Lorain County
Lorain County is in Northeast Ohio. Located a short distance west of Cleveland, Ohio and east of Sandusky, Ohio, along the North Coast and shore of Lake Erie. The county seat is Elyria, Ohio. The Black River flows north through the county and into Lake Erie at Lorain.
Cities[edit]
- 1 Amherst
- 2 Avon
- 3 Avon Lake
- 4 Elyria
- 5 Lorain
- 6 North Ridgeville
- 7 Oberlin
- 8 Sheffield Lake
- 9 Vermilion
- 10 Wellington
Other destinations[edit]
- Findley State Park southern Lorain County, 25381 State Route 58, Wellington, 272 non-electric camp sites, fully stocked camp store, sand volleyball, basketball court, two horseshoe pits, 93-acre lake, two launch ramps, canoes, rowboats, paddleboats and ten miles of hiking trails. Eight miles of singletrack mountain biking.
- Findley Lake and Dam
- Lake Erie Lake Erie is the shallowest, warmest and southernmost of the Great Lakes, and is the 12th largest freshwater lake in the world. Erie's shallowness adds to its treacherous reputation; she can go from flat calm to a raging beast in less than 20 minutes. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
- Lake Erie Shipwrecks Lake Erie has over 1700 shipwrecks [1], of which only approximately 277 have been found and salvaged, or located by divers and remain on the bottom. Over 6000 shipwrecks are known to have occurred Great Lakes-wide, with Lake Erie claiming the most at 1700. Lorain's offshore waters hold some of the best wrecks for diving in Lake Erie. Popular destination shipwrecks offshore of the Lorain area include: Morning Star, City of Concord, Courtland, Hickory Stick, Sarah Sheldon, Ivanhoe, Craftsman, Alva B, John Pridgeon Jr., and the Duke Luedtke just to mention a few. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
- Back Roads and Beaches Bike and Multi-Sport Route[dead link] Miles of rolling, rural roads with beautiful scenery ranging from farmland and forest to the nautical flavor of the Lake Erie Shoreline. The route provides the most scenic and low traffic routes that lead riders through some of Ohio's best landscape. It also highlights some of the area's most relevant history, culture, arts and cutting-edge environmental initiatives. The BRaB tour only highlights eateries that feature locally grown produce, organics, healthy choices and spectacular outdoor views of natural areas. The route travels through several small towns and cities in Lorain County. The tour is popular with both touring cyclists as well as training athletes and triathletes. The tour features abundant Underground Railroad history as well as six wineries and a number of art galleries along the way.
Mileage and Terrain: Most of the route is relatively flat with a few rolling sections. You will find some challenging climbs in the northwest section, just south of Vermilion.
- Black River and Lake Erie Kayaking - Kayakers of all skill levels will be comfortable on the Black River and/or Lake Erie. Lake Erie offers spectacular scenery, birding and up-close views of the Lorain Lighthouse. From here you can kayak on Lake Erie, inside or outside the breakwall.
- Mountain Biking The almost 10 mile Thorn Mountain Biking trail at Findley State Park has beautiful forested single track with options for beginner to expert.
- Cascade Park Elyria. Features beautiful twin waterfalls that mark the union of the east and west branches of the Black River. Explore the shale cliffs and natural formations created by the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier over 12,000 years ago.
- Lakeview Beach and Park On SR 6 in Lorain. Newly restored, this is one of the nicest beaches on Lake Erie with a brand new bathhouse that overlooks Lake Erie and the Lorain Lighthouse. It is one of Lorain County's most picturesque beaches. Historic fountain is lit up at night.
- Lake Erie Central Basin Sport Fishing - Sport fishing in Lorain County consists of walleye fishing in Lake Erie, to fishing the numerous tributary streams for trophy steelhead. Walleye are considered the most-pursued game fish on Lake Erie, and in Lorain County waters, they are caught along Lorain County's rocky nearshore beginning in the spring and continuing through the entire season. Deeper offshore waters offer anglers plenty of walleye action during the summer and fall months, with both trolling and drifting/cast methods being productive. Limit catches and trophy sized fish are trademarks of our Lake Erie waters. The well-known sandbar, located between Lorain and Vermilion, creates a natural habitat for summer and fall walleye, producing many trophy-size walleye in late October and November. Smallmouth bass are plentiful along the entire length of Lorain County's rocky shoreline and artificial reef structures, providing fast action from spring through fall. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
- Underground Railroad History While northern Lorain County established itself as a manufacturing mecca, a tiny town miles to the south put itself on the map for a different reason. Oberlin would come to be known as "The Town that Started the Civil War." Students and faculty of Oberlin College were especially sympathetic to fugitive slaves. Today the college's Underground Railroad sculpture, dramatic railroad tracks that emerge from the ground, is surrounded by a healing garden of flowering and leafed plants used by slaves on their road to freedom. The Oberlin Heritage Center and the Spirit of '76 Museum in Wellington are valuable resources for more on the area's role in the civil War. Throughout Lorain County, churches, cemeteries, historic homes and peaceful parks collectively tell America's story of freedom. "On the Trail to Freedom," is a program developed in 1992 by Visit Lorain County which guides visitors to points of interest on the Underground Railroad.
