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October 2007 Edition |
October is last call for Velvet Ice Cream at Ye Olde Mill until spring. So if you scream for awesome ice cream, head to Utica, Ohio before that first snow comes!
What started in 1914 as a hand-cranked
vanilla ice cream business for a market reach only as far as
non-refrigerated ice cream could travel has grown to more than 60 flavors
and 500 recipes serving 6 million gallons of ice cream per year. Not only
that, but the 20 acre-site in Utica, Ohio has become a tourist attraction
featuring Ye Olde Mill – an 1817 historic grist mill with water wheel
mirrored in a beautiful reflecting pond. The grounds also provide nature
trails, picnic park, playground, buckeye tree grove – and that’s just
outside. Inside the historic mill, there is a restaurant, 19th
century style ice cream parlor, Ohio’s only ice cream museum and gift
shop. Visitors are also treated to fascinating tours that include a view
of the factory operations from the ice cream production viewing gallery.
Special events are offered throughout the year but none are as wide known
as the Utica Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival held every Memorial Day
Weekend.
Things weren’t always smooth in
Velvet’s growth. Along the way from “Grandpa” Joe Dager’s humble beginning
to the 4th generation of Dager’s now managing the trademark
operation, a couple tragedies nearly ended the blossoming Dager ice cream
empire. The first came after Joe moved to Bucyrus, Ohio to tend to a new
ice manufacturing venture leaving the Utica company for his son Charlie to
run. Charlie was the first to bring Velvet ice cream to the extremely
competitive Columbus market combating big city dairies and their political
road blocks bent on keeping the outsider out. In 1958, at only
43-years-old, Charlie passed away. But the Dagers rallied together and
made the success of their family's business everyone’s top priority. It
was with that commitment the company continued to flourish for nearly 30
more years. Then in 1986, tragedy would strike again. Ye Olde
Mill, housing the headquarters of Velvet Ice Cream, burned down to its core leaving
only the water wheel of the 1817 landmark. Again, the Dager’s rallied
and rebuilt.
Today, tours of Velvet’s past and
present are given hourly from 11am to 3pm from May 1 – October 31 Monday
through Thursday. So head for the rolling country hills of Licking (how
appropriate) County
and see the remarkably picturesque landscape and architecture of Ye Olde
Mill. Treat yourself to a nice meal topped off with delicious Velvet Ice
Cream. Afterward, explore the natural surroundings, browse the gift shop
or learn a thing or two about America’s favorite dessert in the mini
museum. Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream Company are located at 11324 Mt. Vernon Road in Utica, Ohio 43080. For more information, see www.velveticecream.com or call 1-800-589-5000.
By
Frank R. Satullo
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OCTOBER FESTIVALS & EVENTS
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Harvest Moon
Corn Maze And Pumpkin Patch
This Southwest Ohio working farm provides the ultimate fall experience! Niederman Family Farm invites you to experience a 22 acre corn maze, pick pumpkins at the pumpkin patch, take a hayride, visit and feed the barnyard animals and have a picnic. Spend the day, bring your family, school group, church group, scout troop, Mom’s club, or just yourself. For more info, click here. Haunted Hayride & Black Bog at Bull Run Farms
Experience the Award-Winning Haunted Hayride at Bull Run Farms! Voted 2003 Best Scare and 2003 Grand Champions by Fox 22 Miami Valley Tour of Terror, you won't want to miss our 16th year of Halloween tradition. Located on over 50 acres of natural woodlands along Bull Run Creek, the 30-minute tractor-drawn haunted hayride brings a new look and feel this year. Hunker down with your friends and family as you tour the spooky trails, the unexpected lurking at every turn. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the woods...After the hayride be sure and take in the evening's entertainment featuring story-telling by the bon fires, the professional stunt bike show showcasing performers from around the world, enjoy the harvest at our on-site concession stand, pick your own pumpkin and if you are really brave, dare to enter the Black Bog.
