The Wilds has a long and fascinating history. Indigenous people once called this land home and built burial mounds to honor their loved ones. Early settlers farmed the land, with many descendants of those families remaining in the area today. In the late 20th century, the area was mined for coal. Each phase tells the story of the land and the people who call this community home.

A History of Surface Mining Before Wildlife Conservation The Wilds opened to the public in 1994 and sits on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed, surface-mined land in the beautiful Muskingum County. Thanks to the vision of community leaders in the 1970s, this once coal-mined land in southeast Ohio has been transformed into one of the world's largest and innovative conservation centers, with a mission to advance conservation through science, education, and personal experience. 10,000 Acres is an interactive documentary that tells the story of The Wilds transformation into what it is today.