Long-Running Legal Dispute Resolved
Ohio’s historical society has reached a settlement with Moundbuilders Country Club, allowing it to take control of the Octagon Earthworks, an ancient ceremonial and burial site located on the club’s golf course. The deal ends years of litigation and ensures the site will be accessible to the public.
Confidential Settlement Agreement
Ohio History Connection will buy out the country club’s lease, though the financial terms remain confidential. This settlement avoids a jury trial that was set to determine the fair market value of the site, a trial that had been postponed multiple times.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Octagon Earthworks are part of the Hopewell Earthworks system, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year. Ohio History Connection will assume control of the site on January 1 and plans to open it to visitors.
“Our guiding principles throughout this process have been to enable full public access to the Octagon Earthworks while ensuring Moundbuilders Country Club receives just compensation for the value of its lease on the property,” said Megan Wood, executive director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. “And now we have accomplished those things.”
Historical Significance
Built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago by the Hopewell Culture, the earthworks hosted ceremonies that drew people from across the continent. Native Americans constructed the site with eight long earthen walls that align with lunar movements, serving as a combination of a cathedral, cemetery, and astronomical observatory.
Legal and Historical Context
The historical society owns the earthworks site but had leased it to the country club for decades. In 2019, a county judge ruled that the historical society could reclaim the lease via eminent domain. The club contested this, arguing that the society had not made a good-faith offer to purchase the property as required by state law. The club also contended that it had maintained the site and allowed limited public access over the years.
Opening to the Public
Charles Moses, president of the Ohio History Connection’s board of trustees, expressed excitement about making the site fully accessible. “We are excited for the location to be fully open to the citizens of Ohio — and the world.”
