Big Red's Lodges

3773 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43214, New California, United States

2-star hotel

Guest rating: 4.7 / 5

Overview

Big Red's Lodges is a collection of Craftsman-style cottages set on the 25 wooded acres of OhioHealth's McConnell Heart Health Center in Columbus, Ohio. Rated 2-star but earning an unusually high 4.7 out of 118 reviews, it offers a quiet, retreat-like alternative to conventional hotel stays. The property is just an 8-minute walk from Riverside Methodist Hospital, making it a practical option for medical visits as well as leisure stays.

Rooms & Cottages

Guest accommodations are individual cottages rather than standard hotel rooms, each featuring a fireplace and full kitchen with fridge, microwave and coffeemaker. Rooms also include flat-screen TVs and free WiFi, giving the lodges a self-catering, home-like feel amid a wooded setting.

Dining

A continental breakfast is included with every stay, and there is a cafe on-site for additional meals and refreshments throughout the day.

Amenities & Recreation

Guests have access to the on-site McConnell Heart Health Center, which includes a gym, lap pool, warm water pool, steam rooms and saunas. The center also offers bookable appointments with massage therapists, clinical health experts and nutritionists, and the grounds include a walking trail through the wooded property.

Location

The lodges sit roughly 1.3 km from Columbus Park of Roses and about 4.7 km from the Wexner Center for the Arts, with Ohio History Center, North Market Downtown, the Columbus Museum of Art, COSI, and the Ohio Statehouse all within roughly 5 to 10 km. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay are about 15 km away, and Port Columbus International Airport is 11.8 miles from the property.

Best for

Big Red's Lodges suits travelers seeking a peaceful, wooded retreat rather than a typical urban hotel, including those visiting family or patients at Riverside Methodist Hospital thanks to its 8-minute walking distance. It also appeals to wellness-minded guests who want access to a full health-center gym, pools, saunas, and spa-style services, and to couples or small families wanting self-catering cottages with fireplaces and kitchens.

Travel tips

Because the lodges are set within a 25-acre wooded health-center campus, a car is useful for reaching downtown Columbus attractions like the Ohio Statehouse, North Market, and Columbus Museum of Art, most of which sit 5-10 km away. Port Columbus International Airport is about 11.8 miles away, so budget time for the drive. Take advantage of the on-site walking trail and the nearby Columbus Park of Roses, just over a kilometer away, for a quieter outdoor outing.

What guests say

Guest feedback consistently highlights the peaceful, secluded setting, with several reviewers noting how the wooded grounds and walking trail feel far removed from city noise despite being close to Columbus attractions. Reviewers also praise the value and pricing compared with alternatives like Airbnb, along with clean, well-maintained pool facilities. Service and overall facility quality are frequently mentioned in a positive light, and multiple guests indicate they would return or have stayed as a family group. No recurring negative themes are apparent in the available excerpts.

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