Adams County 2020 Visitors & Community Guide

2020 Visitors & Community Guide

www.adamscountytravel.org

Serpent Mound | Hiking | Lodging Outdoors | Quilt Barns | Amish

SUPPLEMENT TO PERIODICAL PUBLICATION

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Vinyl clad aluminum Chicago Wicker with factory guarantee Open Mon - Fri 8AM - 6PM & Sat 8AM - 5PM • Located on the Appalachian Highway at Burnt Cabin Rd.

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KEIM FAMILY MARKET features: • • • • • • • •

Fresh Baked Amish Pies, Breads, Cakes and Pastries Full Stocked Deli Department - Cold Cuts and Cheeses Bulk Foods, Candy, Nuts & Baking Supplies Amish Jams, Jellies, Preserves and Pickles Full Line of Indoor & Outdoor Furniture including Chicago Wicker Playhouses and Playsets Storage Barns Gazebo’s, Pavilion’s and Mini Homes

Come enjoy a delicious fresh deli sandwich or a coffee and a fresh Amish pastry.

Relax under a tree in our family picnic area.

NORTH SEAMAN

Burnt Cabin Rd

32

Un ity Rd .

Grac UNITY e’s R un Whe 247 at Rid ge DUNKINSVILLE

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WEST UNION

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WELCOME TO ADAMS COUNTY

Adams County sits along the Ohio River, which serves as a recreational haven for boating, fishing and swimming, and a pathway for barge traffic transporting many of America’s resources.

Ohio Brush Creek flows from the top of the county into the Ohio River. A number of Adams County attractions, with views of the river, reside alongside the river.

Photo by Tom Cross

T

hanks for picking up an Adams County Visitors & Community Guide. We strive to make the information inside these pages as accurate and useful as possible—and we also want to spark your interest in Adams County.

In the tourism business, every year has its highs and lows. Perhaps no other jolt has packed a punch like the loss of Moyer Winery & Restaurant to a fire in June 2019.

The winery, overlooking the Ohio River, was a pillar of the community. Its loss devastated our small, rural county. Its effect on tourism is yet to be measured.

On the plus side, five new lodging establishments are listed in this year’s guide. New attractions are also found inside, and the cover story is about a new hiking trail set to open at Cedar Falls, a historic Adams County landmark.

The Travel & Visitors Bureau collected another RUBY Award for marketing from the Ohio Travel Association for its 2019 visitors guide. The Oak Ridge Boys also took time for a picture while they were in town, posing with the award-winning guide. That was something.

Sixteen new miles of the Buckeye Trail were completed, linking the Edge of Appalachia Preserve to Shawnee State Forest through the Sunshine Corridor.

A new hiking trail at the Arc of Appalachia’s Rock Run Preserve is set to open this year.

This past August, I was privileged to Like us on Facebook

CONTENTS

A bear that was a longtime resident of northeastern Adams County unfortunately was struck by a vehicle and killed Christmas night 2018 on State Route 32. The state allowed the county to keep the bear, which was memorialized at the Adams County Courthouse. The courthouse, in West Union, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

accompany Gov. Mike DeWine, his wife, Fran, and their seven grandchildren on a hike to Buzzardroost Rock here in Adams County. The governor and family also visited Serpent Mound and seemed to really enjoy themselves.

We think you’ll enjoy Adams County, too. Give me a call, I’ll tell you all about it.

— Tom Cross, Executive Director, Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau 509 E. Ma in St., West Union, OH 45693; (937) 544-5639; (877) 232-6764 info@adamscountytravel.org / adamscountytravel.org

Cover: Visitors will be able to experience Cedar Falls when a new trail opens this year.

Photo by Marc Perkins

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4 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 27 30 34 36 38 41 42 45 46 47 48

Calendar of Events Visitors Map Quilt Barns Wheat Ridge Festival History Amish Bird Symposium Serpent Mound Hiking Outdoors Amish in Adams County Fossil hunting Friends of Serpent Mound Murphin Ridge Inn Family Traditions Lodging Dining Award Farmers Market Advertiser Index

Published by

in cooperation with

Adams

Travel & Visitors Bureau

Publisher & President: Eric Harmon Editor: Bill Ferguson Jr. Designer: Katy Rucker Production Manager: Keith Ohmer Sales Executives: Abbey Cummins, Brad Hoicowitz, Katelynn Webb, and Kristine Granata Advertising Manager: Laura Federle Contributors: Anna Adams, Darrell Baldwin, Celeste Baumgartner, Heath Fields/Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, Amanda Gilmore/Portsmouth Metro Magazine, Mark Godfrey, Beth Jenkins, The Nature Conservancy, Eric Porter, Austin Rust/ The People’s Defender, Ryen Shively, and Delsey and Jeff Wilson.

Produced by Tom Cross

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CALENDAR

2020 Adams County Events March

May

7 17th annual Adams County

1 Wheat Ridge Amish School

Amish Bird Symposium. (937) 5445639, adamscountytravel.org

Benefit Auction & Supper. Supper at 4 p.m., auction at 5 p.m.

(937) 544-7566

20-22 Spring Seed, Water, Blessing, Music/Peace Summit at Soaring Eagle Retreat, 1200 Jaybird Road, Peebles. alternateuniverserockshop.com

2 10th annual Pan Handler Quilt Show at Stone Chapel Church, 89 Trefz Road, West Union. 1 to 3 p.m.

(937) 544-3438

April

2 Spring Earthworks Driving Tour (leave from Bratton Township building). Pre-registration required: serpentmound.org

11 28th annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt at Wilson Children’s Home. (937) 544-2511 17-19 15th annual Wildflower Pilgrimage; register at arcofappalachia.org

3 Music at Serpent Mound with Steve Free. 1 p.m. arcofappalachia.org

20 Ohio River Sweep. orsanco.org/river-sweep

20 Summer Solstice music and feast at Serpent Mound. arcofappalachia.org

20-21 Free fishing weekend. wildohio.com

July

18 Loose Thread Quilters Quilt

4 Fourth of July Celebration & Lions Club Parade at Olde Wayside Inn. Parade at 10 a.m.

Show at Peebles United Methodist Church, 1370 Measley Ridge Road, Peebles. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

(937) 729-9011 or (513) 218-3373

5 Music at Serpent Mound with Steve Free. 1 p.m. arcofappalachia.org

24-26 UKC Elite Shed Dog Series National Championship at Real McCoy Outdoors. (937) 430-4999

12-18 129th annual Adams County Fair, West Union. adamscountyfairground.org

9 Ohio Brush Creek Sweep.

(937) 544-1010 16 Adams County Farmers Market opens on the Courthouse Square in West Union; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday through Sept. 26

24 Scioto Brush Creek Sweep.

(937) 544-1010

June 25 Adams County Spring Classic Driving Tour VII. springclassicdrivingtour.org

25 Bentonville Anti Horse Thief Society Banquet. (937) 549-3360

14 Music at Serpent Mound with Steve Free. 1 p.m. arcofappalachia.org 19-21 Summer Solstice Celebration at Soaring Eagle Retreat. serpentmound.org

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18 Friends of Serpent Mound Annual Picnic and Presentation. 6 p.m. at Serpent Mound. Registration: serpentmound.org

20 Music at Serpent Mound with Steve Free. 1 p.m. arcofappalachia.org 20-24 JR Bradley Summer Arts Camp sponsored by the Adams County Arts Council. Information: adamsctyartscouncil.org or (513) 502-3385

30-Aug. 1 Skinny Fest Bluegrass Festival, Adams County Fairgrounds. Information: facebook.com/SkinnyFest/

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31-Aug. 1 River Days at Manchester. (937) 779-7818

August 1 12th annual River Rats Boat & Jet Ski Poker Run and Duck Derby on the Ohio River. Registration required three days before event.

(937) 217-3000

1 Chaparral Prairie Preserve Guided Hike. 10 a.m. Preregistration: arcofappalachia.org

12 Perseid Meteor Shower viewing

22 Archaeology Day at Serpent Mound and music with Steve Free. arcofappalachia.org

12 Forgotten Way Farm & Corn

28-30 Winchester Homecoming Festival. (937) 403-1315, facebook.com/caramelfest/

13 Music at Serpent Mound

September

17-20 53rd annual Peebles Old Timers Days. (937) 587-3749

3 Adams County Junior Fair Beef Barbecue, Ohio Valley Career & Technology Center. 4:30-7:30 p.m.

(937) 205-0842

and camp-in at Soaring Eagle Retreat. serpentmound.org

5 Rock Run Preserve guided hike, 10 a.m. Preregistration: arcofappalachia.org

15 13th annual Cowboy Copas

11-13 44th Bentonville Harvest

Memorial Concert, Jefferson Community Center, Blue Creek.

7 p.m. (937) 587-2043

Festival. (937) 549-3360

16 Music at Serpent Mound with Steve Free. 1 p.m. arcofappalachia.org

11-13 19th annual Rarden Whitetail

Maze opens. 4675 Eckmansville Road, Winchester. (937) 386-4048

with Steve Free. 1 p.m. arcofappalachia.org

23-26 106th Anniversary of the Seaman Fall Festival.

(937) 779-7636

25 Wheat Ridge Amish School Benefit Auction & Supper. Supper at 4 p.m., auction at 5 p.m.

(937) 544-7566 26 18th annual Jack Roush Day at the Riverbarn, U.S. 52, Manchester.

Date subject to change.

Deer Festival. rardendeerfest.com

12 Erwin Farms & Corn Maze opens. 1365 Coon Hill Road, Winchester. (513) 515-0084

Cozy Hide away Cozy Hideaway can be perfect for a relaxing escape, a romantic getaway, or the adventure of a lifetime. Tucked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Beautiful Eastern Adams County Ohio you are just minutes from Amish Country, Antique Shops, several Historic Sites and just 2 minutes from “The Edge of Appalachia Preserve”.

Make “Cozy Hideaway” your vacation destination of choice when considering your next trip or hunting excursion.

415 Cozy Lane | West Union, OH 45693 www.cozyhideaway.org (513) 315-3334 or (937) 544-7001

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26-27 Draft Horse, Mule & Pony

18 Music at Serpent Mound with

Field Days and Antique Tractor Show at Glen-Dale Park in Fawcett.

(937) 587-3293

Steve Free. 1 p.m. arcofappalachia.org

November

October

11 Veterans Day Ceremony, Adams

3 43rd annual Miller’s Anniversary Customer Appreciation Day & Cookout, Miller’s Bakery & Furniture.

