The C&O Canal follows the Potomac River for 184.5 miles stretching from Cumberland, MD to Washington, DC.  The canal operated from 1828 until 1924 at which time it was destroyed by a major flood.  The canal was used primarily to haul coal from the mountains of Western Maryland to the port of Georgetown in Washington, DC.  Many of the original structures remain including locks, lock houses and aqueducts.  The trail itself is level with a gravel surface in some areas and packed dirt in others. The Great Allegheny Passage journey takes you through 100 miles of beautiful river gorges and mountain vistas along the longest rail-trail in the East.  Packed, crushed limestone built on abandoned railbeds with a nearly level grade not to exceed 2% at any given spot "paves" the way.  The Passage uses massive railroad bridges and tunnels to pass through the Allegheny Mountains, not over them.

The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world. Open daily May-September and weekends only in October from 10 a.m. to 4.p.m. Today, more and more people are aware of environmental issues. Local media as well as national publications have heightened the public’s awareness, pushing conservation issues and their concerns to the forefront. As we become more informed, we realize we do not have to travel to Africa or Asia to find evidence of diminishing habitat and animal populations. Because of the impact in our own backyards, it’s not hard to find people who care - individuals and groups with the desire to protect our habitat and wildlife for future generations. The Wilds is a private, non-profit conservation center located on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed mine land in rural southeastern Ohio. It was created as the conservation center of the future by a group of civic leaders, political leaders and zoo professionals who believed that a serious scientific approach was required to find solutions to environmental concerns.   From its inception, the Wilds has been envisioned as a facility that combines cutting-edge conservation science and education programs with unique visitor opportunities.  

Starting back in his childhood, founder and owner Bob Candy had a dream to open a zoo. His unofficial zoo began at an early age as he always told his parents how much he loved animals, always bringing something new home. Now a proud resident of Cumberland for over 20 years he has finally gotten the chance to make his childhood dream a reality, while sharing his love for the animals with the community. With the help and support of his wife Donna, the first phase of the Tri-State Zoo began in the spring of 2003. With the first step of establishing the zoo completed, plans to expand are already underway with new animals arriving all the time. We plan to make this the best zoo around, something for the community to share and enjoy for years to come. Along with the knowledgeable staff working at the zoo, there are a number of volunteers, many of them from the local schools, with a desire of their own to be around these wonderful creatures, assisting to make your visit something to remember. As a non-profit organization, the Tri-State Zoo hopes to continue to further expand its fences to make this not only a dream for the staff but also for the community.