Named in honor of an organization of Revolutionary War officers, Cincinnati is nestled in the southwestern corner of Ohio along the Kentucky border. Since its establishment in 1790, the city has grown into a diverse cultural center that offers museums, art galleries and several area parks and sporting venues. Upscale hotels and chain accommodations dot the city streets, while a specialized theme venue is located just 12 miles across the state line in nearby Florence, Kentucky.
First opened in 1932, the Wildwood Inn's first rental was a one-room cabin that rented for a quarter a night. The then 32-room motel switched ownership in 1962 and has been handed down through the family ever since. The multi-themed establishment is now home to 122 guest rooms, an enclosed pool area called the Tropical Dome and the African-inspired Shi-Awela Safari Village.
The inn divides its guest rooms into three categories: themed suites, spa rooms and regular rooms. There are over two dozen individual themed-suite options. These include a champagne suite that offers a spiral staircase, which leads to a two-story-high spa shaped like a champagne glass; a western saloon-style suite complete with a poker table, bunk beds, animal pelts and murals; and a pirate ship suite, where guests sleep on deck. Other suites include Venetian, oriental, Polynesian and Victorian decor. A handful of cave-inspired suites are also available, as are rooms with a New York, country or Aztec jungle theme.
All other guest rooms are traditionally furnished and include typical hotel amenities. Many standard king rooms are located poolside, and spa suites offer the option of a heart- or square-shaped hot tub.
The on-site Shi-Awela Safari Village hosts a dozen authentic African bush huts that circle a small lagoon complemented by African-style landscaping. Thorn trees, long grasses and a bamboo-like fence provide the setting for these one-room huts. Each is furnished with a four-poster king-sized bed and two-person spa bath. Additional amenities include microwaves, refrigerators and authentic African decorations.
Originally enclosed in 1985, the Tropical Dome houses a heated pool with an overflowing rain bucket, a baby pool, a dry sauna and waterfall spa, a climbing area and a game room with pool and ping-pong tables and video games. Picnic tables and lounge chairs are located poolside, while palm trees and other tropical vegetation adorn the interior. The Dome is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Several chain and independently owned restaurants are located within minutes of the inn. Shakey's Pub & Grub, which serves sandwiches and bar bites, Mai Thai Restaurant and Camino Real Mexican restaurant are all less than a mile from the Wildwood Inn. The Florence Mall is also under a mile from the inn and offers over 130 shops and a 12-unit food court.
Florence is located just over 20 minutes from Cincinnati, making it a convenient home base away from the bustle of the city center. Cincinnati itself boasts more than 30 historical museums, a zoo, indoor waterpark and a half dozen art museums, including the Cincinnati Art Museum, which houses a permanent collection of over 60,000 objects spanning 6,000 years. Featured stage performances in Cincinnati range from ballet to opera and theater. Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds call the city home, while the Cyclones hockey team, a minor league NHL affiliate, also makes the city its base.
