The Athens Blog

I’m a sucker for a good ghost story. I’ve been known to book rooms in haunted hotels, attend a séance or two and count orbs after photographing places known for paranormal activity. I’d like to think that the testimonies of countless witnesses to the unexplained are...

There’s something about fall in Athens County that invites you to slow down and stay awhile. The hillsides begin to turn brilliant shades of gold, orange and red, cool mornings give way to crisp afternoons, and the scent of autumn seems to linger in the air. As the...

I don’t remember which I fell in love with first — pawpaws or the Ohio Pawpaw Festival. But since I likely tasted pawpaws for the first time during my initial visit to the festival, I likely fell in love with both of them simultaneously. It’s no exaggeration to say I...

The best thrift shopping happens when you’re not looking for anything at all. That’s what I reminded myself as I drove southeast from Columbus into the rolling hills of Athens County on a sunny spring afternoon. Within an hour, the landscape shifted from concrete and...

I always love trying to capture the magic of Athens County when I describe it to others. It’s so many things at once. A scenic university town tucked along the Hocking River. A haven for farm-to-table food and beverages drawn from the surrounding landscape. A perfect...

IT'S FALL Y'ALL! Here in Athens County, Ohio, the landscape is transforming into a canvas of gold, crimson, and amber. Crisp air and colorful hillsides make it one of the best times of year to explore the region’s outdoor treasures. Whether you prefer two wheels, a...

INTRODUCTION BY BRIAN KOSCHO Communities are built on the foundation of collective history. The stories of those who came before us and the power of the places they lived connects us to the present day. Here in Appalachian Ohio, many people, places, and events help us...

It’s that most wonderful time of the year. It’s that time of year when we say, “see ya’ later old man!” to winter as the hills come alive with wildlife, wildflowers, festivals and fun times. It's that time of year when we embrace the new and welcome the return of the...

It took “Everything Everywhere All at Once” to get me to return to a theater. Actually, it took even more than that.  I missed seeing the movie during its original release. I heard so many rave reviews from friends that had seen it. I wanted to go, if only to simply...

We asked ChatGPT to write Athens County, Ohio a love letter and we gotta say, we got the feels. [Full disclosure: we edited one sentence that was factually inaccurate]. My Dearest Athens County, As I sit down to pen this letter, my heart swells with an overwhelming...