(937) 544-8524

v12 Audubon Christmas Bird Count, Edge of Appalachia Preserve.

(937) 544-2880 21 Friends of Serpent Mound

County Courthouse, 11 a.m.

Winter Solstice sunset viewing. serpentmound.org

28 Adams County Christmas, Ad-

March 2021

ams County Courthouse, 5:30 p.m.

December 5 Peebles Christmas Celebration

6 19th annual Adams County Amish Bird Symposium.

(937) 544-5639, adamscountytravel.org

and Christmas tree lighting. 6 p.m.

For additional and updated events: adamscountytravel.org

9-11 Wheat Ridge Olde Thyme Herb Fair & Harvest Celebration.

(937) 544-8252

10 Hike for Health, Buzzardroost Rock Trail at Edge of Appalachia Preserve. Registration at 8 a.m., hike at 9 a.m.

For Red Barn concert dates: redbarnconventioncenter.com For more Serpent Mound events: arcofappalchia.org For Adams County Arts Council events: adamsctyartscouncil.org

12th Annual Wheat Ridge Olde Thyme Herb Fair & Harvest Celebration Friday thru Sunday October 9th, 10th, 11th, 2020 10am - 5pm Enjoy the fall harvest along with 150+ artisans, craftspeople, antiques, fall harvest decorations, herbs and herbal products, locally produced and from-scratch foods, and shooting the pumpkin cannon.

Located in the heart of the Wheat Ridge Amish community.

817 Tater Ridge Road • West Union, Ohio • 45693 oldethyme_V1.indd 1 www.adamscountytravel.org

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For more information and booth rental, call Kim Erwin at 937-544-8252 or visit www.wheatridgeherbfestivals.com 2/13/20 GUIDE 10:01 AM7 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY

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ADAMS COUNTY VISITOR MAP AMISH BUSINESS 1 CCL Bicycle

27 Wilson’s Civil War Soldiers Monument

2 Keim Family Market 3 Miller’s Bakery & Furniture 4 Murphin Ridge Building Supplies 5 Raber’s Shoes & Saddlery

ANTIQUES 6 Barn Sale Antiques/Wheat Ridge Herb Festival 7 Peebles Flower Shop & Antiques

ATTRACTIONS 8 Adams County Fairgrounds 9 Brush Creek Motorsports Complex 10 Family Traditions Animal Adventures 11 House of Phacops 12 Old Page Schoolhouse 13 Red Barn Convention Center 14 Sunshine Store 15 The Quilt Barn DINING 16 Blake’s Pharmacy 17 Cruiser’s Diner 18 Olde Wayside Inn 19 The Greene Beanery 20 The Panhandler-BK Scoop HERITAGE 21 Adams County Genealogical & Historical Society 22 Buckeye Station 23 Gov. Thomas Kirker Home & Bicentennial Barn 24 Harshaville Covered Bridge 25 Kirker Covered Bridge 26 Treber’s Inn & Zane’s Trace Monument

HISTORIC MARKERS 28 Bradford Tavern 29 Cairn of Peace 30 First Settlement of Virginia Military District 31 Massie Station 32 Old Mineral Springs Resort 33 Serpent Mound State Memorial 34 Underground Railroad 35 Wickerham Inn 36 Lafferty Memorial Funeral & Carriage Collection 37 Morgan’s Raiders LODGING 38 Amish House 39 Behm Mountain Cabin 40 Brush Creek Retreat 41 Budget Host Inn 42 Cavehill Cabin 43 Comfort Inn 4 4 Country Nights Inn 45 Cozy Hideway 46 Crosset Cottage 47 Deer Path Cabin 4 8 Hawk’s View Cabins 49 Hope Springs Institute 50 Hopewell Croft Cabin 51 John T. Wilson Homestead 52 Manchester Motel 53 McIntosh Cabin 54 Mound View Farms 55 Murphin Ridge Inn 56 Ohio Star Retreat Center 57 River Barn Village 58 River Haven B&B 59 Scenic View Cottage 60 The Red Barn Cabin 61 The Sanctuary

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62 The Ville Guest House & Cabin 63 Unity Farmhouse 64 Unity Woods Cabins 65 Valerie’s House B&B NATURAL AREAS & PRESERVES 66 Adams Lake State Nature Preserve 67 Chalet Nivale Preserve 68 Chaparral Prairie Nature Preserve 69 Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve 70 Edge of Appalachia Preserve 71 Johnson Ridge State Nature Preserve 72 Plum Run Prairie 73 Shoemaker State Nature Preserve 74 The Wilderness 75 Whipple State Nature Preserve RECREATION/OUTDOORS/ CAMPING 76 Brush Creek Boat Ramp & Campground 77 Cedar Trails Retreat 78 Island Creek Marina & Campground 79 Mineral Springs Lake Resort 80 Sandy Springs Campground VISITOR INFORMATION 81 Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau For more information, please contact the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau (877) 232-6764 www.adamscountytravel.org info@adamscountytravel.org

www.adamscountytravel.org

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QUILT BARNS Local idea became an international tourism model

By Tom Cross Director of Adams County Tourism

Allen Miller Construction workers attach the Windmill quilt, which was painted by Neil Miller, to a barn on Beasley Fork Road. It was one of the quilt squares restored two years ago.

T

he bare canvas of an old barn proved to be fertile ground for the imaginative mind of Donna Sue Groves.

In searching for a way to honor her mother, Maxine Groves, who is an accomplished quilter, Donna Sue sparked a nationwide tourism phenomenon.

The artful display of colorful quilt barn murals that started with an idea and a barn in rural Adams County has spread coast to coast and into Canada.

The program began with 21 Adams County barns and seed money from the Ohio Arts Council and The Nature Conservancy. That historic fi rst quilt square, the Ohio Star, dedicated in 2001, is located at Lewis Mountain, south of West Union on State Route 247. The quilt barn program in Adams County ended two years later with the final quilt square, Hovering Hawks, in Peebles.

But that was just the beginning of what was to follow, as 44 states, three

Canadian provinces and countless communities t u r ned Don na Sue’s vision into dedicated quilt trails spanning the nation—all pulled together by enthusiastic community leaders and volunteers united behind one idea.

In Adams County, like the rest of the country, countless quilt squares have found their way to barns ever since. Local admirers have taken it upon themselves to add quilts to their own barns, sheds, garages and fences. By some estimates, more than 50 quilt squares adorn barns and buildings in the rural countryside of Adams County. Sometimes they have to be searched for, but fi nding them is half the fun.

The red barn symbol on the map

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Friendship Star

within this guide denotes all known quilt barns in Adams County.

For maps and information about Adams County’s “Clothesline of Quilts,” contact the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau at (877) 232-6764, or visit us at adamscountytravel.org ■ www.adamscountytravel.org

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Adams County quilt squares age over time, and some replacements are necessary. While many people would like to keep the original artwork, the elements of the seasons wear on the quilts and the structures on which they are painted. The Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau has replaced three quilt squares, and The Nature Conservancy has replaced one. Pictured are the Hourglass (top) and, from the left above, Old Maid’s Puzzle, Windmill and Brown Goose. Other quilt barn owners have repainted their quilt squares as needed.

Brochures available Updated Adams County Quilt Barn Trail brochures are available from the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau. The new brochures have all of the current locations and a map of all 20 quilt barns in the “Clothesline of Quilts” driving tour.

To request one, call (937) 544-5639, or email info@adamscountytravel.org.

www.adamscountytravel.org

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WHEAT RIDGE FESTIVAL

Celebrating the harvest — and more

By Austin Rust

T

he 12th annual Wheat Ridge Old Thyme Herb Fair & Harvest Festival will occur in October on the Grindstone Farm, owned by Brad, Herb and Kim Erwin.

The event is well-known in the county and elsewhere for its huge variety of pumpkins, squash, gourds and mums on display and for sale, its pumpkin cannon and its many vendors who sell fresh herbs, quilts, handmade crafts and made-from-scratch foods.

Located in scenic Amish country, and accessible by either State Route 32 or Wheat Ridge Road, home to Miller’s Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods, the Erwins’ farm draws both local visitors and tourists traveling from other parts of Ohio or Kentucky. An antiques shop is open on the farm year-round and is known for its large and high-quality selections. During the Old Thyme Herb Fair & Harvest Festival, the vendors come each year, selling to hundreds of visitors.

“Th is will be our 12th year,” Kim Erwin says. “It’s just myself, my husband and my son. We always keep it on the second week of October. I work on it all year, because I go to other craft fairs, art shows and festivals to recruit vendors. I go to Kettering, to Columbus, to Lexington.”

New vendors at the Old Thyme Herb Fair & Harvest Festival this year will sell antiques, old jewelry repurposed into new, herbal blends and spices for cooking, hand-blown glass pumpkins and Christmas ornaments, sewn items, quilts, soy candles, fabrics and yarn, and cedar crafts.

“As far as vendors, I try to keep it to where we have a diversity of things, because a lot of people like to come and shop,” Erwin explains. “They see that what we have here is unique. It’s not like going to another craft show or antiques show, or anything like that. I think that’s what draws people in—just coming out to a working farm. And it’s a different type of festival than what they see in and around Cincinnati, that’s

Top: Among the activities, craftsman Mark Hanke demonstrates how he makes his wares. Left: Pumpkins galore are on display and for sale. Above: Brad Erwin fires the pumpkin cannon, a popular attraction.

what I’ve noticed.”

Erwin adds: “The food is different.

It’s mostly all from scratch. There’s no processed food—that was one of my rules from the beginning. It’s not hot dogs or corn dogs. We try to keep away from greasy food. It’s not low-calorie, by any means, when you get to all of the pastries, desserts, ice cream, things like that, but it’s good. You have to splurge every once in a while.”

Food at the festival this year will include a grilled-chicken dinner with sides, cooked by members of the Wheat Ridge Amish School, soft-dough pret-

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zels, fried pies, cream horns, apples and apple cider, ice cream, kettle corn, tomato basil soup, fresh lemonade and much more. A chef at the festival will be making a Sunday dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes and sides.

Erwin says the Old Thyme Herb Fair & Harvest Festival was inspired by a similar herb fair at Lewis Mountain near Manchester, where the Erwins were vendors. When the woman who organized that festival retired, Kim and Herb Erwin continued the tradition with a new herb fair and harvest festival at their farm on Tater Ridge Road in the www.adamscountytravel.org

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heart of Adams County Amish country.

