It’s easy to keep yourself busy in Gallia County.
Mountain biking trails, extraordinary hunting excursions, paddling down the Ohio River, or strolling the Merriest Main Street in America — we’ve got a lot we want to share with you.
Outdoor Enthusiasts, Weekend Warriors, and Theater Buffs — we’ve got something for you here.
And you won’t have to fight a crowd or ridiculous prices to do it.
The Root Sports & Fitness Center
The Root Sports and Fitness Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-faceted sports and fitness complex in Gallia County. The Root’s newly constructed 52,000 sq. ft. facility offers an expansive indoor and outdoor recreational space for community members and visitors to congregate, participate, spectate, and most importantly, enjoy.
Ariel Opera House
Built at the turn of the 19th century, the Ariel Opera House has lived a long, historic life. In the 1980s, a group of Gallipolis residents breathed new life into the theater that had been shuttered for decades, beautifully restoring it to its former glory. Today, the Opera House is home to the Ohio Valley’s only professional symphony and hosts numerous arts-based classes and events throughout the year.
McKean Farms
McKean Farms is a multi-generation farm family, dedicated to conservation, preservation, farming, and the love of the outdoors. Their 425+ acre farm is ideal for game bird hunting during the Fall and Winter, and during the Summer, the farm offers fresh produce and an ideal photography set in its sunflower field.
Gatewood Trail System
Named for the legendary Appalachian Trail hiker and Gallia County native known as “Grandma Gatewood,” this trail offers more than 15 miles of single track nestled in the shadow of Bob Evans Farm and the University of Rio Grande & Rio Grande Community College. This hidden gem is completely volunteer-maintained. Gatewood is a noodle bowl of trails and offer premier hiking and mountain biking during every season.
Cliffside Golf Course
Cliffside Golf Course is home to one of region’s most challenging finishing stretches — with the final five holes literally on the side of a cliff overlooking Gallipolis and the Ohio River. With affordable rates, annual individual and family memberships, and an on-course restaurant and bar, an afternoon spent at Cliffside is always a good one.
Annual Events
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Gallipolis in Lights
A completely volunteer-led and run event, Gallipolis in Lights has drawn the national spotlight on Downtown Gallipolis as volunteers transform City Park into the “Merriest Main Street in America.”
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Bob Evans Farms Festival
Held at the original Bob Evans family farm, the annual Bob Evans Farms Festival celebrates one of Gallia County’s most iconic citizens and brings “down on the farm” to the masses.
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First Fridays
Taking place the first Friday of the month May through September, First Fridays turns Downtown Gallipolis into a street fair complete with food trucks, classic cars, and a biergarten.