The Buckeye Ridge Rescue and Retreat

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The Buckeye Ridge Rescue and Retreat Where animals help heal people, and people help heal animals. Ou

Buckeye Ridge Rescue & Retreat is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life through animal-assisted, nature-based experiences that foster healing, growth, and connection.

04/22/2026

Something special is happening at Buckeye Ridge.
On May 2nd, we’re officially opening Buckeye Ridge Rescue and Retreat—and we’re celebrating with an Elegant Derby Experience.

This isn’t just another event.

It’s an afternoon to dress up, slow down, and step into something that feels a little different.

We’ll be watching the Kentucky Derby together in a beautiful setting, with signature drinks, food trucks, and a full lineup of experiences throughout the day.

That includes the Pines Derby Dash—a live, interactive race where guests can take part in the excitement and watch it all unfold Derby-style.

There will also be a hat contest, Best Dressed, raffle prizes, a silent auction, and a VIP section inside The Pines for Patron and Table guests with hors d’oeuvres and a more intimate race viewing.

And behind all of it is a purpose.

Buckeye Ridge was created as a place for connection, healing, and restoration—bringing together rescued animals and people who need a space to breathe, reset, and reconnect.

Every ticket supports that mission.

We’re keeping this event intentionally limited so it doesn’t feel crowded or commercial.

Tickets have already started moving, especially tables and higher-tier options.

If you’re planning to come, this is a good time to secure your spot.

Save your spot here:

https://buckeyeridge.com/derby-vip

If it feels like your kind of afternoon, we’d love to have you there.

—The Pines at Buckeye Ridge

Something new (and a little unexpected) just arrived at Buckeye Ridge…A tortoise.Slow. Steady. Grounded.The kind of pres...
04/21/2026

Something new (and a little unexpected) just arrived at Buckeye Ridge…

A tortoise.

Slow. Steady. Grounded.

The kind of presence that reminds you to breathe a little deeper and not rush through everything.

And now… they need a name.

We’re opening it up to you.

For $5, you can submit a name and be part of this animal’s story from the very beginning.

Every entry helps support the animals here and the people who come to Buckeye Ridge to heal, reconnect, and find a little peace.

And here’s the cool part…

Years from now, when people visit and meet this tortoise, they’ll say their name.

And it might be the one you chose.

Enter here: https://buckeyeridge.com/tortoise

04/13/2026

Something special is happening at Buckeye Ridge.

On May 2nd, 2026, we’re celebrating the Grand Opening with an Elegant Derby Experience just minutes from Buckeye Lake.

Dress up.
Watch the race.

Signature drinks, food trucks, live Derby viewing, and a full afternoon designed to feel different from anything else around here.

Tickets will be limited, and early access will go first.

Every ticket supports a mission dedicated to healing, connection, and second chances for people and animals.

Get early access now:
https://buckeyeridge.com/derby-vip

04/10/2026

This was Easter at The Pines.

Egg hunts by age group, animals, the Easter Bunny, food, games…
and a lot of kids who didn’t want to leave.

Simple, relaxed, and exactly what we hoped it would be.

More events coming soon.

We had a lot of families out at The Pines for Easter this year, and the day pretty much went how we hoped it would.Kids ...
04/10/2026

We had a lot of families out at The Pines for Easter this year, and the day pretty much went how we hoped it would.

Kids showed up excited right away. They headed into their age-group egg hunts, which made a big difference. The little ones had space to move at their own pace, and the older kids still got the fun of the hunt without it turning into chaos.

After the hunts, most families made their way over to the animals. That ended up being one of the biggest highlights. Kids getting up close to the horses, seeing the Highland cows in person, and just taking their time with it.

The Easter Bunny stayed busy the whole afternoon too. A lot of kids wanted to come up, say hi, and get photos. Some were all in right away, others took a minute, but by the end most of them were smiling and having fun with it.

Throughout the day, families grabbed food, played a few games, and just spent time outside together. Nothing rushed, nothing overwhelming. Just a good afternoon.

That’s really what we were going for.

We appreciate everyone who came out and spent the day with us. It meant a lot to see families enjoying the space the way we imagined.

If you were there, we’d love to hear what your favorite part was.

And if you missed it, we’ll be doing more events like this.

— Buckeye Ridge Rescue and Retreat

On May 2nd, The Pines at Buckeye Ridge opens its gates for the first-ever Derby celebration—marking not just a day of tr...
04/09/2026

On May 2nd, The Pines at Buckeye Ridge opens its gates for the first-ever Derby celebration—marking not just a day of tradition and style, but the official launch of something that’s been building quietly behind the scenes for a long time.

A vision rooted in purpose.
A place where animals are rescued, lives are restored, and people reconnect with something real.

You’ll see the hats.
The dresses.
The energy of Derby Day.

But underneath it all… this is about impact.

Every ticket, every moment, every person who shows up becomes part of a mission—supporting animal rescue, therapeutic programs, and a space where healing happens in ways that don’t always make headlines.

This is where it starts.

Not just a celebration…
but a commitment.

Come be part of the first chapter.

Some of the most important moments don’t look like much from the outside.Just a quiet field.A child taking a few careful...
04/09/2026

Some of the most important moments don’t look like much from the outside.

Just a quiet field.
A child taking a few careful steps forward.
An animal, once unsure, now standing still long enough to be touched.

No pressure. No expectations. Just presence.

And in that space, something shifts.

You can see it in the way the child leans in a little more.
In the way the animals stay close instead of pulling away.
In the calm that settles in without anyone needing to explain it.

This is how healing happens here.

Not through big speeches or dramatic breakthroughs…
but through simple, honest connection.

One moment at a time.

Dena Scott is the founder of The Pines at Buckeye Ridge and Buckeye Ridge Rescue & Retreat—but what she’s created here i...
04/09/2026

Dena Scott is the founder of The Pines at Buckeye Ridge and Buckeye Ridge Rescue & Retreat—but what she’s created here isn’t something you can fully explain on paper.

It started with a simple decision: to build something honest.

Not perfect. Not polished. Just real.

A place where animals could feel safe again.
A place where people didn’t have to carry everything alone.
A place where the land itself could be part of the healing.

She chose a path most people avoid.

Long days. Unseen work. Responsibility that doesn’t clock out.

Because for her, this has never been about recognition.
It’s about commitment—to the animals, to the people who show up here, and to the kind of life that actually means something.

At Buckeye Ridge, healing isn’t something that’s given.
It’s something that happens in relationship.

In quiet moments.
In trust that builds over time.
In the connection between a person and an animal who both needed a place to land.

What’s been built here isn’t measured in buildings or numbers.

It shows up in the way someone stands a little taller before they leave.
In the way an animal begins to relax.
In the feeling that something shifted, even if you can’t quite explain how.

Some people create things you can see.
Others create things you can feel.

Dena has created both.

And because of that, Buckeye Ridge isn’t just a destination.

It’s something people carry with them long after they leave.

Address

3550 Blacklick-Eastern Road Northeast
Millersport, OH
43046

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5am
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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