Police descended onto Bestwood Country Park after several reports of a suspicious man lurking in the area.
Scores of police officers were joined by the police helicopter to search for the man at around 7.30pm on Tuesday, August 13.
They used Bestwood Lodge Hotel's car park as a base as they carried out an extensive search.
Simon Forbes, manager of the hotel, who was working when the incident happened, said: "Our car park is close to the wood and I noticed the helicopter and there was lots of police.
"One officer came in and said there had been several reports of a masked man with an axe in the woods.
"Nothing happened here at the hotel but they used our car park because it is close to the country park.
"They were here for about 20 minutes and the helicopter was buzzing over the trees."
Police did not locate the masked man and no arrests have been made.
A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: "Officers were called on August 13 at around 7.30pm following reports of a suspicious looking man outside Bestwood Lodge Hotel in Arnold.
"There was a report of a man with a weapon that may or may not be an axe.
"Officers quickly attended the scene, carried out a search of the area assisted by a police helicopter, but the man was not traced."