“I’ve changed some things,” Kim Erwin explains. “I have different entertainment. I have different vendors.

There are a few left from the original herb fair, but like the rest of us, a lot of them have aged and retired, or they’ve moved, gone into different endeavors.

“The whole purpose of the festival was anything garden-related, herbal products, plants and nice, hand-done crafts.

We just kind of build around that. I’ve added probably more antiques dealers than were out there, and we have added

our pumpkin cannon.”

The cannon, powered by air pressure, is loaded with a small pumpkin or gourd.

The projectile leaves the cannon at more than 100 mph and travels almost a mile.

With supervision, visitors will be allowed to pick out a pumpkin, squash or gourd of their choice to fire into a nearby field.

As visitors arrive, they might be greeted by two friendly faces over the first fence. Curly and Moe, two longhorn cattle, are new to the farm this year.

Bought in late last winter last year, Erwin says, the two are young, gentle and very

curious. They share their enclosure with a small donkey.

“We’re a lways hopi ng for good weather,” Erwin says. “But we’re always at the mercy of the elements as with any outdoor festival. We’ve been pretty lucky so far. I think maybe only two years out of 10 did we have a day where it wasn’t the best weather, but it didn’t keep people away. And because everyone’s under a tent, that helps, too.”

Au st in Ru st is a reporter for T he People’s Defender in West Union, Ohio. ■

If you go The 12th Wheat Ridge Old Thyme Herb Fair & Harvest Festival will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 9, ending at 5 p.m., and continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11.

To pick out a pumpkin, shoot the pumpkin cannon, eat freshly made food and check out arts, crafts and antiques, visit the Erwins’ farm at 817 Tater Ridge Road, just off Wheat Ridge Road.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Call: 1-800-823-9197 ext: 221 or visit: www.REDBARNCONVENTIONCENTER.com www.adamscountytravel.org

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HISTORY

Old stone quarries a part of county’s forgotten industry

By Tom Cross

P

erhaps one of the more unusual historical features in Adams County is located hidden among the steep hillsides of the southeastern part of the county, with its connection to Cincinnati.

Evidence of Ohio’s early industrial age is found in the remains of sandstone quarries that operated in Adams County from the 1830s through the 1900s. The remains of those old quarries are hidden among the steep hills in the Shawnee State Forest wilderness area off Lower Twin Creek Road in Vastine Run hollow. Faint trails of 150-year-old tram roads, once used to move giant blocks of rough-cut sandstone to the Ohio River, are still visible.

The giant blocks of sandstone were loaded onto barges and floated downstream to Cincinnati, where they were then cut into various sizes for construction. The blocks, some as large as 300

Ben Hamilton sits among quarried sandstone in the hills of Shawnee State Forest, evidence of a bygone Adams County industry.

cubic feet and weighing tons, were quarried from the layered sandstone formations found in the hills above the small Ohio River town of Buena Vista.

Thus, the layer of sandstone is aptly named Buena Vista Freestone Ledge and was used to supply Cincinnati with building stone during the 1800s. Cincinnati’s Roebling Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1867, was built with stone quarried from Adams County.

Leftover quarry stones are plainly visible along the old tram roads, which can be followed uphill to the main area of the operations. Huge sandstone blocks, some as large as eight feet by four feet, are still stacked, ready for transportation to Cincinnati. Many still show visible drill holes that were used to split the giant blocks with steam-powered tools and drills of that era.

“It’s as if it was a beehive of activity that suddenly stopped,” Ben Hamilton,

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former Shawnee State Forest supervisor of the historic quarry, says.

Located on a ledge among the giant sandstone blocks is a large circular well that was once used as a water supply for the antique steam engines that provided power to the mountainside quarries and trams that moved the stone to barges waiting on the river. Today, the wells, most still holding water, serve as remote watering holes for wildlife.

Vastine Run is identified on a Shawnee State Forest map and lies near the border of Scioto County. The old tram roads are not marked and must be searched for, but can be found on the south side of the Vastine Run Creek.

The hike to the old quarry on the old tram road is more than a mile one way, most of it uphill.

Tom Cross is tourism director of Adams County Tourism and a local history buff. ■ www.adamscountytravel.org

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Adams County museums, historical societies & heritage trails Adams County Heritage Center, State Route 247, 507 N. Cherry St., West Union. Noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. (937) 544-8522 Adams County Historical Society & Adams County Genealogical Society, Adams County Heritage Center, West Union. (937) 544-8522 House of Phacops, 29894 State Route 41, Locust Grove. (937) 205-3810 John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail, from Winchester through Locust Grove, a 32-mile self-guided driving tour retracing Morgan’s 1863 raid across Adams County. Interpretive signs at Winchester and Locust Grove explain the historical events of that time.

Lafferty Memorial Funeral & Carriage Collection,, 205 S. Cherry St., West Union. Museum open by appointment; please call ahead for museum hours. (937) 544-2121 Page One Room School House, at the intersection of Page School and Vaughn Ridge Road, West Union. Check events calendar.

Closed during winter. (937) 587-2043 Great Serpent Mound Museum & Gift Shop, 3850 State Route 73, Peebles. Closed January-February. Open weekends in March. Open daily April through October. Open weekends November through Dec. 19. (800) 752-2757

Above: West Union’s first post office was established in 1805, two years after the village was laid out. Left: A marker highlights Zane’s Trace, Ohio’s first highway and mail route, and Treber Inn.

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NATURE

Amish Bird Symposium

By Celeste Baumgartner

B

ird watchers love Ohio, but with the Christmas bird counts over and warbler watching months away, birders get restless in the winter months.

There’s a solution: the Adams County Amish Bird Symposium, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 7. Now in its 17th year, it’s an annual birding celebration for beginners and experts.

Come in out of the cold. Start the morning with fresh coffee and donuts from Miller’s Baker y. See birding friends, hear world-class speakers.

Shop vendor booths for binoculars, books, birdhouses and bird and nature art of every kind. See the live birds of prey brought in by the Regional Association for the Protection and Treatment of Raptors (RAPTOR) Inc. Enjoy a delicious Amish lunch. End the day with an Adams Lake State Park field trip to look for ducks and waterfowl.

The bird symposium idea started in 2003 in the basement of an Amish home, and the fi rst symposium was hatched in February 2004.

“We thought it would be maybe 25 people; we were slammed,” Chris Bedel, Cincinnati Museum Center’s Edge of Appalachia Preserve director, says.

“We took on another place and fi lled that one. We had to keep upsizing to where we are today.”

Tom Cross, director of the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau, says the event can hold 300 people. “We have moved to the Wheat Ridge Amish Community Building, the largest facility around. We have to bring in generators because there is no electricity.”

Bedel says the event is popular because people of all kinds, everywhere, love birding.

“Birds are one of the more ‘in your face’ creatures that live amongst us,” he says.

“You see them every day, you can attract them, you can almost can get them to come land on the railing in front of you.”

Celeste Baumgartner is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Country Living Magazine and many others. ■

16 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Clockwise, from top: A mockingbird; Ann Geise, a wildlife artist at the Amish Bird Symposium; a crowd waiting for a symposium presentation.

www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 11:37 AM

2020 symposium speakers The speakers for the 2020 Adams County Amish Bird Symposium are: • Jim McCormac. Sparrows in Ohio. Often dismissed as “little brown birds,” sparrows, perhaps, do not receive their rightful due. Beautifully subtle and often understatedly ornate in plumage, sparrows as a rule are artful and melodic songsters. McCormac takes you on a visual journey through the magic of sparrows, with an emphasis on our common species and their history in Ohio. McCormac worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for 31 years as a botanist and later specialized in wildlife diversity projects. He has written or co-written six books, including “Birds of Ohio” and “Wild Ohio: The Best of Our Natural Heritage.”

• Bruce M. Beehler. North on the Wing—Travels with the Songbird Migration of Spring. In this illustrated lecture, Beehler, a naturalist and ornithologist, will recount his 100-day-long field trip following the spring migration of songbirds from southeastern Texas, up the Mississippi River and into the forests of northern Ontario—breeding ground of many North American wood warblers. Along the way, Beehler visits migratory bird field projects as well as scores of local, state and national parks and refuges critical for the preservation of the songbird migration phenomenon. Beehler, who has a doctorate degree, is a research associate in the Division of Birds at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.

• Amy and Carl Wilms. Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds: Coming to a Feeder Near You. The ruby-throated hummingbird attracts the interests of both birders and non-birders. The small front porch of their Indiana sanctuary residence, laden with more than a dozen feeders, has supported banding operations for hundreds of ruby-throated hummingbirds during the past several years. Additionally, the recapturing of those flying marvels provides insights into their migrant travels as

well as stimulating mysteries to be further investigated. The Wilmses have a combined tenure at Indiana Audubon Society’s Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary of 41-plus years.

• John Howard. The Nature of Adams County: The Best of Southern Ohio’s Natural History. Local naturalist Howard will present a phrenological tour starting with the ending of winter and stepping through the seasons, visiting many of our best natural areas and seeing some of the unique flora and fauna of our area, highlighting local birds.

Howard is a freelance naturalist, wildlife/nature photographer and avid conservationist who specializes in prairie ecology, butterflies and botany, and is adept in many other facets of the great outdoors.

A former board member of the Highland Nature Sanctuary, Howard and his wife, Tina, own and operate the Ohio Star Retreat Center in Adams County.

Chris Bedel, director of the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Edge of Appalachia Preserve, sums it all up: “I think the coolest thing about it is just to see so many people converge on little rural Adams County for a top-notch nature-based event. We have 300 people here that drive past the Amish and out to rural America to hear world-class speakers.”

The annual Adams County Amish Bird Symposium occurs the first Saturday in March. For information on the 2020 Amish Bird Symposium, go to adamscountytravel.org. Look for information on the 2021 bird symposium, to occur March 6, beginning in January.

Get away from it all at this two bedroom, two bath secluded cabin in the woods one hour east of Cincinnati in Adams County. Family owned and operated for over 100 years, the 266 acre farm is certified organic. This is the perfect cabin for a family vacation or weekend hunting retreat.

Hunting is not allowed on the farm, but the pond is available for fishing.

Built in 2009 and fully furnished, you will have all the comforts of home.

An inviting porch swing waits for you on the covered front porch.