Fall Fun Days Harvest
Festival
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, many families, schools, churches, companies and many other groups and individuals annually visit the Fall Fun Days Festival at Circle S Farms, located in scenic southwest Franklin County. Our festival features hayrides to pick a pumpkin, a six acre corn maze, sunflower maze, Fun Hay Barn with slides, Scarecrow Cave, Fodder Lane, petting zoo, weekend entertainment and much more. Private hayrides with bonfire parties are available. There is a full service bakery with many tasty treats including freshly made donuts of all kinds. On the weekends the Pumpkin Cafe is open. Group reservations are requested and walk-ins are welcome. www.circlesfarm.com Leaders Family Farms And Scream Acres
Fun for all ages. You can “get lost” in the twists and turns of a seven acre jack-o-lantern corn maize. Win prizes at Northwest Ohio’s only corn cannon range. Sing and dance on the karaoke stage. Take a scenic and peaceful hayride around the farm. Take your pick of thousands of pumpkins in the pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Kids can get “moo-ving” in a cow train, play on the slides or make their way through straw tunnels. For those with young children there’s a special place – Little Farmers Barnyard. It includes a corn box, mini straw jump and inflatables to enjoy. There’s also a wide array of concessions. For those who are brave of heart and dared to be scared, explore Scream Acres Haunted Cornfield, Northwest Ohio’s most terrifying field of corn! This separate field of corn has many turns and twists with the added fear of the unknown. With creatures lurking behind the walls of corn you never know who… or what may be “stalking” you! At ScreamAcres Haunted Cornfield “you pay to get in…. but pray to get out!”
Ohio’s premier family event features 12 stages of continuous entertainment, 7 food and beverage buildings, and more than 130 arts and crafts shops. Knights, comedy, daring stunt shows, giant roasted turkey legs, bread bowl stews, handmade arts and crafts abound in the authentically recreated 30-acre 16th Century English village.
Pumpkinfest At Pigeon
Roost Farm
Come Celebrate Fall in the Country. Enjoy a nostalgic family trip back to a working farm, our 25th year and still growing. See the old barns, friendly barnyard animals, and interesting display of antiques and observation beehive. Choose from thousands of pumpkins in all sizes and shapes, colorful and unique heritage squash, several sizes of Indian corn, corn shocks, straw bales, hard shell and decorative gourds. Young and old will have a great time exploring the “Great Pumpkin Fun Center” with a “goat walk”, Bunnyville, Rocking Ranch, 2005 Corn Maze, aviary, and special toddler area. The kids favorites—hillside slide, spook straw tunnel and Conestoga corn box are still included. Food is available on weekends, The “Old Farm Store” and “Country Store” have handmade crafts and a large selection of fall decorations, and the children have their own “Kids Korner” bldg. So come visit and bring your camera to capture some of those special memories.
Zoar Village's Lantern
Tours Of The Ghosts
Visitors are invited to take a haunted stroll through the village with history and ghost stories told by costumed guides. Overnight accommodations are available at the Zoar Tavern and Inn, and at bed and breakfasts in the village. For information call 330-874-2170. Come be a part of history this year at the historic village of Zoar, Ohio. One hundred ninety years ago a group of German Separatists founded the Village of Zoar in the Tuscarawas River Valley of Ohio. In 1817 they left Germany and came to the United States seeking religious freedom. Later they formed a communal society that lasted for 79 years, and was one of the most successful communal societies in the United States. Today, many of the buildings the Separatists built still line the main street of the historic village including the Town Hall. The Zoar Community Association refurbished the Town Hall and operates a Museum where visitors can learn about the history of Zoar and view videos about the Separatists and the Ohio & Erie Canal which the group helped construct. An audio self-guided tour CD can be rented at the Town Hall so guests can tour Zoar at a leisurely pace. Call 330-874-2646 for more information.
