There are several ways you can experience The Ridges, including historical walking tours, hiking trails, and public telescope nights in the Ohio University observatory. There are even self-guided tours that anyone with a cell phone can do, by following GPS instructions while learning about each stop along the way. Browse the educational experiences available at The Ridges!
The Ridges
The Ridges
The Ridges is an approximately 700-acre property owned by Ohio University sitting across the Hocking River from the University’s campus core in Athens. The property was originally opened in the early 1800s as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, and the vacant property was transferred to Ohio University by the state in 1993. Many of the historic buildings at The Ridges have been renovated for a variety of uses by the University, including classrooms, research labs, cultural facilities and more.
The rich history and preservation of place inspired those efforts as well as the community collaborative engagement on an in-depth Framework Plan that prioritized preservation, highlighted building and land compatibility and use and recommended a mixed use environment facilitated by external investment. More recently, Ohio University consulted with Community Building Partners/Buckeye Hills Regional Council to develop a Ridges Development Strategy to implement external investment and non-university use elements of the Framework plan.
Ohio University at The Ridges
The Ridges currently houses the Ohio Museum Complex and Kennedy Museum of Art, the child development center, an observatory and other academic programs inclusive of classrooms, labs, art studios, an auditorium, offices and more.
The Ridges Development Strategy
The future of The Ridges is currently being developed by Community Building Partners/Buckeye Hills Regional Council in conjunction with Ohio University.
Ridges Photo Gallery
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Kelsey Bryant climbing through the forest near The Ridges.
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Kennedy Museum of Art marks 20 years by recounting the story of exhibiting Navajo weavings from its unparalleled Southwest Native American Collection.
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OHIO Museum Complex Gallery opens at the Kennedy Art Museum near The Ridges.
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John J. Kopchick assists students in an on-campus lab.
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The Child Development Center adventures off into a scavenger hunt on sustainability.
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Pamela Gaboury climbs up the ziplining tower at the Challenge Course at The Ridges.
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The Ridges offers a Compost Facility center near campus.
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Student working on school work at an on-campus building.
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Graduate student Jonathan Grennell measures photosynthesis produced by a sorghum plant at a research plot at The Ridges.
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Waterfall geology tour near The Ridges.
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The Ridges Observatory Center.
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Participants run up and down the hill during the O'Bleness Race for a Reason Mud Run to complete and after completing the old Army ROTC training course located at The Ridges.
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