For Rental information, call or go online: Steve & Amy Hedrick: 937-587-3489 www.moundviewfarms.com www.adamscountytravel.org

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Like us on ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 17

2/17/20 10:44 AM

Serpent Mound Adams County site is one of Ohio’s historic wonders

Serpent Mound 2020 events 1 p.m. May 3, June 14, July 5, July 20, Aug. 16, Aug. 22, Sept. 13, Oct. 18: Music at the Mound with Steve Free. Free is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning singer/songwriter and recording artist. Open-air concert is free with $8 parking fee.

By Beth Jenkins

T

he mystery of the Great Serpent Mound, in the northeastern region of Adams County, continues to not only mesmerize and inspire visitors from throughout the state, but also visitors from around the world.

The 1,348-foot earthen effigy mound was built by the ancient American Indian cultures of Ohio in the shape of a twisting snake. Frontier surveyors Ephraim Squire and Edwin Davis first documented the mound in the late 1840s.

While archaeological remains of both the Adena culture (800 B.C.-100 A.D.) and the Fort Ancient culture (1000-1650 A.D.) are found at the site, the age of the mound itself is unknown.

Its original purpose also remains a mystery, but modern visitors can enjoy feeling a connection to the past and uphold with reverence the physical and artistic accomplishments of the site’s ancient architects.

June 20: Summer Solstice at Serpent Mound. Listen to a presentation on Ohio’s rich American Indian legacies, enjoy a meal featuring hand-smoked meats and fresh vegetables, and take a guided tour around Serpent Mound.

One hour before sunset, experience an hour of quiet reflection as you watch the sun set over the head of the ancient Serpent effigy. Space is limited and registration is required: arcofappalachia.org/solstice Aug. 22: Archaeology Day at Serpent Mound. Join us for a day full of demonstrations, presentations, music and displays. Local artifact collectors will be on-site, displaying their collections. A professional archaeologist will be on hand to help identify the artifacts brought by visitors. Time-honored skill demonstrations, such as flint knapping and atlatl throwing, will be ongoing throughout the day. Information: arcofappalachia.org/archaeology-day

Visiting Ohio’s Serpent Mound is within a two-hour drive of both Cincinnati and Columbus. A half-mile-long, handicapped-accessible asphalt pathway leads visitors around the mound, which is centered on a promontory overlooking Ohio Brush Creek.

18 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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PHOTO BY JEFF WILSON

The Great Serpent Mound is located at 3850 State Route 73, Peebles. The site includes a picnic shelter, museum center and gift shop.

Beth Jenkins is history preservation manager for Great Serpent Mound. ■ www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 11:47 AM

Serpent Mound Information Parking Fee: $8/passenger car or $15 for annual pass; $4/motorcycle.

Hours Grounds : Open every day of the year from 9 a.m. to dusk, except during severe snow or ice conditions in winter.

Museum & Gift Shop: March – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.

April – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

May through October –10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday through Friday. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday.

November through Dec. 19 –10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.

For more information, call (800) 752-2757, or visit www.arcofappalachia.org.

A visit to Great Serpent Mound isn’t complete without strolling the grounds or checking out the museum.

www.adamscountytravel.org

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ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 19

2/14/20 11:48 AM

HIKING

New trail exposes beautiful — and almost secret — Cedar Falls PHOTO BY MARK GODFREY

By Tom Cross

C

edar Falls, a local and historic landmark, once was a thriving village where several grist, iron and saw mills operated during the early 1800s.

Most of the mills were powered by a small stream, aptly named Cedar Run, a tributary of Ohio Brush Creek.

The remains of the gristmill at the new trailhead to Cedar Falls were built in 1842. The tall, brick smokestack—still standing—was constructed in 1866, when the mill was converted to steam power. About 1½ miles upstream from that location was Cedar Falls.

Ohio has six streams named Cedar Run and another Cedar Falls, in Hocking County. Undoubtedly, the name was taken from eastern hemlock, northern white cedar or eastern red cedar, one or 20 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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A serene scene awaits visitors at Cedar Falls. www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 1:09 PM

Hiker’s Guide to Adams County Ohio

- 22 Nature Trails - 4 Fitness Trails - Plus Fold-Out Map of Nearby Shawnee State Park

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Adams PRODUCED BY A Patchwork of History and Nature.

Hiking Guide Available “Hiker’s Guide to Adams County Ohio,” with maps and information, covers all 22 public hiking trails and nearby Shawnee State Park.

Pick up one at the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau office in West Union or download a digital copy under the hiking icon at adamscountytravel.org.

A Cedar Mills historic marker stands near the Cedar Falls trailhead.

more of which was abundantly present along their respective banks.

In more recent histor y, the long scenic hike to Cedar Falls came via a small footpath from the intersection of State Route 348 and Cedar Mills Road that closely followed the north side of the stream. Above the falls, the stream levels out, following White Oak Road.

Because of its remoteness, Cedar Falls has been kept from the public view for probably 100 years—known only to locals who knew the path back to that special place. It has remained undeveloped, surrounded by deep forwww.adamscountytravel.org

hiking_AC_0220.indd 21

est and ingrained in local lore.

Cedar Run, the stream, is almost seven miles long, dropping 500 feet in its journey to Ohio Brush Creek. At its halfway point, it cascades almost 15 feet over an abrupt limestone ledge, thus forming the falls and a deep gorge that’s almost a mile long. It’s best viewed in spring, when wildflowers are present and there’s plenty of water. During dry summers, the waterfall slows to a trickle and is rather spectacular to view during a cold winter when the falls have frozen.

In 1989, The Nature Conservancy bought the Cedar Falls property from

Elbert, Denver, Howard and Clyde Freeman, sealing its protection as the Cedar Falls Preserve. In 2018, a decision was made to build a trail and open it to the public. The new trail, expected to open this spring, closely follows the old footpath that was used by generations of locals to see the falls.

Greeting hikers at the trailhead is a historic marker with a brief history of the iron and grist mills in the area during the early 19th century. A viewing platform stands at the historic smokestack. Information about the trail and the various flora and fauna found alongside can be found at the trailhead, and a parking area is located at the intersection of State Route 348 and Cedar Mills Road.

The trail is named the Helen C. Black Cedar Falls Trail, in honor of a longtime supporter of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve.

The preserve staff asks hikers to not venture off the trail to help maintain the preserve in its pristine form.

For up-to-date info on the opening of the trail, check the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau’s Facebook page. ■

ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 21

2/14/20 1:09 PM

HIKING

Buckeye Trail

adds 16 miles at the Edge

By Austin Rust

T

he Nature Conservancy and Buckeye Trail Association celebrated the opening of a 16-mile section of the 1,454-mile Buckeye Trail in September 2019 at the 20,000-acre Edge of Appalachia Preserve.

The new trail is a joint project between the conservancy and association, which

Gov. Mike DeWine and his family visit the Edge of Appalachia Preserve’s Buzzardroost Rock in August 2019.

built the trail and will maintain it. Both recently celebrated 60th anniversaries; The Nature Conservancy’s first land acquisition was in 1959 at Lynx Prairie in Adams County.

The new section of trail is in The

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Nature Conservancy’s Sunshine Corridor project, which aims to conserve a 6,000-acre corridor of land connecting the preserve to Shawnee State Forest to benefit the movement of wildlife and protect forests.

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“It’s a draw to Adams County,” Bill Stanley, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, says. “We found that around 10,000 people per year are visiting. There are people that love this area, and you can see why.”

Andrew Bashaw, executive director for the Buckeye Trail Association, adds: “I’m really proud of what our volunteers are capable of. It’s one thing to put a pack on your back and carry a shovel into the wilderness and dig a hiking trail out of the side of a hill. But it’s a special person who enjoys making a dirt path through the forest and creating adventures for generations to discover.”

With the trail addition, the Edge of Appalachia Preserve boasts almost 27 miles of hiking trails—including Buzzardroost Rock, the Wilderness Trail, Lynx Prairie, Joan Jones Portman Trail and the soon-to-be-open Cedar Falls trail. All are free and open to the public, drawing visitors to Adams County and promoting local tourism, which supports one in every 14 jobs in the county.

The now-completed 16-mile hiking

Ohio Department of Natural Resources Assistant Director Steve Gray paints a marker on the new section of Buckeye Trail.

trail to Shawnee State Forest begins (or ends) at the Portman trailhead at the Creek’s Bend picnic area on Waggoner Riffle Road, east of West Union.

Single-night primitive camping along the new trail is available by written permit for backpackers. To obtain permits, please contact The Nature Conservancy at (937) 544-2188 or ohio@tnc.org.

Trailhead sign at the beginning of Portman trail.

Austin Rust is a reporter for The People’s Defender newspaper in West Union. ■

Visit midwesterntraveler.com to plan your next getaway www.adamscountytravel.org

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ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 23

2/14/20 1:29 PM

Miller’s Furniture

CO

Come To Wheat Ridge Where The Pace Is A Little Slower

Solid Oak & Cherry Tables & Chairs Hutches & Dry Sinks Bread Box Hutches & Pie Safes Folding Fireside Tables High Chairs & Bar Stools Curio Cabinets Computer Desks Bedroom Suites & Matresses Entertainment Centers Gun Cabinets

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Deacon Benches Rocking Chairs Cedar, Walnut, Oak & Cherry Chests Clocks Quilts Bells Gliders & Swings Picnic Tables Rose Arbors & Trellises Lighthouses Lightouses Gazebos

960 Wheat Ridge Road West

Miller’s Bulk Foods

Amish Homeade Quality Holmes County Cheese Trail Bologna Country Hams Summer Sausage Butter, Honey, Jams & Jellies Noodles Amish Books & Cookbooks Eggs & Milk Bacon Cheese Dips Bulk Baking Supplies Minnetonka Moccasins Home Made Candies

Discount Grocery Take Home a Big Bag of Savings Canned & Packaged Foods Health & Beauty Aids Paper Products Cleaners General Merchandise

Hours: Monday - Saturday 9 to 5 For more updated information, Millers_RDP.indd 20

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Miller’s Bakery & Gifts

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Six Kinds of Bread Eight Assorted Fruit Pies Custard & Nut Pies Cinnamon Rolls & Bars Cookies Fresh Glazed Donuts (Saturday Only) Zucchini Nut Breads & Bars Blackberry, Apple & Cherry Turnovers Cream Horns Italian Cream Cakes Sugar Free Items Yankee Candles Wind Chimes Quality Gifts

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2/7/2020 AM 2/12/208:19:40 10:06 AM

OUTDOORS Cruise down scenic Ohio Brush Creek, with a stop for bass, saugers and more

By Tom Cross

R

unning through the heart of Ad a m s C ou nt y i s a beauty of a stream named Ohio Brush Creek.

