Land for sale in Muskingum County, Ohio

Local land guide

Turn your Zanesville property trip into a Muskingum County adventure

Muskingum County gives land buyers an appealing mix: wooded ridges and country roads outside town, with Zanesville's restaurants, arts and services close enough to make the trip easy. Countrytyme's current Muskingum Woods properties are near Zanesville, so you can spend the morning walking acreage and still have a full afternoon to explore. This is a county where river history, pottery, outdoor recreation and a quirky bridge all share the same map.

Start outdoors at Dillon State Park, where the lake and surrounding hills support boating, paddling, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, camping and picnicking. The park is our pick when a group wants options: one person can fish, another can hike and everyone can meet back at the water. The Muskingum River State Park adds a completely different water experience through its historic navigation system and hand-operated locks.

Zanesville itself is fun to discover. Drive across the famous Y-Bridge, which branches over the meeting of the Licking and Muskingum rivers, then explore the city's art and pottery story. The Zanesville Museum of Art and local studios carry forward a creative tradition shaped by the region's clay. If you have more time, The Wilds turns a county visit into a full safari-style adventure across reclaimed mining land, with advance reservations recommended for tours and experiences.

Then comes the stop we really love: Tom's Ice Cream Bowl. The ice cream is made in house and served with cheerful generosity, while the candy, nuts, sandwiches and classic atmosphere make the whole place feel delightfully unchanged. This is not a dainty scoop-and-go situation. It is the kind of road-trip dessert people remember. For a riverfront meal and locally brewed beer, Weasel Boy Brewing and neighboring Zanesville restaurants add plenty of dinner choices.

Summer brings the Y-Bridge Arts Festival, when artists, live entertainment and hands-on creativity gather in one colorful celebration. The Muskingum County Blue Ribbon Fair follows with livestock, rides, fair food and a full week of local tradition. Pottery events, courthouse lights and performances at Secrest Auditorium keep the calendar lively through the rest of the year.

When it is time for the property visit, follow the GPS link on the Countrytyme listing and use the interactive map as you walk. Then let Zanesville surprise you. A lake morning, an art-filled afternoon and an enormous bowl of homemade ice cream make a very good Muskingum County day.

More Muskingum County stops for a very full day - or two

Lakes, rivers and open-air adventures

• Dillon State Park - Dillon offers the county's broadest recreation menu: a lake and marina, summer beach, hiking, mountain biking, bridle trails, cottages and camping. It is our easy recommendation when a family wants plenty of choices in one location.
• Blue Rock State Park - A quieter wooded-lake alternative, Blue Rock is lovely for hiking, fishing and camping. Its daylight-hours swimming beach and some campground services are seasonal, so check before promising the children a swim.
• Muskingum River State Park and Water Trail - This 112-mile historic navigation district turns the river into an attraction, with hand-operated locks, paddling, boating, fishing and riverside camps. Call ahead for current water and lock conditions before planning a point-to-point adventure.
• Zane's Landing Park and Riverfront Bike Path - The free downtown riverfront is perfect for a relaxed walk or bicycle ride, with monuments, a public dock and community events along the way. It is also the home landing for the Lorena sternwheeler.
• The Wilds - Open-air safari tours bring visitors surprisingly close to rhinos, giraffes and other rare species across vast reclaimed grasslands. Ziplining, horseback and fishing experiences and distinctive lodging can turn the visit into a major adventure; reserve ahead for the main May-through-October season.

Bridges, pottery, art and remarkable local stories

• Y-Bridge and Putnam Overlook - Zanesville's wonderfully quirky three-way bridge is even more fun once you see it from above. Drive across, then stop at the overlook for the best view of the city and the Licking-Muskingum river confluence.
• Zanesville Museum of Art - Eighteen galleries include an especially strong collection of American art pottery, which feels exactly right in a region shaped by clay. Admission is currently free; verify museum hours before your visit.
• National Road-Zane Grey Museum - A 136-foot diorama tells the story of America's first federally funded highway, while Zane Grey's study and a regional pottery gallery add two more wonderfully local threads. Regular public hours are seasonal from May through October.
• John and Annie Glenn Museum - Costumed interpreters lead visitors through astronaut John Glenn's boyhood home as it appeared in 1937, 1944 or 1962. The changing time period makes a repeat visit worthwhile; public hours are seasonal and appointments are available at other times.
• Stone Academy and Putnam Underground Railroad Interpretive Center - This 1809 building preserves abolitionist history, local stories and even a hidden-trapdoor exhibit. Regular museum hours are limited to part of the year, so arrange ahead outside the May-through-September season.
• Lorena Sternwheeler - The city's sternwheeler normally offers scenic Muskingum River cruises from Zane's Landing. It is currently dry-docked for Coast Guard inspection and the 2026 schedule is pending, so admire it as riverfront history and check the official site before expecting a cruise.
• Ohio Pottery Zanesville - Shelves of American-made crocks, planters and birdbaths make this a satisfying shopping stop in Ohio's pottery country. It is easy to browse, open daily and wonderfully difficult to leave empty-handed.

The delicious side of Zanesville

• Tom's Ice Cream Bowl - House-made ice cream arrives in famously generous bowls, and the sandwiches, candy, nuts and gleefully nostalgic atmosphere are part of the experience. This is the road-trip reward everyone remembers.
• Weasel Boy Brewing Company - Locally brewed beer, beer-crust pizza and Saturday live music make Weasel Boy an upbeat river-area dinner choice. Brewery tours can be arranged in advance, and current service runs Tuesday through Saturday.
• Muddy Miser's - The Zane Grey theme and Muskingum River patio give a scratch-made meal a distinctive sense of place. Save it for a leisurely lunch or dinner and remember that the restaurant is currently closed Sundays.
• Donald's Donuts - Start early with a beloved local doughnut counter that still feels like a neighborhood ritual. Sunday hours are shorter, but the shop currently opens every day.

Events that bring the whole county out

• Y-Bridge Arts Festival - Dozens of artists, hands-on activities and entertainment turn Zanesville's creative heritage into a colorful summer weekend. Check the Arts Council's current page for the year's location, hours and participating artists.
• Muskingum County Blue Ribbon Fair - Livestock, midway rides, fair food and grandstand events fill a full August week with classic county-fair energy. The official site provides the current schedule, admission and show details.

More information:
• Visit Zanesville-Muskingum County — https://www.visitzanesville.com/
• Current visitor guide and county highlights — https://www.visitzanesville.com/Convention-Visitors-Bureau/Our-Trips-Travel/
• Dillon State Park — https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/dillon-state-park
• Current events — https://www.muskingumcountyoh.gov/Public/Events/