What about meals?  Access to kitchens or kitchenettes are available in all of our overnight lodges. Check our Visitor Guide  for local food sources and restaurants.

What to bring. Hiking shoes are not necessary, but are encouraged. Consider brining your favorite hiking stick and binoculars if you are a naturalist-at-heart. We also encourage you to bring an outdoor blanket as we offer special scenic spots to have an informal lunch or nap.  Also, be sure to bring a flashlight as you may be walking between locations in the dark.  Insects in the Sanctuary vary with the rainfall—usually they are not a problem. Mosquitoes usually come out only at dusk, but only in small numbers. If you have sensitive skin or are easily distracted by insects, consider bringing some natural insect repellant in case you have a need for it.

And don't forget your bike. The Arc of Appalachia has fantastic quiet country roads for scenic bicycling. At the Highlands it is a pleasant bike ride to the swimming beach at Paint Creek State Park, and the Mennonite Produce Stores and Bakeries. At the Highlands, it is an eight mile ride between Ravenwood and Cave Road, passing through horse-drawn Mennonite country.

What not to bring. The Sanctuary is a sanctuary for people, too -- a place for people to commune with nature in silence, alertness and simplicity. Help us to leave the demanding and hectic pace of our technological culture behind by not using tape players, radios, video games, computers, and cell phones (except for emergencies or travel guidance).  Please do not bring alcohol.

The Song of Silence. Although music is possibly our culture's highest art form, it is something that can be heard at any place on any day and tends to take us up and out of our physical space. We ask for the sake of other guests that music be limited to earphones. The healing sounds of the Sanctuary invite you to come into your body. They are unique  and transient.  In the summer, flute-like wood thrushes will serenade you to sleep, and you will be awakened by the cheerful call of phoebes and Carolina wrens. In all seasons, one can hear the perennial murmur of the creek or stream outside one's window at most of our lodges.  

Sorry, no pets. To keep the wildlife safe and undisturbed, pets are prohibited. 

Valuables. We encourage you to keep all valuables either locked in your room or automobile. While we have not had any trouble in the past with theft, it is still wise to be cautious.

To make a Lodging  reservation, please call 937-365-1936.

Please make reservations by phone and have a credit card handy. Also, a phone call allows an opportunity to have an interactive conversation with someone intimately familiar with the Sanctuary. If we are temporarily elsewhere in the preserve, please leave a message. We check our messages frequently and return calls promptly. Visa and MasterCard are accepted and useful for holding a reservation, but checks provided at check-in are greatly appreciated to eliminate the credit card fees. For groups, we request that you designate one person to collect the money and then pay Sanctuary with one check or one credit card. Written questions of a general nature can be received at: reservations@highlandssanctuary.org 

You can check our facilities' availability by yourself by clicking here and reading or downloading our reservation file. It is an excel form and is updated immediately after each reservation made. Please remember to refer to the most updated file version before assuming a date is open. Scroll to the right to see all of the dates.
If we are booked be sure to check nearby private facilities below:

Visitor's Guide to Private Lodging in the Area & other Attractions   Directions     Lodging Reservations Overview