Protecting Wildlife, Wild Places—and the Legacy of the Land

As the weather warms and Earth Day approaches, there’s no better time to reconnect with the world around us—and few places offer that connection quite like The Wilds. This May, we’re inviting adventurers to experience that connection firsthand with the grand opening of Hellbender RV Campground—a new overnight option nestled in the heart of our conservation landscape.

With full-hookup RV sites and primitive tent camping available, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure moment for every type of explorer. But with this exciting new opportunity comes a responsibility we all share: to leave this land better than we found it.

And around here, that’s personal.

A Land Reclaimed—and a Species Worth Saving

The Wilds, located in beautiful southeastern Ohio, sits on nearly 10,000 acres of once-stripped mining land—scars left behind by years of industrial use. Over the past few decades, our teams have worked tirelessly to reclaim this landscape, restoring native prairies and forests, supporting thriving ecosystems, and transforming the area into a global model for wildlife conservation and environmental recovery.

Now, The Wilds is home to rhinos, cheetahs, bison, and hundreds of other species—including some of Ohio’s most overlooked creatures, like the Eastern hellbender salamander, one of the largest amphibians in North America and an endangered species in our region.

We named our new campground after this elusive, environmentally sensitive species for a reason: like the land itself, hellbenders are a symbol of resilience—and a powerful reminder of why protecting wild places matters.

So, How Can Campers Help?

Whether you’re parking your RV or pitching a tent under the stars, every camper at Hellbender RV Campground plays a role in protecting the beauty and biodiversity of this remote Ohio landscape. Located about a half-mile down the road from the animal pastures of The Wilds, the campground doesn’t share space with our larger conservation animals—but it is surrounded by thriving native ecosystems.

This is nature at its most peaceful and untouched—and your actions can help keep it that way. Here’s how to camp responsibly while soaking up every ounce of fresh air and starlight:

• Pack it in, pack it out. Everything you bring should leave with you—including wrappers, packaging, food scraps, and even biodegradable items like orange peels or sunflower seeds. Local wildlife can be drawn to leftover smells and items, which can harm both the animals and their habitat.
• Stick to the paths. Stay on designated roads and trails to help prevent erosion and habitat destruction. This also helps protect native plant life and gives animals the space they need to move through the area undisturbed.
• Respect the wildlife. You won’t be camping alongside cheetahs or rhinos—that’s what your Open-Air Safari Tour is for!—but you will be sharing space with native species like deer, foxes, birds, and pollinators. Observe from a distance, never feed wild animals, and remember that we’re guests in their home.
• Minimize campfire impact. Fires should only be built in designated fire rings and never left unattended. Use only firewood, keep flames manageable, and fully extinguish fires with water and stirring before you sleep or leave your site.
• Be mindful of sound and light. One of the best parts of staying here? The quiet. Lowering your voice, turning down music, and minimizing outdoor lighting helps wildlife maintain their natural rhythms—and helps you enjoy the serenity of a night under the stars.

Camping With a Purpose

When you visit The Wilds, you're not just taking a break from everyday life. You're supporting conservation in action—and helping to preserve vital habitats for species near and far.

Every thoughtful step you take as a camper—every piece of trash you pick up, every animal you admire from a distance—is part of something bigger. You’re helping ensure that reclaimed landscapes like ours continue to thrive, and that endangered species like the hellbender have a fighting chance.

So go ahead—unplug, unwind, and enjoy the wonder of the great outdoors. Just remember: the wild places we love today are the legacies we leave behind for tomorrow.

Hellbender RV Campground The Wilds