Photo Provided Dr. John S. Mattox’s son John Mattox Jr. from left, Doug Frizzi, president of the Epworth Park Foundation Doug Frizzi, Dr. Mattox’s daughter Suzanne Evans, and Belmont County Tourism Council executive director Jackee Pugh celebrate Epworth Park Foundation receiving the 2025 Mattox Award in recognition of its leadership in preserving Epworth Park and securing its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Tourism Council recently celebrated a year of remarkable accomplishments at its annual Christmas Party.

The event highlighted major tourism milestones and presented the 2025 Mattox Award to the Epworth Park Foundation.

The award was established in 2019 to honor the late Dr. John S. Mattox, co-founder of the Underground Railroad Museum and one of the Ohio Valley’s most respected historians.

The award recognizes individuals or organizations who have made significant, long-term contributions to tourism and economic development in Belmont County.

The event, held at Belmont Hills Country Club, welcomed tourism partners, local officials, board members, volunteers, and community leaders to reflect on 2025 successes and celebrate the contributions of this year’s “Tourism Champion of the Year.”

“2025 was truly one of our brightest years yet,” Belmont County Tourism Council executive director Jackee Pugh said. “From major preservation victories to long-term revitalization projects, we saw incredible momentum across Belmont County. I am so proud of what we achieved together.”

Throughout the evening, Belmont County Tourism highlighted several significant accomplishments from the past year, including Barnesville being recognized as a 2025 Best Hometown by Ohio Magazine and the launch of a full Heritage Ohio Main Street Program Assessment; The Black Horse Inn and Underground Railroad Museum entering the construction phase, advancing toward an anticipated late fall 2026 opening; the Belmont County Heritage Museum celebrating its 10th anniversary with more than 1,300 visitors in 2025; the 200th anniversary of the Ohio National Road, including a National Scenic Byway Association award for education partnerships with the historic Blaine “S” Bridge and Bridgeport Schools; the opening of two newly reimagined I-70 rest areas, enhancing the visitor experience for travelers entering Belmont County; and the Great Stone Viaduct receiving a U.S. EPA Region 5 Award for leadership in transforming a historic brownfield into a community asset.

One of the most significant achievements of the year was Epworth Park being officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This designation recognizes the park’s unique architectural heritage, cultural history, and its long-standing ties to the Chautauqua movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Founded in 1870 and home to 59 historic cottages, Epworth Park stands as one of the last intact Chautauqua communities in Ohio. Its successful nomination to the National Register was the result of years of dedicated work by the Epworth Park Cottage Owners Association and the Epworth Park Foundation.

“The Epworth Park Foundation has demonstrated extraordinary vision, passion, and commitment to preserving one of Belmont County’s most cherished historic places,” Pugh said. “Their dedication to stewardship, education, and tourism development truly makes them our ‘Tourism Champion of the Year.'”

Past Mattox Award recipients include the Great Western Schoolhouse, the Belmont County Historical Society, the Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society, the Ohio National Road Association, and the Imperial Glass Collectors’ Society.

As the event concluded, Pugh expressed optimism for the year ahead. “2026 marks America’s 250th birthday and Belmont County’s 225th,” she said. “We have so much to look forward to, and I am excited for the continued progress and partnerships that make Belmont County such a special place to visit.”

For more information about Belmont County tourism attractions, events, and programs, visit www.visitbelmontcounty.com or call 740-695-4359.