Historic Zanesville, Ohio
Where Zanesville History Meets EagleSticks Golf Club
From Zane’s Trace and the famous Y-Bridge to pottery, sculpture, local media, and the story of EagleSticks itself, Zanesville is a place where history still shapes the visit.
A City Built at the Crossroads
Zanesville’s history begins with location. The meeting of roads, rivers, commerce, and culture helped shape the city that visitors still discover today.
Frontier Roads
Zane’s Trace
Ebenezer Zane helped open a pioneer route through Ohio known as Zane’s Trace. Near the Muskingum River, that route helped turn a river crossing into a growing community.
River City
The Muskingum Connection
Zanesville grew where travel and trade naturally came together. The city became the Muskingum County seat in 1804 and even served as Ohio’s capital for a brief period in the early 1800s.
Local Landmark
The Y-Bridge
Zanesville’s famous Y-Bridge spans the area where the Muskingum and Licking rivers meet. Local history often connects the bridge to Amelia Earhart, who is said to have recognized Zanesville from the air because of its distinctive shape.
The EagleSticks Connection
From Historic Pathways to Modern Fairways
EagleSticks continues Zanesville’s tradition of being a memorable stop for travelers. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and opened in 1990, the course brings golfers to the same region that has welcomed visitors for generations.
The property has its own local story, too. EagleSticks was built on land once associated with a horse farm, and around the course, headstones still mark the resting places of some of the horses that remain part of the property’s history.
The rolling land, scenic views, quiet reminders of the past, and warm hospitality make EagleSticks more than a round of golf. It is part of the Zanesville experience.
Why Golfers Love the Stop
- History nearby: Explore Zanesville’s bridges, pottery heritage, and riverfront story.
- History on the course: Discover a property shaped by rolling farmland, its horse-farm past, and the headstones that still quietly tell part of that story.
- Scenic golf: Enjoy rolling terrain, elevation changes, and a memorable public course setting.
- Easy trip planning: Pair your round with local restaurants, attractions, and overnight stays.
Pottery, Sculpture & Local Craft
Zanesville’s Creative Legacy Still Shapes the Visit
Zanesville has long been known for clay, pottery, and craftsmanship. Its reputation as “Clay City” and the “Pottery Capital of the World” gives visitors another reason to explore the area before or after a round at EagleSticks.
That creative tradition continues today through local destinations like the Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio & Gallery in downtown Zanesville, where visitors can experience bronze sculpture, studio work, and one of the area’s most distinctive arts attractions.
For golfers, the connection feels especially fitting. Zanesville is a place where landscape, craft, and sport all come together, from the shaped fairways at EagleSticks to sculpted figures that celebrate the game itself.
A Local Art Stop with a Golf Connection
Alan Cottrill’s work adds another layer to the Zanesville visitor experience, connecting the city’s artistic reputation with the same sense of movement, form, and tradition that golfers appreciate on the course.
Explore the Sculpture StudioOnly in Zanesville
A Local Voice with a Long Memory
Zanesville’s character has also been shaped by local voices that stayed close to the community. WHIZ-TV, the city’s NBC-affiliated television station, dates back to 1953 and became part of a hometown media group that included local television and radio.
For decades, WHIZ was closely associated with the Littick family, whose ownership helped make the station part of everyday life in southeastern Ohio. The family legacy was built around local news, sports, weather, radio, and community connection.
When WHIZ Media Group was sold to Marquee Broadcasting in 2022, Hank Littick described the decision as one shaped by “family and community,” two values he wanted carried into the station’s next chapter.
Details like WHIZ, the Y-Bridge, Zanesville pottery, downtown sculpture, and EagleSticks all point to the same thing: Zanesville has always had a character all its own.
Historical details adapted from local Zanesville and Muskingum County history resources, including Visit Zanesville, Muskingum County, and EagleSticks Golf Club.
WHIZ News sale announcement, WHIZ Littick family tributeZanesville Visitor FAQ
Planning a Golf Trip to Zanesville?
What is Zanesville, Ohio known for?
Zanesville is known for its pottery history, its famous Y-Bridge, its connection to Zane’s Trace, and its location along the Muskingum and Licking rivers.
Why is Zanesville connected to early Ohio history?
Zanesville grew from its location along Zane’s Trace and became the Muskingum County seat in 1804. It also briefly served as Ohio’s capital in the early 1800s.
What can golfers do near EagleSticks?
Golfers can pair a round at EagleSticks with local dining, downtown Zanesville, the Y-Bridge, pottery history, and other Muskingum County attractions.
Is EagleSticks a good stop for traveling golfers?
Yes. EagleSticks is a public golf destination in Zanesville, Ohio, known for scenic terrain, elevation changes, and golf trip planning.
