About us

Rich in history the 63,000 acres of Shawnee State Forest and Shawnee State Park encompass a part of the former hunting grounds of the Shawnee Indians. Historians note the Shawnee name means "those who have silver," as the tribe conducted considerable trade in this precious metal. During the 1700s, the Shawnee Indians were gradually displaced as the settlers continued to build their cabins and clear land in this new and fertile country. The face of the region changed a great deal in the years to come, but through effective timber management practices by the state's Division of Forestry, Shawnee State Forest has regained much of its original beauty. The hills of Shawnee have also been dubbed "Ohio's Little Smokies. From the highest points in the forest, ridge after ridge appears to roll away toward the horizon in a gentle blue haze. The hardwood forest is host to a variety of flora and fauna. Wildflowers are abundant including several rare types of orchids such as the tiny whorled pogonia and the showy orchis. Forest wildlife includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey, raccoon, and various songbirds.