Peebles OhioATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Peebles, Ohio.
1. Serpent Mound
ANCIENT EFFIGY MONUMENT
Serpent Mound is an internationally known National Historic Landmark built by ancient American Indian cultures, featuring a 1,300-foot-long, 25-foot-wide, and 5-foot-high earthen effigy. Visitors can view this impressive winding earthwork from atop a tower or along a walkway that hugs the serpent's twisted body. The site includes a museum with captivating illustrations and stories about the mound and theories behind its mysterious history.
2. Serpent Mound Museum
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION CENTER
The Serpent Mound Museum offers educational exhibits on the cultural significance of the ancient effigy mound. Inside, visitors can explore displays featuring artifacts, historical information, and various theories about the origins and purpose of the serpent-shaped earthwork. The museum enhances the visitor experience with an educational film that provides context for understanding this remarkable archaeological site.
3. Fort Hill State Memorial
PREHISTORIC HILLTOP ENCLOSURE
Fort Hill State Memorial preserves a 2,000-year-old Hopewell culture earthwork surrounded by over 1,200 acres of natural woodlands. The site features a stone and earthen-walled enclosure that stretches nearly 1.5 miles around the hilltop, with walls reaching heights of 15 feet in some sections. Visitors can explore the archaeological wonder via hiking trails while enjoying the diverse ecosystem that includes one of Ohio's largest old-growth forests with rare plant species.
4. Edge of Appalachia Preserve
BIODIVERSE NATURE SANCTUARY
The Edge of Appalachia Preserve System encompasses over 20,000 acres of diverse ecological habitats in Adams County near Peebles. This natural sanctuary protects one of the most biologically diverse areas in the Midwest, with rare plants, ancient forests, and unique geological features. Visitors can explore miles of hiking trails that wind through limestone cliffs, prairies, and forests while observing endangered species in their natural habitat.
5. Rooster's Roadhouse
LOCAL COMFORT FOOD
Rooster's Roadhouse serves as a popular dining destination for locals and visitors exploring the attractions around Peebles. The restaurant specializes in homestyle comfort food including burgers, sandwiches, and traditional American fare in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Guests appreciate the generous portions and friendly service that exemplify small-town Ohio hospitality.
6. Davis Memorial Nature Preserve
PRAIRIE AND WOODLAND HAVEN
Davis Memorial Nature Preserve protects 88 acres of diverse habitats including prairie openings, oak-hickory forests, and dolomite barrens. The preserve is renowned for its spectacular wildflower displays in spring and summer, featuring rare plant species like the federally endangered running buffalo clover. Visitors can explore the area via a mile-long loop trail that showcases the preserve's ecological diversity and scenic beauty.
7. Buzzard's Roost Nature Preserve
DRAMATIC CLIFF OVERLOOKS
Buzzard's Roost Nature Preserve features dramatic limestone cliffs that tower above the Paint Creek Valley, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The 1,200-acre preserve contains several miles of hiking trails that wind through diverse habitats including old-growth forests, prairie openings, and rocky outcrops. Nature enthusiasts can observe abundant wildlife and rare plant species while exploring one of the most scenic areas in southern Ohio.
8. Amish Country Store
TRADITIONAL CRAFTS AND FOODS
The Amish Country Store offers a selection of handcrafted goods, homemade foods, and traditional Amish products not far from Peebles. Visitors can browse through quilts, furniture, candles, and other artisanal items made by local craftspeople using time-honored techniques. The store also features homemade jams, jellies, baked goods, and bulk foods that showcase the region's rich culinary heritage.
9. Mineral Springs Lake Resort
RECREATION AND RELAXATION
Mineral Springs Lake Resort offers outdoor recreation centered around a 110-acre natural spring-fed lake just outside Peebles. Visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and camping in a tranquil setting surrounded by wooded hillsides and natural beauty. The resort provides amenities for both day-use and overnight stays, making it a popular destination for families seeking outdoor adventures in southern Ohio.
10. Blake's Family Restaurant
HOMESTYLE COUNTRY COOKING
Blake's Family Restaurant serves traditional American comfort food in a friendly, unpretentious setting near Peebles. The menu features hearty breakfast options, home-cooked lunch and dinner specials, and freshly baked desserts that attract both locals and tourists. Diners appreciate the generous portions, reasonable prices, and warm hospitality that have made this restaurant a community fixture.
11. Adams County Quilt Barn Tour
RURAL ART EXHIBITION
The Adams County Quilt Barn Tour showcases colorful quilt patterns painted on historic barns throughout the countryside surrounding Peebles. Each barn features a unique quilt design that tells a story about local history, agriculture, or the family that owns the property. Visitors can follow a self-guided driving tour that winds through picturesque rural landscapes while learning about the cultural heritage of Appalachian Ohio.
12. Miller's Bakery & Furniture
AMISH GOODS EMPORIUM
Miller's Bakery & Furniture combines a traditional Amish bakery with a showroom of handcrafted wooden furniture near Peebles. The bakery section offers fresh breads, pies, cookies, and other treats made from scratch using time-honored recipes. The furniture workshop produces high-quality, solid wood pieces including tables, chairs, cabinets, and bedroom sets built with exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail.
13. Highlands Nature Sanctuary
APPALACHIAN WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE
The Highlands Nature Sanctuary protects over 2,600 acres of forest and gorge landscape in the Rocky Fork watershed near Peebles. The sanctuary features limestone caves, clear streams, waterfalls, and towering cliffs that create a dramatic backdrop for exploring the biodiversity of Appalachian Ohio. Visitors can hike more than 15 miles of trails that showcase ancient trees, rare wildflowers, and wildlife habitats in this preserved natural area.
14. Moyer Winery & Restaurant
RIVERSIDE DINING EXPERIENCE
Moyer Winery & Restaurant offers fine dining and local wine production in a historic building overlooking the Ohio River not far from Peebles. The restaurant serves upscale cuisine featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients paired with wines produced on-site from locally grown grapes. Patrons enjoy panoramic river views from the dining room and outdoor terrace while experiencing one of the region's most distinctive culinary destinations.
15. Brush Creek State Forest
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE DESTINATION
Brush Creek State Forest encompasses over 12,000 acres of woodland recreation area near Peebles, offering opportunities for hiking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. The forest features varied terrain including steep ridges, deep valleys, and clear streams that support diverse plant and animal communities. Visitors can explore an extensive network of trails while enjoying activities like mushroom hunting, bird watching, and primitive camping in this publicly accessible natural resource.