The Ohio History Connection has announced that the Octagon Earthworks in Newark will be open for full public access starting January 1, 2025. This monumental decision comes after a successful settlement with the Moundbuilders Country Club, which has held a lease on the property since 1910.
The agreement, reached for an undisclosed amount, prevents the need for a jury trial to determine the lease’s fair market value. This means that the Ohio History Connection will gain complete control of the leasehold on the Octagon property at the start of the new year.
Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection, expressed her excitement about the settlement, saying, “Our guiding principles throughout this process have been to enable full public access to the Octagon Earthworks while ensuring Moundbuilders Country Club receives just compensation for the value of its lease on the property. And now we have accomplished those things.”
The Octagon Earthworks is one of eight locations in the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Ohio’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Charles R. Moses, President of the Ohio History Connection Board of Trustees, highlighted the significance of this achievement: “The New Year will bring a new era to the Octagon Earthworks and the Ohio History Connection. We are excited the Octagon, which is one of the eight locations in the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Ohio’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be fully open to the citizens of Ohio – and the world.”
This announcement marks the culmination of a decade-long effort by the Ohio History Connection to provide full public access to the Octagon Earthworks.
Negotiations began in January 2013, and a court case was initiated in 2018 to acquire the lease through eminent domain.
In May 2019, Licking County Common Pleas Judge David Branstool ruled that the Ohio History Connection had the authority to acquire the lease, deeming the acquisition both necessary and for public use. This decision was upheld by the Fifth District Court of Appeals and eventually reached the Ohio Supreme Court on April 13, 2021.
On December 7, 2022, the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld the lower court decisions, allowing the Ohio History Connection to proceed with its efforts to acquire the lease and open the site to the public. A jury trial to determine the lease’s fair market value was scheduled for October 2023 but was delayed multiple times due to pretrial rulings and settlement negotiations.
“We look forward to partnering with the community to bring vibrant and meaningful visitor experiences to this remarkable place, and we plan to provide more details after we officially take possession of the leasehold for the property.” – Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection
This development promises to make the Octagon Earthworks more accessible to Ohio residents and visitors from around the world, offering a unique opportunity to explore and appreciate this historic site. Mark your calendars for January 1, 2025, when the Octagon Earthworks will officially open its gates for full public access.