It’s not to be confused with its more easterly neighbor, Scioto Brush Creek, which for the most part is contained within Scioto County. Similar names but completely different streams.

Fishing the Swirl Hole.

• Metal Roofing and Siding • Post Building Packages • Lumber • Trusses • Doors • Windows

67 Murphin Ridge Road, West Union, OH 45693

937-544-8010 Fax: 937-544-0324

937-544-0324 www.adamscountytravel.org

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ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 27

2/14/20 11:45 AM

Ohio Brush begins in earnest in southern Highland County. By the time it reaches Great Serpent Mound, it has be-

Early-spring bass from Ohio Brush Creek.

come a viable floating and fishing stream.

A newly improved canoe access at the State Route 73 bridge allows anglers a place to launch, wade and fish.

Smallmouth bass, a variety of sunfish, rock bass and a few channel catfish are what fishermen and fisherwomen will fi nd in this stretch. You also might want to visit Serpent Mound if you haven’t seen it before, as the stream flows by its doorstep.

Floating downstream from Serpent Mound is a 15-mile float trip to the next public access at the State Route 41 bridge known as the Jacktown access.

Although that access is not fully developed, it does offer parking and a place to take out.

The next stretch is perhaps its most scenic, with the best fishing. The 10-mile float from Jacktown to the State Route 348 Twin Bridges canoe access is remote and takes you past the well-known Swirl Hole and Lafferty Bottoms. Because of its remoteness, fishing pressure is light, which results in

28 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Top: Fishing on Ohio Brush Creek Above: Sauger from Ohio Brush Creek.

some good smallmouth fishing with a chance at some 15- to 18-inch smallies.

Rock bass and sunfish are also plentiful in sections of the stream.

From the Twin Bridges access awaits a three-mile float to the State Route 125 bridge access. Th is is a nice afternoon float with quality fi shing all along its course. From there, a few f lathead catfi sh start showing up, with saugers in the spring and some white bass, although it’s still home to some hefty smallmouth.

The three-mile float from State Route 125 to The Nature Conservancy’s Creek’s Bend canoe launch on Waggoner Riffle Road is another afternoon float that takes you past the Edge of Appalachia Preserve and a very noisy heron rookery. Bald eagles frequent the stretch, and seeing www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 11:45 AM

Brush Creek guide Twin Bridges access point at State Route 348.

one is not a rarity anymore. This has the biggest variety of fish, as smallmouth start giving way to more spotted and largemouth bass. In late April, the creek is full of spawning white bass from the Ohio River. Nice “Fish Ohio”-size saugers are fairly common catches, too. “Fish Ohio” is a state recognition program for anglers.

From Creek’s Bend, it’s about six miles to the Ohio River and the Brush Creek

boat ramp on U.S. 52. Just beyond the mouth of Brush Creek is Brush Creek Island on the Ohio River—a nice place to set up camp and rest after you’ve completed 36 miles of canoeing and fishing on Ohio Brush Creek.

Tom Cross is director of the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau and author of Fishing Ohio Ohio.■

A new online “Paddlers Guide to Ohio Brush Creek” is out. Produced

by Elijah Wickerham for an Eagle Scout project, paddlers can find accurate and useful information.

Canoeists can download and print the handy reference guide to floating Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County.

The guide includes information and maps on all accesses on Ohio Brush Creek. adamssoilandwater.org (scan the code on the homepage)

Hunting and fishing info Public Hunting Areas Tranquility Wildlife Area Shawnee State Forest Brush Creek State Forest The Edge of Appalachia Preserve (by permit only) Local Outfitters Crawford Farms, crawfordfarmshunting.com Real McCoy Outdoors, realmccoyoutdoors.com Riverhills Whitetail, riverhillswhitetail.com Ohio Premier Trophy Outfitters, ohpto.com Public Fishing Areas Ohio River Ohio Brush Creek Adams Lake Winchester Lake Tranquility Wildlife Area ponds

Tucker Schmitz shows his eight-pointer in early November 2019.

State Route 348 bridge over Ohio Brush Creek east of West Union Edge of Appalachia Creek’s Bend access on Waggoner Riffle Road Ohio River Boat Ramps & Campgrounds Brush Creek Boat Ramp & Campground: Nine miles east of Manchester on U.S. 52. Fee charged for launching and camping. (937) 205-7732

Public boat ramps and canoe launches are marked on the map within this guide.

Island Creek Marina & Campground: One mile east of Manchester on U.S. 52. Fee charged for launching and camping. (937) 549-1430

Ohio Brush Creek Canoe Access State Route 73 bridge over Ohio Brush Creek at Serpent Mound State Route 125 bridge over Ohio Brush Creek east of West Union

Sandy Springs Campgrounds & Small Boat Launch: One mile east of Sandy Springs on U.S. 52. Fee charged for launching and camping. (701) 640-7858, sandyspringscampground.com

www.adamscountytravel.org

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ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 29

2/14/20 11:46 AM

AMISH

An Amish man rakes hay from the fields.

High-quality furniture, tasty foods keep visitors coming back for more

By Amanda Gilmore

L

ife seems a little slower in this part of Adams County. You might say it moves at a buggy’s pace.

Forty years ago, a few Amish families from Indiana decided that the Wheat Ridge area, near West Union, would be a good place to relocate and put down new roots. What began as a farming community of seven families in 1976 has grown to about 100 Amish households whose members operate a variety of

commercial and industrial businesses serving the entire region. The Wheat Ridge area also has become the county’s biggest tourism draw.

“It’s our No. 1 tourist attraction. Second is the Great Serpent Mound,” Tom Cross, director of the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau, says. “Most people come to purchase Amish furniture and baked goods. They come to relax, maybe get a cabin, go hiking.”

Cross thinks that people are attracted to the slower pace of life among the

30 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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The deli at Keim Family Market.

Amish and, of course, to the quality craftsmanship that they put into everything from doghouses to donuts. “The Amish are very hardworking,” Cross says, “and they are pretty ingenious.

They don’t have electricity. They either use solar power or batteries.”

Like most Amish settlements, there are more English families in the Wheat Ridge community than Amish, “but you won’t see any electricity lines running www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 11:35 AM

Hitching up a team of horses.

to the Amish homes or businesses,” Cross says.

What you will see are some of the most beautiful homes and farms, with freshly washed clothes swaying on the line in the afternoon breeze, and perfectly manicured family gardens.

Traveling to Wheat Ridge involves driving on some narrow, uphill roads (and perhaps a covered bridge if arriving from the west), while looking out for the frequent horse-drawn buggies and bike-riding Amish children.

The Miller family’s trio of businesses is often a first stop for visitors. In one locale, they can find handcrafted Amish furniture, an Amish bakery and gift shop, and a grocery store with a large bulk food section and a deli. This writer can highly recommend the huge soft pretzels from the bakery, served with rosemary dipping sauce, and the homemade broccoli salad served in the deli.

At Miller’s Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods, owner Daniel Miller talks about how his parents, Harry and Lydia, started the business in response to frequent requests from bakery customers for hickory rocking chairs. “Ninety-five percent of the furniture we sell is made in Ohio, most of it by Amish here or in Holmes County,” another prominent Ohio Amish community.

The Millers were among the first settlers on Wheat Ridge in 1976. They opened the bakery a year later. Today, Daniel’s brother Larry owns the bakery, while brother Harry Jr. operates the grocery.

Their dad passed away, but Lydia still helps out, dusting furniture mostly. www.adamscountytravel.org

amish_AC_0220.indd 31

Daniel’s three children—Danny, Esther and Joseph—all help at the store.

The business offers furniture for every room of the home and plenty for the outside as well. Each unique piece is a potential family heirloom. One Cincinnati woman shopping there recently said the entertainment center she bought at Miller’s years ago is the prettiest and sturdiest piece of furniture in her home.

“We have customers from all over,” Daniel says. “We get a lot of lookers, but many of them turn into buyers. I think

people are looking for quality. They know what they get here will be with them a long time.”

A few miles away, near the town of Seaman, is another popular tourist draw: Keim Family Market. Founder Roy Keim started peddling his wares more than 30 years ago by pulling a buggy under a shade tree on the newly completed State Route 32 and selling homemade bread and bakery products that his wife and daughters had made the night before. Today, the market still sells freshly baked Amish pies, breads, cakes and pastries, but also offers cold cuts, cheese, candy, nuts, jams and pickles. There’s also a full line of indoor and outdoor furniture, as well as playhouses and playsets.

A scattering of other businesses throughout the area caters to both tourists and locals. At Murphin Ridge Building Supplies, a steady stream of customers stop to make hardware and lumber purchases and seek advice on their next do-it-yourself project. And who better to ask than the ones who do it themselves all the time, and so well?

Repr int e d with p e r mi s sion f rom Portsmouth Metro Magazine. Amanda Gilmore is a freelance writer from Portsmouth, Ohio. ■

Don’t forget to attend the….

Amish School Benefit Auction & Supper (Public invited to attend) May 1 & Sept. 25 Supper @ 4 p.m. (cost: donation) Auction @ 5 p.m.

Wheat Ridge Community Building 3735 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union Information: Ridgeway Lumber — (937) 544-7566

ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 31

2/14/20 11:35 AM

2020 Adams County Amish Business Directory The Adams County Wheat Ridge Amish community offers many shops and services—from furniture, dry goods and bakeries to builders and craftsmen. All Amish businesses are closed Sunday.