Dinner And A Ghost Tour
Currently, Snow Hill functions as a full service restaurant, Spirits Bistro, and a private golf course. However, Snow Hill is also the home of many spiritual encounters! To date, thousands of EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and strange pictures have been collected! Therefore, Snow Hill invites you to share in the hauntings this fall! As well join the Haunted Midnight Lantern Ghost Tour, new this year! The midnight tour is a once in a lifetime event, where you actually get to participate in your own ghost investigation. You are welcome to collect your own evidence! Night vision cameras, cameras, and recording equipment welcomed! Midnight Tour is $40 and are on the same evenings as Dinner and A Ghost Tours. Sign-in from 10 to 10:30 followed by activities. Snow Hill Country Club was built in the 1820’s by the Harris Family from Snow Hill, Maryland. For nearly a century the Harris family operated the home as a stage coach inn and tavern. The inn was enormously successful, and soon became the social hub for Clinton County. It passed down through the family, and at one point housed a tunnel in the basement that went almost a mile underground to another home. The Inn soon fell into disrepair when one of the Harris children reclaimed her ancestral home and refurbished it to its present grandeur.
Activities that take place in the great outdoors can be found at the Great Outdoor Adventure. Visit with Jungle Jack Hanna and the Columbus Zoo, compete in ACEnet’s Showcase of Regional Flavors, be part of an effort to break a Guinness World Record Bike Parade, canoe down the Hocking River, take part in a fishing derby for kids, see Big Air Dogs compete in what might be called a long jump into water, NASCAR show cars, chain saw carving demos and auctions, wood crafts and horse log skidding. A “Walk Thru Time” is an encampment and display that portrays several eras in history and includes activities at Robbins Crossing, a reconstructed log cabin village. Ride the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway’s caboose shuttle and enjoy the fun where there’s something for everyone, regardless of age.
From the hovering lights of campfires, frontier enthusiasts gather in groups playing guitars, drums and washboards much like small trading villages once participated in the 1800s. The weekend begins with an old-fashioned hometown parade on Saturday but the highlight of this festival is the mountain man encampment located next to the Stillwater River. The event and parking are free to the public. Holmes County Antique Festival
The festival features a Classic Car Parade, Firemen's Parade and Grand Parade. In addition, there are 25-30 Antique Dealers, Arts and Crafts, 5-K Run, Antiques, continuous entertainment and great food. Take a walking trip through the village and view the Downtown Window Museum, shop in unique stores and then tour the Victorian House and enjoy the beautiful Fall season in Holmes County.
Lebanon Antiques Show
One of Ohio's oldest antique shows. This year’s seventy antique dealers feature antiques and decorative accessories from three centuries. One can examine and purchase formal and country furniture, paintings, pottery, textiles, jewelry and more. The show provides an excellent opportunity for new collectors to learn about their interests. Long-time collectors often find that special piece to add to their collection.
Algonquin Mill Fall
Festival
Love old mills? How about fall foliage? Great! Head to the Algonquin Mill Fall Festival for a pioneer style festival featuring an operating early 1800's steam powered flourmill and sawmill, antique power show, old railway depot with model train layouts, many quality crafters, and delicious home-cooked food.
Ashtabula County Covered
Bridge Festival
Take a fall color tour of 16 covered bridges throughout Ashtabula County. Upon request, free tour maps are available. This annual event is family-oriented and includes children’s activities, contests, crafts, a parade, draft-horse pull, quilt show, farmers market, entertainment, great food and antique engines, tractors and automobiles.