- Allen Memorial Art Museum One of the finest college or university collections in the United States, comprising more than 12,000 works of art from virtually every culture.
- Frank Lloyd Wright - Weltzheimer/Johnson House The first Usonian house in Ohio and one of the few in the nation open to the public.
Understand[edit]
Lorain county is rich with history, with almost every city within having some kind of historical museums. However, you will find that most residents, especially younger people, will not even be aware of their own town's history. Take a trip to the local Historical Society in whichever town you are visiting to get a good overview of the history.
Get in[edit]
By plane[edit]
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE IATA), ☏ +1 216 265-6000.
- Lorain County Regional Airport, 44050 Russia Rd., Elyria, ☏ +1 440 323-4063.
- Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL IATA), ☏ +1 216 781-6411.
By boat[edit]
There is no public transportation available via boat, how ever there are day site seeing cruises available on Lake Erie.
By car[edit]
- SR 6 E/W 2 lane follows lake shore. Scenic.
- SR 2 E/W 4 lane.
- I 80/90 Turnpike E/W Indiana to Pennsylvania
- SR 58 2 lane N/S
By bus[edit]
- Greyhound, Elyria station: 365 Broad St., Elyria, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222.
By train[edit]
- Amtrak, Nearest station: 410 E. River Rd., Elyria, toll-free: +1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245).
Get around[edit]
You may rent a car at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport if you are flying in. Taxis are available, but for long distances you will pay a pretty penny.
Enterprise and Hertz have local rental offices.
- Lorain County Transit, ☏ +1 440 328-2490, +1 440 244-6261, LorainCountyTransit@gmail.com. Bus service to/from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to Elyria Park and Ride, Elyria, and Oberlin College, Oberlin.
See[edit]
The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts in downtown Oberlin hosts changing exhibits of high quality visual art year round.
Do[edit]
- The Lorain County Fair in Wellington offers a week-long family activity with rides, crafts, live music, and their famous demolition derby. You can also take a ride on an old fashion steam train.
- Lake Erie Crushers Professional Baseball are Lorain County's professional minor league baseball team. The Crushers play in Avon.
- Speedway Slots and Hobbies in Amherst slot car racing on a 100-ft and a 160-ft road course track.
- Bonnie Brae Farms in Wellington is a champion Elk farm in Ohio's gorgeous rolling countryside. On special days, tours of the farm are available.
- Miller's Apple Hill in Amherst — pick apples or browse the bulk food store.
- Golf courses, ranging in price and difficulty level, include Forest Hills Golf Course in Elyria, and Bob-O-Link Golf Course, in Avon.
- Oberlin College in Oberlin plays host to a multitude of events, ranging from concerts, to theatre performances, to speakers, and festivals year round.
- Splash Zone in Oberlin is Lorain County's aquatic complex.
- Stocker Arts Center in Elyria is one of Ohio's top performance and visual arts venues: music, theatre, dance performances, and gallery exhibitions.
- Schoeple Garden in Birmingham, south of Vermilion, is composed of 70 acres of beautiful botanical gardens and natural woodland.
Buy[edit]
Main Street Oberlin has fantastic art boutiques, clothing shops, restaurants, and specialty shops in a historic downtown district. Main Street Wellington offers shopping opportunities and an array of historic homes dating as far back as the 1830s. Main Street Vermilion is filled with specialty shops, restaurants, art galleries, and well-maintained captains' homes. Main Street Amherst has striking sandstone architecture, wonderful shopping opportunities and a tangible sense of the town's rich history.
Jamie's Flea Market in Amherst is Northeast Ohio's largest flea market.
Grobe Fruit Farm in Elyria offers fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, and pasteurized cider.
Drink[edit]
The region's is home to several wineries, including John Christ Winery and Klingshirn Winery in Avon Lake, Matus Winery in Wakeman west of Oberlin, and Paper Moon Vineyards and Vermilion Valley Vineyards in Wakeman west of Oberlin.
Sleep[edit]
Stay safe[edit]
Lorain County is a safe place to be. Theft can be an issue however. Make sure your car is locked, and all personal items within your possession.
Go next[edit]
Adjacent counties[edit]