Freshwater Farms of Ohio
Price:
Free
Freshwater Farms in Urbana offers something few tourist attractions do — a sturgeon petting zoo.
“It’s probably our biggest attraction,” said Dr. Dave Smith, president of the area fish farm. “They’re five-foot long sturgeons who we’ve raised for the last 18 years.”
The farm offers self-guided tours of its facilities, including displays of its fish and shrimp areas and a trout “feeding frenzy,” which atttract more than 10,000 visitors each year.
Smith estimates that more than 80 percent of the family-owned farms’s visitors come from outside of Champaigne County.
“People can come in and see how trout are raised,” Smith said. “They can also see all different kinds of water critters. Frogs, toads, snapping turtles, salamanders, crawfish, even snakes.”
Smith said his Route 68 farm saw a boost in visitors after gas prices spiked last summer.
“We started seeing it a couple years ago when people were starting to look for places to go that were more local,” Smith said. “People also started to come in more and purchase fish for their backyard ponds. We’ve seen more people creating water gardens where they can have a place to relax at home.”
Westcott House
1340 East High Street
Price: $10.50 for the tour, $9 for students and seniors
Frank Lloyd Wright left his architectural mark on East High Street when in 1906 he was commissioned to design the avant garde Westcott House by a prominent Springfield family.
Today, the Japanese-infused Prairie-style house stands a testament to his architectural legacy as a museum and event space that attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year.
Still, much of the fanfare for the historic home is from out-of-town visitors, not Springfield locals.
“The bulk of our visitors are from out of town,” said Jenny Montgomery, Westcott House development director. “But we encourage Springfield residents to come. This is their treasure — a hidden treasure right here in our backyard. And we really try to think of it as a living house.”
Historic Clifton Gristmill
Price:
$3 per person
The gristmill, built in 1802, predates Ohio’s statehood and traces its roots to the Civil War when it provided supplies for Union soldiers.
Now the mill is the oldest operating business in the Miami Valley. It is open as a restaurant that provides tours of the inner-workings of the mill.
“It’s more unique than the average restaurant,” said owner Anthony Satariano. “Yeah, you can go to a Cracker Barrel, but you won’t have the atmosphere and the surroundings.”
Satariano said he expects the dismal economy to attract more visitors to the mill this year.
“We think there will be a little more,” Satariano said. “People not really wanting to drive as far who want to get more creative with their time off.”
Between 50,000 and 70,000 visitors venture to the mill yearly to take part in both its rustic ambience and of course, its pancakes.
“They’re over-the-plate pancakes,” Satariano said. “10 to 12-inch across, an inch thick.”
Ceder Bog Nature Perserve
Price:
$4 for adults, $3 for children, free for children younger than 6-years-old.
A newly opened education center at Cedar Bog has already boosted summer tourism at the nature preserve, said Sally Engle, president of the Cedar Bog Association.
“Its a green building — geothermal, with a natural waste water system,” Engle said. “For anyone interested in green technology in action its a great place to visit.”
Engle said the bog, created 11,000 years ago by glaciers, is a veritable living classroom for mother nature that serves as a home for many endangered animals and insects.
“Well, it’s plant heaven,” Engle said. “We also have a picnic area and benches set up along the way, so its a great place if you like nature and the outdoors or like to watch birds, we have about 120 different species of birds.”
Engle said the low admission rates and environmentally friendly mindset make the Cedar Bog nature preserve an ideal local spot to spend a summer day.
“We have plant varieties here that you can’t see anywhere else,” Engle said. “It’s good for anybody at any age.”
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