Mohican Lumberjack Festival
& Fall Foliage Tour
Looking for Fall fun? Look no further. Come see lumberjacks speed carving, axe throwing, power sawing, log climbing and jousting and a whole lot more. It’s exciting. It’s educational. It’s great entertainment for the whole family! There’s even an old-fashioned horse pull you won’t want to miss. The lumberjack festival has a competitive element as it features world-class champion lumberjacks highlighted on the ESPN Great Outdoor Games. But it’s not all about cutting down the competition, plenty of history and comedy are stacked high as well. The two-day festival also presents pumpkin carving, scavenger hunt, kettle-cooked popcorn, fresh pressed apple cider, and a whole lot more. See the complete schedule of events at www.loudonville-mohican.com. While you’re in Mohican, take advantage of Ohio’s beautiful eastern rolling hills and fall foliage at its peak. This drive-it-your-self autumn adventure explores the scenic back roads of Mohican country. The tour includes stops in historic downtown Loudonville, Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, The Wolf Creek Pine Run Grist Mill, and Nature Walks through the trails of the Mohican State Park. Get up and personal with the changing season and enjoy a bike ride into town on the new bike path. Everyone needs a day in the country, especially in October. There’s no better place to be than amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in the Midwest at a time buzzing with excitement from the lumberjack show in the heart of an old-style Victorian-era town, Loudonville. Whether you come for the fun or the scenery or both, you’ll be glad you did.
Olde Thyme Herb Fair
Olde Thyme Herb Fair at Lewis Mountain is a heady mix of aromatic and medicinal herb lore, down-home music, quality crafts, good food, and a wide array of workshop-style classes. It is an irresistible attraction for homemakers and craft enthusiasts. Herbfest happens the second weekend of October, perfect timing for peak fall color on the surrounding Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio.
Sauerkraut Festival
The people of Waynesville may debate whether they are the Antiques Capital of the Midwest or the Home of the Sauerkraut Festival but make no mistake they have lots of both. And some say antiques and sauerkraut saved this little town. Either way, more than 11,000 pounds of sauerkraut are cooked up for the annual festival. Some of the more unique recipes for visitors’ indulgence include sauerkraut ice cream, brownies, doughnuts and pizza. The local folks urge that just because it’s made with sauerkraut doesn’t mean it tastes like it. Awards are given to those with the largest cabbage, greenest cabbage and most “congenial” cabbage. Featured attractions are the antique car parade, arts and crafts show, German bands and folk dancers, entertainment and good old-fashioned spelling-Bee contests.
Hallzooween
Little ghouls, boys and animals can enjoy three spooktacular weekends of fun. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during HallZOOween from 4 – 8 p.m., young frankensteins (12 and under) can trick-or-treat their way around the Zoo. Along the way, guests may encounter Pumpkin Pandemonium – the Zoo animal’s version of trick-or-treating, including Gorilla Pumpkin Hunt, Snow Monkey Pumpkin Hide & Seek, Elephant Pumpkin Smash, Indian Rhino Apple Bob and Polar Bear Pumpkin Bob. Other activities include a Little Creatures Carnival, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin patch, spooktacular train ride, scare-ousel, strolling characters, face painting, and mini pumpkin decorating activities. This event is FREE with Zoo admission. For more details, please call 513-475-6124Little ghouls, boys and animals can enjoy three spooktacular weekends of fun. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during HallZOOween from 4 – 8 p.m., young frankensteins (12 and under) can trick-or-treat their way around the Zoo. Along the way, guests may encounter Pumpkin Pandemonium – the Zoo animal’s version of trick-or-treating, including Gorilla Pumpkin Hunt, Snow Monkey Pumpkin Hide & Seek, Elephant Pumpkin Smash, Indian Rhino Apple Bob and Polar Bear Pumpkin Bob. Other activities include a Little Creatures Carnival, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin patch, spooktacular train ride, scare-ousel, strolling characters, face painting, and mini pumpkin decorating activities. This event is FREE with Zoo admission. For more details, please call 513-475-6124
Pumpkin Show (Circleville)
Great pumpkins Charlie Brown, this is said to be Ohio’s oldest and largest pumpkin celebration. It hosts seven different parades in half as many days. This includes the Pumpkin Parade, Pet Parade and Baby Parade to name a few. The events also include a Big Wheel Race, world’s largest pumpkin pie, a pumpkin toss, pie eating competition and Fun Show. Additional contests of interest include hog calling, egg toss and pumpkin carving. Many displays, arts, crafts and live entertainment also accompany the festivities as well as plenty of pumpkins, squash and gourds.