Allan Miller Construction 620 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-7831

Country Lane Fabrics 1720 Freeland Hollow Road, West Union (937) 544-7260

CCL Bicycle Shop 1195 Duff y Road, Peebles (937) 386-3368

Duffy Road Wood Products 380 Duff y Road, Peebles (937) 386-0086

Cedar Hill Machine 4830 Unity Road, West Union (937) 386-0068

Hillcrest Fencing 2260 Bailey Road, Peebles (937) 386-1461

Cedar Hill Pallet 4830 Unity Road, West Union (937) 544-9984

Hilltop Cabinet 1553 Tater Ridge Road, West Union (937) 387-1908

Country Cabins 2965 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-0898

Hochstetler Construction 1493 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-4624

Keim Family Market 2621 Burnt Cabin Road, Seaman (937) 386-9995 L&R Woodworking 1700 Tater Ridge Road, West Union (937) 798-9275 Mast Construction 1735 Freeland Hollow Road, West Union (937) 544-2323 Miller’s Bakery & Gifts 954 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-4520 Miller’s Bulk Foods 930 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-8449 Miller Carpentry 613 Clay Moore Road, West Union (937) 386-3266

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On the Adams County Quilt Barn Trail “Let us complete your unfinished quilt tops”

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Hours: WED.- FRI. 10AM-5PM | SAT. 10AM-4PM (or by appointment) Cemetery Road • Manchester, OHOH 45144 250250 Reed Cemetery Road • Manchester, 45144

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32 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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3232 Logans Lane • West Union, OH • M-F: 10-6 Sat: 10-4

(937) 544-5685 www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 11:36 AM

Miller’s Furniture 960 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-8524

Schmuckers Deer Processing 234 Duff y Road, Peebles (937) 386-0260

Wheat Ridge Barns 1587 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-6317

Miller’s Upholstery 5212 Unity Road, West Union (937) 386-0266

Schwartz’s Small Engine Repair 2535 Graces Run Road, Winchester (937) 386-1144

Wheat Ridge Fencing 4100 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-4162

Murphin Ridge Building Supplies 67 Murphin Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-8010

Shetler Solar 1989 State Route 137, Winchester (937) 386-3183

Wheat Ridge Pallet 55 Poole Road, West Union (937) 544-8457

Raber’s Shoes & Saddlery 1324 Duffey Road, Peebles (937) 386-9927

Stutzman Buggy Repair 1195 Duff y Road, Peebles (937) 386-3368

Wheat Ridge Sales 1493 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-4624

Ridgeway Lumber & Mulch 3735 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-7566

Unity Woodworks 2274 Unity Road, West Union (937) 544-8068

Schlabach Construction 1999 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union (937) 544-3964

Wagler’s Roofing & Construction 1827 Tater Ridge Road, West Union (937) 386-0330

For a hot cup of coffee or a refreshing lunch while traveling in Adams County stop at The Greene Beanery Coffee House and Roastery.

In addition to freshly roasted coffee the Greene Beanery menu also includes Espresso Beverages, Frappes and Smoothies as well as other hot and cold beverages. Fresh muffins, scones and cookies are offered, as well as cinnamon rolls on select days. Delicious lunch options are also available with a variety of sandwiches, sides and soups.

Try our selection of fresh, home-roasted coffee Hours of operation Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Closed Sunday.

• Ethiopian

• Chemical Free Colombian

• Guatemalan

• Sumatran Mandheling

• Timor

• Swiss Water Processed Decaf from various origins

greenebeanery.com • (937) 798-4023 • 25675 S. R. 41 • Peebles, OH www.adamscountytravel.org GB_V1.indd 1

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LODGING

Fossils plentiful in Riverhills of Adams County

By Darrell Baldwin

W

hen you think of early life in southern Ohio, what comes to mind?

Perhaps the 1800s, when small towns were popping up everywhere, and big inventions were beginning to change life as we knew it.

Or maybe a hundred years later, when world wars and the Great Depression consumed people’s lives.

In geological terms, those centuries are new. The first creatures that roamed southern Ohio can be traced to 500 million years ago. Most people cannot comprehend the thought of time that far back. On a timeline, human life is a mere speck.

What is now known as Ohio was much like the rest of the world, covered in a shallow sea full of amazing creatures.

Many of those bottom-dwelling organisms still have not been discovered. Millions of years later, thousands of people seek to fi nd those marine animals that once thrived and are now extinct.

Riverhills Fossils & Vacation Rentals offers a unique opportunity to fi nd the remains of those creatures, whose bodies are set now in stone as highly prized, collectible fossils.

Trilobites, or marine arachnomorph arthropods, are highly sought after by collectors and museums, and can be collected on the Riverhills property.

Many types of coral are readily found, and the stream banks are littered with stick-like bryozoa and brachiopod “clam shells.” Many types of gastropod snails, cephalopods and crinoid “sea lilies” can be collected as well.

Above: Fossils can be found embedded in stone. Right: Remains of small trilobites.

Riverhills Fossils & Vacation Rentals offers modern lodging in fully equipped cabins and unparalleled fossil

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Above: Silurian period fossils. Left: Cody Baldwin enjoys a rewarding day of collecting.

hunting. The abundance of Ordoviciantime-period fossils from the area known as the Cincinnati Arch means that everyone can easily find unique treasures.

Being family oriented, Riverhills is a great place to bring children.

Fossil collecting is becoming more popular every year, as many websites are dedicated to amateur fossil hunters

and help identify fossils.

Darrell Baldwin is an avid fossil collector.

Find Riverhills Fossils & Vacation Rentals on Facebook, or email riverhills_whitetail@yahoo.com for more information. â–

adaMs County, ohio

OHIO STAR RETREAT CENTER LLC

A Quilt Retreat Experience in a Country Setting.

937-217-9248 232 Old Cincinnati Pike West Union, OH 45693 The place for starry nights, delicious dinners, warm fires, and gracious hospitality.

ohiostarrc@gmail.com

Call 877-687-7446 or visit online at www.murphinridgeinn.com

Ohio Star Retreat Center

Make your MoMents MeMorable on the ridge.

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Friends of Serpent Mound offers Summer Solstice experience

By Delsey Wilson

F

or thousands of years, humans— from the Paleolithic era to modern man—have inhabited the hills and plateaus around the Great Serpent Mound.

Was it because of a huge crater that it sits in? Was it because, during the last Ice Age, that this area was some of the last remaining untouched land where the towering wall of ice could still be seen to the north?

We will never know why this was the place indigenous peoples decided to build a snake-shaped effigy mound, but evidence shows that every group of prehistoric Ohio people revered it.

Evidence also shows that throughout time, at least some of those different Ohio people groups also repaired or altered it, showing that with each gen-

eration or culture, its meaning or purpose never remained the same.

In 2009, the Friends of Serpent Mound

Dozens of vendors are on-site for the Summer Solstice Celebration.

FAMI LY, FRIENDS & FU N

CABINS • CAMPING • RECREATION 50 Bell Hollow Rd • Latham, OH 45646

www.longsretreat.com

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Left: A vendor displays his wares outside a tepee. Above: The celebration includes an interesting shopping opportunity.

started a one-day Summer Solstice Celebration to attract the public to the park and learn about some of the multitude of theories about Serpent Mound and to experience for themselves the Summer Solstice sunset alignment incorporated within the design of the effigy.

It was such a huge success that the

following year, it became a two-day event. Now, it is a full weekend festival. Each day is full of lectures, hikes and workshops. Topics range from nature to summer family fun, local history and archaeology to the metaphysical, and from spiritual to strange experiences.

Friends of Serpent Mound is family-

friendly and tries to expand the public’s experiences each year. Come out and enjoy about 60 vendors for some eclectic shopping.

To learn more about the Summer Solstice Celebration’s full schedule of speakers and activities, or for more on other events, go to serpentmound. org, visit Friends of Serpent Mound on Facebook, or call (937) 205-0094.

Delsey Wilson is the executive director of Friends of Serpent Mound ■

Est. 2015

AND

Corn Maze

1365 Coon Hill Road • Winchester, OH 45697 • (513) 515-0084 • (937) 623-0064 Maze Opens Sept 12th

YOUR BEST

Educational Tours, Birthday Parties, Groups

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U Pick Sunflower Patch

The Farmer’s Wife & Garden Barn

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937-544-2331 or 800-442-7790 www.barryschevroletbuick.com

OPEN ALL YEAR! Perennials, Annuals, Mulch, Garden Supplies Farmhouse Home Decor & Furniture Like Us On ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 37

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MURPHIN RIDGE

Want to get away? Inn provides relaxation, home-cooked meals

By Amanda Gilmore

T

here’s a variet y of reasons to visit Murphin Ridge Inn. A relaxing, romantic getaway?

Check. A hiker’s paradise?

Check. A family trip, complete with shopping at a nearby Amish community?

Check.

Oh, and let’s not forget the food. Many people visit the inn simply to enjoy the delicious dishes prepared by the resident chef. If they can get a reservation, that is.

The cozy, rustic retreat sits on 140 acres at the end of a country lane. It’s located a stone’s throw from the Wheat Ridge Amish community, which means bread made by the Amish and produce grow n in their fields regularly appear on the dining tables.

They keep everything as fresh and local as possible.

The inn, built in 1990, sits atop the Murphin Ridge bluff in the center of Adams County. There have been three sets of owners – each adding their own improvements and special touches. The current owners, Jerry and Paula Schutt, bought the inn in 2013, five years after visiting it for the fi rst time on their 25th wedding anniversary. At the time, the Schutts owned four farms, all of which they sold to try their hand as innkeepers. They had also owned a restaurant in Darke County, on Ohio’s western border with Indiana, so the food-prep part comes naturally for them.

The inn’s dinner menu includes a rotation of entrees such as steak, pasta and Jerry’s “famous broasted chicken.”

On Fridays, Jerry makes pizza in the outdoor oven he built, and on Saturdays, he cooks ribs in the outdoor smoker, also made by him. Soups, salads, sides and

desserts change daily and feature local, seasonal ingredients.

If the on-site gardens yield too much produce for immediate use, then it is simply saved for fa l l a nd winter meals. One of the cooks recalls canning 80 quarts of green beans one year.

Some of the Murphin Ridge Inn guests like to spend time in the kitchen, learning how all the food they’re enjoying is prepared. Everyone is encouraged to stop in the Murphin kitchen and say hello – but be prepared to peel a potato or two.

A bountiful breakfast is offered to all overnight guests and features homemade granola, Foggy Bottom pancakes, cream biscuits with sausage gravy and freshly

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The historic Murphin Ridge Inn offers many relaxing places on its grounds, including an outdoor patio.

squeezed orange juice. Guests can order boxed lunches to take with them as they explore the region or just to enjoy on the deck of their cabin or guest room. www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 12:50 PM

by David T. Smith, a noted builder of Shaker and early-American reproduction furniture. Most rooms in the inn have their own fi replaces. All the cabins feature a two-person whirlpool tub. And since none of the rooms has a television set (there’s one in the lobby) and cell service is a bit spotty, it’s an ideal spot to get away from the busyness of daily life.

