ackerman, General Manager of Golf and Ski at Oglebay and Wheeling Parks observed.

Given the success of skiing in particular, the Wheeling Park Commission has made a commitment to invest in ski updates again this year. The park is continuing the momentum by focusing on: maintaining equipment; expanding and maximizing our snow making capabilities – growing the number of snow guns and increasing our electric capabilities, as well as maximizing water efficiency; training staff on best snow making practices to ensure an increased efficiency in snow making; investing in new rental equipment; and working on a 5-year plan to ensure the future of skiing at Oglebay.

Technology improvements and park investments still have to reckon with Mother Nature. All of these investments are changing the dynamic. The current snow making system will be enhanced with additional portable snow guns and hydrants allowing for better coverage on the main slope. These improvements will increase our snow capacity, especially during warmer periods.

The investment in local year-round recreational opportunities for the community is driving the decision. Paul Exley offered, “Wheeling is fortunate to have local skiing available. We have to invest in its future to make sure we can keep it going.”

The community continues to rally around skiing. The sport can do so much for so many people. Skiing is part of the Access to the Parks program, so cost is not an obstacle for any child in our community to participate. Skiing builds friendships, it fosters a love of the outdoors, it brings people together.

Paul and Hali Exley have made a five year commitment to investing in skiing at Oglebay. When asked about their investment, Paul offered, “I’m forever grateful to the sport and the community. That little ski area shaped my whole life. Of course I’m going to make sure that skiing is available for generations to come.”

July 13 2022

Walk on the Wild Side

mmyles Leave your Mark

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

“Oglebay’s trails are practically connected to our backyard and are an important part of our daily lives. We can round up the dogs and hike for hours and never see a car. We love the upgrade that created a 5 mile trail loop. No matter the season, the trails and the park as a whole, provide a calming anchor to us, our family, and our community. The Ohio Valley wouldn’t be the same without Oglebay.”
STEPHANIE & KEN NANNERS

July 13 2022

Morganfest 2021

mmyles Leave your Mark

Morganfest 2021

50 YEARS OF FAMILY

The logistics of bringing together more than 160 people – 150 are in the photo – requires serious planning. It has been said, “there is no last (final) year until you’re gone,” according to Ron Vogler, a Morgan family “outlaw,” as all brothers and sisters-in-law are lovingly known. Ron, Jack Davis and Steve Morgan spearhead the annual reunion.

The family refers to the original nine siblings who started coming to Oglebay as the first generation. Comprised of seven brothers and two sisters they were all very close growing up in Wheeling. When the two sisters and their families moved out of the area, all nine siblings decided to pool their resources and rent Goldenrod cottage for the week over the July 4th holiday in 1970. They wanted the next generation to be as close as they were which inspired the annual family tradition.

During the weeklong celebration, family members come and go based on vacation time, travel schedules and the like. Coming from as far away as Alaska and West Palm Beach, Florida and every point in between, getting everyone together at the same time is a scheduling tour de force.

Due to the significance of the 50th Reunion Anniversary, delayed one year because of Covid-19, attendance was up. The need for cottages jumped from seven or eight to 12! The Morgans make their reservations as far into the future as the park allows. When the park rented cottages on a lottery basis, two brothers came to Oglebay every February to ensure that a sufficient number of cottages were available to house everyone.

In addition to the people, there’s all the stuff. Check in day is more like “move-in-day” when dozens of tables, chairs, tents, games, decorations, kegs, a snow cone machine, beer trailer, and other supplies arrive. On Sunday, a Catholic Mass is held in one of the cabins followed by a picnic which is THE reunion. A tradition started by Father Leo Morgan, OFM CAP, the eldest of the first generation.

Various cottages host a themed dinner covering a wide range of cuisines from Mexican, Deep Fry, Italian to Grill nights. One cottage hosts breakfast – talk about a lot of eggs! During the week, there are talent shows, movie nights, and the Annual Kenny O Golf Tournament, in its 36th year, named for cousin Kenny O’Connell who passed away 16 years ago.

With all the moving parts, and a large number of people coming and going, we asked the family what keeps them coming back year after year. Steve Morgan summed it up, commenting, “The point of Morganfest is for family members to develop friendships, not just to see each other for a few hours a year, and there’s a difference.”

Here’s to Morganfest 2022 and beyond! Thanks to the family for reminding us of what really matters.

MORGANS BY THE NUMBERS

First Generation: 9

Second Generation: 29

Third Generation: 54

Fourth Generation: 54

Fifth Generation: 2

And counting… twins and a third cousin will be added to the family at the end of this year or in early January 2022!

Newest addition: Temperance Marie Addair, born July 5, 2021, in Plymouth, IN. 8lbs 10oz and 20 inches long at birth. She will attend her first Morganfest in 2022.

July 13 2022

The Horne Family Tennis Center

mmyles Leave your Mark

The Horne Family Tennis Center

Making friends, building community, and developing character through the game of tennis

Fred Horne was born in 1930 to Jean and Max Horne, who immigrated as children to the U.S. from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. Jean and Max settled near Pittsburgh, married and eventually opened a small clothing store. When a Sears opened nearby and threatened their business in 1932, they moved to Wheeling and opened Horne’s of Wheeling, which grew to be a ladies department store. After attending college and a stint in the army, Fred returned to Wheeling to work in the store and eventually became its President and owner.

Audrey Horne grew up in New York City and Chicago and, upon graduating from college in 1955, married Fred and moved to Wheeling. An accomplished collegiate tennis player, she quickly gravitated to Oglebay’s tennis courts, where she played often and made many lifelong friends. She was known for her love of the sport, enthusiastic and competitive spirit, and unorthodox (yet effective!) strokes. Audrey was a firm believer in the benefits of a good education, and she served for 17 years on the Ohio County Board of Education and 12 years on the West Virginia State Board of Education, including terms as President of each.

Audrey and Fred’s children – Amy, Bob, David and Pam – enjoyed all that Oglebay and Wheeling Park had to offer, including the day camp, swimming, tennis, golf and ice hockey. It was Audrey’s love of tennis, however, that was most infectious, and each of the children played often at Oglebay and on their high school tennis teams. Bob won two West Virginia state high school championships, captained Harvard’s team and won the National 35’s Grass Court Doubles Championship with popular Oglebay teaching pro John Chatlak.

The Horne Family chose to support Oglebay and its Tennis Center to give back to the Wheeling community which gave all of them much happiness over the course of many years. The family’s hope is that adults and children will always have a first-class facility at Oglebay where they can play tennis, make friends, build community, and develop character through the game of tennis.