Apple Butter Stirrin'
The annual Apple Butter Stirrin' festival offers visitors a chance to take in the sights and smells of both historic Roscoe village and the beauty of the autumn season. The event offers musical entertainment including Blue Grass, 60s, 70s and 80s Hits and a barbershop quartet, an invitational craft show, a spelling bee, a hog-calling contest, a pumpkin-decorating contest, a pie baking contest, a quilt raffle, a special children’s activity area, living history tours and canal boat rides. Also, of course, there will be apple butter stirrin' over an open fire, and historic artisans throughout the village, demonstrating their skills. Historic Roscoe Village is a 19-th-century living history community depicting life in Ohio's canal era. The Village is located on State Routes 16 and 83, near the junction of US Route 36 in east-central Ohio. For more information on Apple Butter Stirrin’ or Roscoe Village, please call (740) 622-9310 or (800) 877-1830.
Fall Festival Of Leaves
See the autumn colors in the hills and valleys of the village of Bainbridge. The community is open to all visitors for their annual festive event to celebrate the season. It hosts parades, pageants, flea markets and a midway with entertainment for all. In addition, there is a pedal tractor pull, arts and crafts plus several self-guided scenic tours of the beautiful colorful landscape.
Statehouse Ghost Tours
A two-headed calf, chess figures made from prisoners' bones and other macabre curiosities will be featured as tall yarns spun with facts come to life on this tour guided by costumed guides carrying oil lamps through the vaulted passageways of the Statehouse which is observing its 10th anniversary of restoration. Visitors will encounter the most famous ghosts among Halloween tours in greater Columbus. They may catch a glimpse of a lovelorn President Lincoln dancing in the Senate Chamber. Or they may see and hear chilling stories of the President Harrison Horror, the lobbyist who never left, the wolves of Wolf Run and a ripe body in the Rotunda. This year’s event will also feature free potion-making for kids of all ages. The Museum Shop will be open until 9 p.m.; food such as finger sandwiches, owl-eye cookies and spider cider will be available in the Capitol Café by Shane's. Miss Emma’s boarding-house-style dinners will be available for groups of more than 20. Tours are limited to 40 people. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and run on the half hour with the last tour at 9:30 p.m. Special scheduling may be arranged for school or scout groups.
Doll & Bear
Show And Sale
Antique, Collectible, Modern, Artist Dolls, Bears and Related items. Doll Display: Dolls of Color. Food Available, Door Prizes and Free parking.
German Village
Oktoberfest
German Village Oktoberfest is a celebration that blends a time-honored German festival with the vitality and charm of a thriving urban neighborhood. Oktoberfest features traditional German polka as well as various other styles of music, a variety of authentic German food and other festival favorites. Don’t miss Marketplatz filled with artisans and unique shops. Join us at Grant & Livingston for “one of the top 100 events in North America!”
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Click here for additional festivals and events throughout Ohio
SO YOU THINK YOU
HAVE THE BEST DARN __ IN OHIO?
I’ll be the judge of that!
Over the years I have traveled to every nook and cranny of Ohio covering tourism news for Ohio’s #1 magazine online – www.ohiotraveler.com.
I am known as THE OhioTraveler and have been invited as a guest to talk about Ohio attractions on many TV and radio shows. I have heard many claims of those stating they are or have the best darn __ in Ohio! Whether it’s a burger, inn, festival, exhibit, or whatever, I’ll be the judge of that from October 2007 through September 2008. But don’t worry, my mommy taught me that if you don’t have anything positive to say, don’t say anything at all. Therefore, I will only report places that I feel are truly one of the best darn __’s in Ohio. Whatever __ is. Each monthly edition of OhioTraveler will feature at least one such person, place or thing.
Although I travel around Ohio often, I’ll need tips pointing me where to go. For example, I know first-hand the best darn bologna sandwich in Ohio is at the G&R Grill in Waldo because several people told me to try it. You may ask, “Where’s Waldo?” And I’ll tell you that and more. About 30 of my trips have been documented on video and posted free along with articles and everything else at www.ohiotraveler.com, including a light-hearted look telling everything about Waldo’s G&R Grill.