If the delicious food and comfy rooms aren’t enough, there are many other ways to relax at Murphin Ridge Inn. A large pool overlooks the rolling farmland. The inn also has tennis courts, croquet, horseshoes and shuffleboard, as well as an outdoor fire pit surrounded by comfy Adirondack chairs. It’s a great spot to digest the wonderful food and visit with the owners and other guests.

The inn’s owners and staff members take pride in personalizing each guest’s experience. A variety of special add-ons is offered, including massages, wine, candy and luxurious Murphin Inn robes you can take home. There’s even a special package for pregnant women

The historic Murphin Ridge Inn’s relaxing outdoor patio.

The inn’s simple yet elegant accommodations are a reflection of its

natural surroundings. The rooms and cabins have custom-made furnishings

“Name Brand Home Furnishings Since 1928”

MOSIER Furniture & Appliance West Union, OH

937-544-2711 800-300-2711 Store Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Closed Sunday’s Credit Cards Accepted

217 North West Street West Union, OH www.mosierfurniture.com

www.adamscountytravel.org

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that includes Amish pickles made from cucumbers from the inn’s garden and a Murphin Ridge baby bib.

The inn has six guest rooms, and there are nine cabins on the property.

A newer Amish House, with five guest rooms, is on Wheat Ridge Road. Look for specials and events on the Murphin Ridge Inn Facebook page.

Murphin Ridge Inn grows some of its own food to serve to guests.

Reprinted with permission from Portsmouth Metro Magazine. Amanda Gilmore is a freelance writer from Portsmouth, Ohio. ■

If you go Murphin Ridge Inn, 750 Murphin Ridge Road, West Union (make sure to access the inn from Wheat Ridge Road, off State Route 41 or State Route 247 at Graces Run Road and through the covered bridge—don’t be fooled by your GPS into taking Billy Goat Hill, unless you are looking for an adventurous drive.) Call (937) 5442263 or (877) 687-7446, or visit murphinridgeinn.com.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE OUTDOORS STORE HOURS

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110 Branscome Rd. • Peebles, OH 45660 1.5 miles west of St. Rt. 41 & 32 DAILEYSOUTFITTERS@YAHOO.COM 40 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE daileys_V1.indd 1 MurphinRidgeInn_AC_0220.indd 40

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Enjoy a day with animals at Family Traditions petting zoo

By Ryen Shively

F

amily Traditions Animal Adventure, nestled in the heart of Adams County Amish country, is an 80-acre farm that has been in the same family for more than 50 years.

Owner and operator Ryen Shiveley has had a passion for animals and education. As an educator, Shively wanted to combine his two loves and offer a unique opportunity for Adams County.

In 2018, Family Traditions, located off Wheat Ridge Road at 240 Poole Road, was granted an exhibitors license for a private zoo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It opened a small petting zoo in September that year and has been expanding ever since. The farm adventure allows guests of all ages to experience interactive exhibits with animals from around the world.

Family Traditions Animal Adventures is currently home to more than 35 species of animals, including camel, ring-tailed lemur, kangaroo, porcupine, goats, pigs and many others. Guests can experience a walk-in aviary and handfeed more than 100 parakeets.

Family Traditions offers overnight family campouts and has an indoor Discovery Center that hosts events such as birthday parties, painting classes, baby/bridal showers and family reunions. Youth day camps provide a one-week look into the life of a zoo, with opportunities including hands-on animal experiences, food prep and care for animals, hiking, crafts, games and educational guest speakers. Each day, campers learn about different species, adaptations, habitats and more.

Family Traditions Animal Adventure is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays in April and May. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays in June through August. Fall hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays in September and October. Special events occur throughout the year. For more information, find Family Traditions Animal Adventure on Facebook. www.adamscountytravel.org

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Ryen Shively is an art teacher at North Adams Elementary School and is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. â–

Clockwise, from top: Dewey the kangaroo; Ash the porcupine; and Kaylee Shively with Lincoln the lemur.

ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 41

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LODGING BED & BREAKFAST Murphin Ridge Inn, Cabins, Amish House & Crosset Cottage Located in the Amish community of Adams County, this historic landmark offers 10 rooms plus nine cabins. Additional lodging at the Amish House.

750 Murphin Ridge Road, West Union.

(937) 544-2263, (877) 687-7446, murphinridgeinn.com RiverHaven B&B Beautiful B&B on the riverfront offering six spacious rooms with private bath. 407 W. Front St., Manchester. (937) 549-1999,ohioriverhaven.com, email riverhaven45144@yahoo.com Valerie’s House B&B Built in 1883, this Victorian home is a historical landmark in Adams County.

Three elegant suites are available for the night or week, and for special occasions or meetings. 530 E. Mulberry St., West Union. (937) 779-3502 or (833) 303-7796, valerieshouse530.com

CABINS/COTTAGES/ RETREATS The Amish House The Amish House, on Wheat Ridge Road next to Miller’s Bakery & Furniture, features five guest rooms with private baths, furnished living room, full kitchen and a front porch to enjoy the rural community. 1246 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union. (937) 544-2263 or (877) 687-7446, www.murphinridgeinn.com

Behm Mountain Cabin R el a x i n g c a bi n i n t he w ilds of Adams Count y was reconstructed from t he ha nd-hew n logs of h istor ica l st r uct u res originally built more than 100 years ago. Pet friendly.

1561 Coon Hollow Road, Blue Creek. (937) 587-5144, behmmountaincabin.com Brush Creek Retreat Cabin with two bedrooms and full bath surrounded by more than 1,000 acres of nature preserve property. The back deck has a breathtaking view of Ohio Brush Creek. 4786 Spurgeon Hill Road, West Union. (937) 515-0406, brushcreekretreat.weebly.com, email brushcreekretreat@gmail.com

Cave Hill Cabin Offers all the amenities in a quiet wooded setting at the end of a private road, where wildlife abound. 778 Cave Hill Road, Winchester. (513) 580-8826, cavehillcabin.com Cozy Hideaway A vacation destination that is perfect for a rela x ing escape or romantic getaway. Newly renovated cabin for hunting or the adventure of a lifetime.

Pet friendly. 415 Cozy Lane, West Union.

(513) 315-3334, cozyhideaway.org Crosset Cottage A modern two-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage in the middle of beautiful Amish country situated on 142 acres of rolling woodland and farmland, with breathtaking vistas of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. 1040 Murphin Ridge Road, West Union, crossetcottage.com

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Deer Path Cabin A fully furnished cabin has three bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, a gas fireplace, a spacious back porch with an outside fire pit with firewood and a one-acre pond for fishing. 657 Tom Brown Road, Winchester. (937) 779-6122, vrbo.com/1271069

Ohio Star Retreat Center A comfortable retreat in a country setting where groups can relax and work on projects such as scrapbooking, quilting or writing, or it serves as a base for exploring nature. 232 Old Cincinnati Pike, West Union.

(937) 217-9248, ohiostarrc.com

Hawk’s View Cabin Overlooking the foothills of Adams County, the cabin has two bedrooms, a full bath and kitchen. If you are looking for a private, quiet getaway, you’ll love this hidden treasure. 265 Greenbrier Road, Seaman. (937) 779-7293, ahawksviewfarm.com

The Red Barn Located on a secluded dead-end road in the midst of Brush Creek State Forest.

Perfect couple’s getaway. Stocked pond and fire pit with free firewood. 91 Cole Lane, Peebles.

(937) 231-2604, vrbo.com/782567

Hope Springs Institute Great for small or large groups. A tranquil setting throughout the guesthouse, cabins and trails. 4988 Mineral Springs Road, Peebles. (937) 587-2605, hopespringsinstitute.com Hopewell Croft Cabin Relax at this spacious, yet cozy and comfortable cabin. Cook up a feast in the well-equipped kitchen. Explore the winding trails. Rest by the peaceful stream. Pet friendly. 2626 Suck Run Road, Bentonville. hopewellcroft.com McIntosh Cabin Fishing, boating and hiking. Close to Buzzardroost, Lynx Prairie and Shawnee State Park. Sleeps six, with four bunks, one full bath and kitchen. Pet friendly. 1709 Bethany Ridge Road, West Union. (937) 544-7294 or (937) 259-4502 Mound View Farms Get away from it all at this secluded cabin in the woods. Perfect place for a family vacat ion or weekend hunting retreat. Pet friendly. 203 Hedrick Road, Peebles. (937) 587-3489, moundviewfarms.com Ohio Premier Cabin Rentals Gorgeous cabins with pond view for summer family gatherings, couple’s retreat, fishing, hiking and hunting, where outdoor adventure and indoor comfort await you. (937) 549-3337, ohpto.com

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River Barn Located on the riverfront. Offers cabins and camping. Pet friendly. 7021 U.S. 52, Manchester. (937) 549-3033, adamscolumber.com The Sanctuary A full-sized home situated on a secluded ridge on eight private acres. Adjoins Brush Creek State Forest. 1620 Coffee Hollow Road, Peebles. (937) 231-2604, vrbo.com/354078 Scenic-View Cottage Across from the Ohio Brush Creek, visitors will enjoy the quaint valley in a private cottage. Pet friendly. 20913 State Route 41, Peebles. (937) 587-2874, scenicviewcottage.com Unity Farmhouse A vacation rental in the heart of Adams County Amish country. Sit on the porch, and watch the Amish buggies go by.

Three bedrooms, two baths and a fire pit under the stars. Sleeps eight. Great for family getaways. 4361 Unity Road, West Union. (513) 200-0009 Unity Woods Cabins Experience life like the Amish by staying in one of three non-electric/gas-run cabins situated next to 196-acre state nature preserve, with pond and miles of walking and birding trails. Pet friendly.

1095 Marjorie Johnson Road, West Union. (937) 544-6908, unitywoods.org

The Ville Guesthouse Nestled in the Ohio River foothills is a majestic 1870s farmhouse with five bedrooms and four baths for rent, with access to a pier and dock on the Ohio River. 350 State Route 247, Manchester.

(937) 217-3000, thevilleguesthouse.com The Ville Guesthouse Cabin Overlooking the beautiful Ohio River hills, this cabin features three bedrooms and two baths, full kitchen and laundry.

Outside shelter, fire pit and walking trail.

1069 State Route 247, Manchester.

(937) 217-3000, thevilleguesthouse.com

CAMPING Adams Lake State Park One of the state’s most scenic and biologically interesting areas has much to offer the nature enthusiast. Remnant prairies and a quiet lake in this small (50-acre) unique park. Adams Lake now offers 10 primitive campsites.

