Trails & Ales! Sharon Woods Metro Park / The Draft Room

About this event

**History** [Sharon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/sharon-woods/) officially opened in October 1968 to provide open green space for the rapidly expanding population of Westerville and northern Columbus. Located in Sharon Township — the biblical source of its name meaning "a plain" — the park preservation efforts began earlier in February 1962. Planners initially acquired a 139-acre parcel of land to protect it from impending highway developments. Through 23 distinct land transactions with local farmers and developers, the park district successfully amassed the core acreage by August 1965. Today, this meticulously planned 761-acre oasis serves as one of the most frequently visited properties in the Central Ohio Park System. The geographic foundation of the park is heavily rooted in ancient history and glacial till. Thousands of years before modern development, the area was utilized by Paleo-Indian and Archaic peoples who hunted native wildlife using flint-tipped spears. Centuries later, the land transitioned into heavily forested terrain populated by majestic beech, hickory, and oak trees. Early American settlers eventually cleared portions of the land for agricultural use and family farming. Remnants of these historical eras are still preserved across the landscape, safeguarding the natural heritage of Franklin County. The park features the 320-acre Edward S. Thomas State Nature Preserve, named after a pioneering Ohio naturalist. This specific tract of land protects an impressive old-growth forest containing eight distinct species of oak trees. Remarkably, some of these towering oaks are over 250 years old, predating the founding of Columbus itself. The preserve also protects a deep ravine system formed around Spring Creek, which supports diverse tree species like black walnut and Ohio buckeye. This dedicated sanctuary ensures that pristine, old-growth ecosystems remain untouched by urban sprawl. Recreational infrastructure…