So if you think your community has the best darn (secret, tall-tale, eatery, oddity, unique shopping, attraction, park, etc.) in Ohio, e-mail news@ohiotraveler.com and I will make sure I get there between October 2007 and September 2008 to see for myself. After all, I end up everywhere in Ohio in the course of a year.
I’ll even publish when The OhioTraveler is coming to town to judge your best darn __ in Ohio!
By Frank R. Satullo
Send your secret views of Ohio to
news@ohiotraveler.com.
Must be open to the public!
If you have a little explorer inside you just waiting to make a discovery or venture where few have been, you'll enjoy the secret views of Ohio.
Much in the spirit of our nationally reported GraveQuest adventures and the geocaching phenomenon fast-becoming a mainstream recreational activity of the new millennium, Secrets of Ohio will take you to breathtaking places in the state that are just not publicized much. For geocachers, it is an introduction to waymarking, where the destination is the cache. For those that have no idea what geocaching or waymarking are, don't worry, the sights/sites revealed can be found without techno gadgets in this new way in which we hope to lead you to rare Ohio sights and sites.
Below are two secret views of Ohio. We encourage you to share yours. List a description of what you'll see or provide a picture. Explain how to get there and what level of difficulty is the trek. If you use geocaching coordinates, great, but also provide written directions so all may partake in the exploration.
Secret Views of Ohio:
1. There's a secret Wetland in North Royalton, Ohio. It is in the limits of the Cleveland Metroparks' Mill Stream Run Reservation and was created in part because of the disturbance of a nearby wetland by South Park Mall in Strongsville, Ohio.
To get there, park on the edge of West 130th Street across from 16624 W130 St., Strongsville, OH 44136. You will see a metal road block before a path starting at the treeline on the East side of the street. Enter there and follow the path as it winds deep into the woods. Eventually, it takes a hard left and a dip bringing you out into a hidden paradise of natural splendor.
The wetland here will usually be frequented by a wide-variety of waterfowl. The view is wide and far as this open space is expansive and surrounded by tall trees.
If you desire, there's more exploring to do. Walk to the Northwest corner of the wetland area and turn left and follow whatever trail you can pick up. It goes to a river and if you go far enough, you can hike up a cliff and get a wonderful bird-eye view of the valley.
2. Nearby the first secret view of Ohio, there's something in the woods that shouldn't be amidst the trees. You can discover it by following these directions.
From I-71, exit at the Route 82 East exit (Royalton Rd) toward North Royalton. Head East on this road and at the bottom of a hill, turn right onto Valley Parkway. As you make the bend, turn right again onto Royalview Lane. Park off on the left just before this road makes a sharp right turn up a hill.
There should be an opening in the treeline where you'll find the trailhead. It is a circular trail, albeit a couple miles. Bare right and head uphill on the trail. Once you ascent is leveled out, the trail turns left/east. Start looking through the trees on your right side for something that should not be there. If you find an oil drill, you went too far. I know, that shouldn't be in the woods either but that's not the sight you're after.
Once you find it, venture either way on the trail to get back.
Send your secret views of Ohio to
ohiotraveler.com.
Must be open to the public!
Thank you for visiting
The
American farm is fast becoming more fable than reality much like mom’s
apple pie. But not if the Niederman family has anything to do with it!
During
the 1800’s Adams County, Ohio, was an important stop-over for
families moving west. Adams County was established in 1797, six years
before Ohio was admitted as a state in 1803. Many settlers in Adams
County arrived from Pennsylvania by flatboat on the Ohio River and
from the south through the Cumberland Gap. In 1797 the historic Zane’s
Trace was blazed through Adams County, linking Maysville (Limestone)
Kentucky with Wheeling (West) Virginia. Even today in Adams County
there are still standing, historic homes and inns that were built
along the Zane’s Trace to accommodate the county’s first travelers. 
Cedar
Point knows how to make people scream.