14633 State Route 41, West Union.parks. ohiodnr.gov/adamslake Brush Creek Boat Ramp & Campground Boating, fishing, camping, launch ramp, food, picnic areas and fuel on lower Ohio Brush Creek. Open April through September. Boating access to Brush Creek Island. 17085 U.S. 52.

(937) 205-7732 Cedar Trails Nudist Retreat Tent and RV sites with electric. Rental cabins with showers. 11 Cow Run Road, Peebles. (937) 764-1365, cedartrailnudistretreat.com Island Creek Marina & Campground Offering camping and picnic area along the Ohio River, with a boat launch and fueling dock. Perfect view and access to the Ohio Islands National Wildlife Refuge. 8801 U.S. 52, Manchester. (937) 549-1430, islandcreekmarina.webs.com Long’s Retreat Family Resort An excellent destination for families, RV and tent camping, cabin rentals, swimming, waterslides, mini-golf and go-karts. 50 Bell Hollow Road, Latham.

(937) 588-3725, longsretreat.com

ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 43

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Mineral Springs Lake Resort Offering cabins, seasonal camping with electric hookups, a beach, a mini putt-putt golf course and 100-acre lake.

162 Bluegill Road, Peebles.

(937) 587-3132, mineralspringslakefarmresort.com

tance to many restaurants. 11255 State Route 41, West Union. (937) 544-9761 Manchester Motel 11 rooms, all on ground level, conveniently located on U.S. 52. 607 W. 2nd St., U.S. 52, Manchester. (937) 549-4110

Quality Inn Relax in one of 34 rooms, with an outdoor pool. Pet friendly. Conveniently located at the intersection of State Route 247 and State Route 32. 55 Stern Drive, Seaman, (937) 386-2511 or (888) 386-2511

Sandy Springs Campground 40 campsites along the banks of the Ohio River. Tent camping and RV hookup, restrooms and showers. Daily, monthly and seasonal rates. Ramp for small-boat launching. 27719 U.S. 52, Stout. (701) 640-7858, sandyspringscampground.com

HOTELS/MOTELS Budget Host Sunset Inn Reasonable rates and clean rooms, located at the intersection of State Route 32 and State Route 136. Pet friendly.

18760 State Route 136, Winchester.

(937) 695-0381 or (800) BUD-HOST Country Nights Inn 19 rooms in the heart of West Union’s business district. A short walking dis-

COMMUNITY CARRIAGE & LEATHER

BICYCLE

Hours: 7AM-10PM 7 Days a Week (937) 544-5147 Pizza: 544-6053

1195 Duffey Rd. • Peebles OH, 45660 • 937-386-3368

SaleS • RENTAL • SeRVICe

Rent from 2-8 hours or 1-3 days Call for pricing.

“HUNTERS, HIKERS & BIKERS HANGOUT”

Cannondale - JaMIS - FUJI

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Beer Cave • Hot Food • Pizza • Deli

Shimano • Sram • Topeak • Proviz • Limar • Schwalbe Maxxis • KMC • Park Tool • Cygo Lite • SKS TUneUpS - ReSToRaTIon

Ohio Lottery • Rest Rooms Game Check • Bait Shop Hunting & Fishing Licenses Post Office • Notary Public Kerosene • Diesel • Propane Hardware & Plumbing Supplies 21309 State Route 125 • Blue Creek, OH 45616

www.bluecreekgeneralstore.com

CLOSED SUNDAYS

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DINING FINE DINING Murphin Ridge Inn

Historic 1826 dining house. 5:30-8 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations recommended. 750 Murphin Ridge Road, West Union. (937) 544-2263 or (877) 687-7446

UNIQUE DINING BK Scoop

Old-fashioned ice cream parlor serving milkshakes, banana splits, more than 30 specialty hot dogs and foot-longs.

Monday-Saturday. 632 Panhandle Ave., West Union. (937) 544-1634 Blake Pharmacy

Five-cent Cokes served from a 1961 soda counter. Enjoy sandwiches and milkshakes from an old-fashioned pharmacy.

Soda fountain open daily except Sunday.

209 N. Market St., West Union (across from the courthouse). (937) 544-2451

Olde Wayside Inn

Snappy Tomato Pizza

Home-cooked meals at the historic Bradford Traven, built in 1804, a registered Historic Landmark. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday buffet; closed Monday and Saturday.

222 Main St., West Union. (937) 544-7103

West Union: (937) 544-5583; Peebles: (937) 587-1717; Seaman: (937) 386-1010

A variety of sandwiches, soups and salads, as well as soda, coffee, tea and milkshakes. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Tuesday-Friday. 530 E. Mulberry St. West Union. (937) 217-2512

IN THE WHEAT RIDGE / AMISH COMMUNITY 2621 Burnt Cabin Road, Seaman (937) 386-9995 Miller’s Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods

960 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union. Deli: (937) 544-8449, Bakery: (937) 544-4520

Cruiser’s Diner

Dine in an old-fashioned ’50s style diner. Conveniently located off State Route 32. Open seven days a week. 155 Stern Drive, Seaman. (937) 386-3330

Winchester: (937) 695-0405; West Union: (937) 544-3000 Wendy’s

Valerie’s House Café

Keim Family Market Deli & Bakery

Subway

West Union. (937) 544-4646

LOCAL FAVORITES Ayer’s Eat & Treat Dairy Bar

Manchester. (937) 549-2236 Black Diamond County Store and Restaurant

Peebles. (937) 587-2900 Blue Creek General Store and Restaurant

Blue Creek. (937) 544-5147 Crossroads Dairy Bar

Seaman. (937) 386-2574 Eight Ball Pool Hall

Manchester. (937) 549-3080 Fancy’s Pizza

Winchester. (937) 695-0612 Giovanni’s Pizza

Manchester: (937) 549-2291; Peebles: (937) 587-3308; Seaman: (937) 386-2121; West Union: (937) 544-7100

Greene Beanery Coffee Roastery

Small-batch coffee roster in Peebles.

Coffee from eight different origins, Amish-made donuts and pastries, soups and sandwiches. Monday-Saturday.

25675 State Route 41, Peebles. (937) 7984023, greenebeanery.com

Hometown Pizza

Peebles. (937) 587-5000 JT’s Stovetop Barbeque

West Union. (937) 544-7447

FAMILIAR FRANCHISES

Locust Grove Dairy Bar

Dairy Queen

Locust Grove. (937) 587-2760

West Union. (937) 779-3149 Domino’s Pizza

West Union. (937) 544-4242 Frisch’s

West Union. (937) 544-8985 Gold Star Chili

Seaman. (937) 386-1397 KFC/Taco Bell

West Union. (937) 544-9019 McDonald’s

West Union, Peebles and Seaman.

Mel’s Main Street Grill

Peebles. (937) 587-2000 Mikey’s Restaurant

West Union. (937) 544-7103 Reid’s Dairy Bar

Winchester. (937) 695-8019 Sexton’s Dairy Bar

Peebles. (937) 587-6555 Taste of China

West Union. (937) 544-4068 White Star Restaurant

Peebles. (937) 587-5750 www.adamscountytravel.org

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ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE 45

2/14/20 11:38 AM

Visitors guide wins second straight statewide award

By Austin Rust

T

he Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau received a RUBY Award for its 2019 Adams County Visitor & Community Guide in October at the Ohio Conference on Travel.

RUBY Awards, sponsored by Ohio Magazine, are presented by the Ohio Travel Association to recognize excellence, innovation and achievement in marketing, advertising and public relations within Ohio’s tourism and travel industry.

The RUBY Award received this year is the Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau’s third to date. The bureau’s previous RUBY Awards were for a TV commercial in 2015 and for the Adams County Visitors & Community Guide in 2018.

Austin Rust is a reporter for The People’s Defender in West Union, Ohio.

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46 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 12:14 PM

Farmer’s Market entering third season

By Anna Adams

T

he Adams County Farmer’s Market, established in 2018 in West Union, provides county residents and visitors with a continuous, central location to purchase local produce, meats and baked goods.

The primary goal of the market was to fi ll the gap between consumers and local farmers. The market began with sponsorship from the Adams County Health & Wellness Coalition and the Ohio Farm Bureau, which continue to sponsor the market.

Nine full-time vendors and t wo part-time vendors from all throughout Adams County sell a variety of items: fresh vegetables, berries, breads, desserts, jams, jellies, grass-fed beef, pork, local honey, fresh-cut flowers, plants and more.

I n 2019, a few loca l music ia ns performed during the market in the gazebo: The Poplar Ridge Bluegrass Band; Carl Schneider; and The Old School Music Project.

The 2020 season will occur 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday, beginning May 16 and ending Sept. 26, on the courthouse square. For information or to join the market, email adamscofarmersmarket@gmail.com. Visit the market on Instagram at acohfarmersmarket or on Facebook.

Anna Adams is program assistant for the Ohio State University South Centers Research and Extension Building and market manager of the Adams County Farmer’s Market. ■

www.adamscountytravel.org

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2/14/20 12:14 PM

ADVERTISER INDEX Adams County Homecare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Keim Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover, 1

Adams County Public Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Land Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Ann Taylor’s Quilt Barn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Longs Retreat Family Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Arc of Appalachia Preserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Miller Bakery & Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 25, Back Cover

Barry’s Chevrolet and Buick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Mosier Furniture and Appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Blue Creek General Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Mound View Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Cave Hill Cabins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Murphin Ridge Building Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Community Carriage & Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Murphin Ridge Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Cozy Hideaway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Nature Conservancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Crosset Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Ohio Means Jobs Adams and Brown Counties . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

Erwin Farms Corn Maze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Ohio Star Retreat Center LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Dailey’s Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Olde Thyme Herb Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

First State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Red Barn Convention Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Friends of Serpent Mound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Seaman Comfort Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

GoBus/HAPCAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Sunshine Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

The Greene Beanery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

West Union Flower Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Hopewell Croft LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Wilson Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

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48 ADAMS COUNTY VISITORS AND COMMUNITY GUIDE

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@LiveWell_Cincy

www.adamscountytravel.org

2/14/20 12:51 PM

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2/14/20 1:13 PM

Come To Wheat Ridge Where The Pace Is A Little Slower

1977

2020

43 Years Amish Owned | Amish Operated | Authentic Amish-made 40,000 SQ FT. of Inside Shopping Over 5,000 Different Handmade Items in Stock

960 Wheat Ridge Road West Union, Ohio

Monday - Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

937.544.8524

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