XENIA, Ohio — Nearly five months after declaring 2024 as the year of the state parks, Gov. Mike DeWine is ready to celebrate the state’s newest attraction.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Mike DeWine, his wife Fran DeWine and two of their grandkids visited The Great Council State Park Monday afternoon

  • This is Ohio's 76th state park

  • The park also has an interpretive center that teaches visitors about the indigenous Shawnee tribe that lived there

It’s been two years in the making. The Great Council State Park is here and will be open to the public on Friday. But Monday afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine toured the new state park accompanied by his wife Fran and two of his grandkids.  

“Walking in today is just great. It’s what we envisioned, even better. Don’t you think?,” said Gov. DeWine.

“It’s really beautiful. It’s one thing to see the design on a piece of paper and then to see it here, it’s beautiful,” said Ohio’s First Lady, Fran DeWine. 

Great Council State Park differentiates itself by giving attendees the opportunity to learn more about the history of the indigenous people who used to live there.

 

“Any age will learn something here. No matter what age you are, you’re going to learn something and I think you’re going to enjoy this. This is really a part of our history. The Ohio story,” said Gov. DeWine.  

The park holds a special spot in the hearts of the DeWine family, especially because of its location. Both the governor and the first lady used to live in Xenia. So, throughout the tour, Mrs. DeWine was explaining different historical elements to her grandkids. 

“Well, it really is a part of our lives. I think that’s what’s been so much fun in helping to plan this because my mother was born just two miles on down, on the Little Miami River,” said Fran DeWine. 

The Great Council State Park will officially open to the public this Friday.