Mohican Covered Bridge — Photo courtesy of Caroline Eubanks
Set amongst the rolling hills between Cleveland and Columbus are charming towns that feel worlds away from the bustling cities. This area is also where much of Ohio’s Amish community resides and where stars of the big screen have found solitude. It's a place where you can disconnect, spotting horses and buggies and indulging in the farm-crafted cheeses and fudge.
While there are plenty of places to explore in this area, these seven towns are especially appealing.
Berlin and Millersburg
Start your visit to Amish Country at the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center, which educates visitors about the Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite communities and their beliefs. Exhibits include an Amish school, a traditional barn from Pennsylvania and a Cyclorama painting.
To purchase Amish-made arts and crafts, Sol's Palace is a sprawling mall of booths selling quilts, furniture, candles and pottery. Schrock's Heritage Ville has Amish-crafted furniture to bring home. You can also travel like the Amish do with a buggy ride with Mel's Horse Buggy Rides.
Open since 1938, Boyd & Wurthmann is where the locals eat, with a daily changing menu of dishes like meatloaf and chicken-fried steak with traditional dandelion gravy. Berlin Farmstead is another favorite and also owns a theater that welcomes musicians and other performers.
Millersburg's Bunker Hill Cheese Chalet is a family-run shop open since 1935 that crafts cheese from local Amish farms. The building itself is reminiscent of what you might find in the family's native Switzerland.
Glenmont
The Mohicans treehouse — Photo courtesy of Caroline Eubanks
To fully disconnect from the outside world and soak up the natural surroundings, the best place to stay is The Mohicans, a remote luxury treehouse resort with no cell service or Internet. Kevin and Laura Mooney purchased property in 2005 and now have multiple treehouses to stay in.
Two of the treehouses were built for the show "Treehouse Masters" with the assistance of local Amish carpenters. There are also cabins and an Airstream. All come with kitchenettes, showers and full-sized beds.
During the warmer months, visitors can join one of the canoeing trips that operate on the Black Fork Mohican River. Tree Frog Canopy Zipline Tours is just down the road from The Mohicans and offers thrilling rides through the trees by zipline.
Loudonville
Downtown Loudonville — Photo courtesy of Caroline Eubanks
The town of Loudonville may be small in size, but it’s the gateway to the nearby Mohican State Park. The 1,100-acre site is home to stunning waterfalls, a historic grist mill, a covered bridge and miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking.
During the warmer months, Shipley’s Canoe Livery is a hive of activity, serving as a canoe outfitter, a tavern and campground. Join a 3- to 7-mile guided trip down the river before sharing a pizza and settling into a riverfront campsite.
Opened in March 2020, Black Fork Bistro has become a favorite local restaurant for the menu that includes hearty sandwiches and burgers, along with Ohio’s best craft beer.
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Lucas
Malabar Farm State Park — Photo courtesy of Caroline Eubanks
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist Louis Bromfield purchased a 900-acre estate in his hometown, adding onto the farmhouse and bringing the land back to working order. While living here, he was a prolific writer, penning dozens of novels and short stories that were adapted into screenplays. He became friends with Humphrey Bogart, hosting the actor’s wedding to Lauren Bacall.
Now operating as Malabar Farm State Park, the home is open for tours, with original furniture from Bromfield and paintings from Grandma Moses. The park is also home to one of the locations on the The Shawshank Trail; the Pugh Cabin was used in the film’s opening scene. There are also beginner-friendly trails ranging from less than a mile to 7 miles.
The Malabar Farm Restaurant is located in a 19th-century home on the property that Bromfield envisioned as an inn. The menu has favorites like steak, seafood and meatloaf.
Mansfield
Ohio State Reformatory — Photo courtesy of Caroline Eubanks
First opened to inmates in 1896 after a decade of construction, the Ohio State Reformatory is a must-see landmark in Mansfield. It was designed by Levi Scofield, a notable architect behind many iconic buildings in Cleveland. Unlike other institutions, the goal of the reformatory was rehabilitation and eventual release. The 1960s brought changes to the prison system and the building fell into disrepair in the following decades.
It finally closed in 1990 before being transformed into a museum. These days, it welcomes 120,000 visitors per year, including ghost hunters eager to get a glimpse of the spirits said to roam the halls. It’s also appeared on screen in "The Shawshank Redemption," "Air Force One" and "Judas and the Black Messiah." There’s also a Shawshank Museum with props from the film.
After roaming the eerie halls, grab a meal and drink at Cypress Hill Winery at Hudson and Essex. The tasting room serves varietals of California-style wines, along with fine dining dishes like flatbreads and pork tenderloin.
Wooster
Wooster — Photo courtesy of Caroline Eubanks
The tree-lined college town of Wooster is full of shops and restaurants in Victorian-era buildings. Sure House Coffee Roasting Co. is the best place to start the day, with an Earl Grey latte and a scone, before wandering the streets. Local favorite Broken Rocks Cafe serves artisan bread with fresh daily soups, salads, and sandwiches.
The town also has an abundance of independent businesses. Pick up souvenirs at Books In Stock Used & Rare Books and Blackbird Records. At Operation Fandom, visitors can relive their childhoods with memorabilia from classic television shows, movies and comic books. Blue Spruce Boutique has a wide range of home decor and gifts, including cookbooks and candles.