Ohio
‘The Canoe Capital Of Ohio’ Is A Historic Paddler’s Paradise On The Forested Emerald Green Mohican River – Islands
Nowadays, it can feel harder and harder to connect with nature. Many people are so busy with fast-paced, modern, and urban lives that they don’t know where to look for a spot of peaceful wilderness or wistful nostalgia for the America of days gone by. Well, one of the first places to look has to be Loudonville, Ohio — a charming, small village with a historical significance far greater than its size and a recreational canoeing tradition that dates back to 1961.
Loudonville is sandwiched between the mighty Mohican River and Ohio’s Amish Country in Holmes County, making it one of the most scenic and peaceful spots to unwind and marvel at Mother Nature in the state. There are five canoe liveries (rental services) in and around Loudonville, which make it so accessible to paddle that the village has become known as the Mohican Canoe Capital. This comes as no surprise, as Ohio’s first canoe rental service was established in Loudonville and is still operating today. Previously known as Mohican Canoe Livery, the company now operates as Mohican Adventures and is fully equipped with a campsite and cabins, canoe, kayak, raft, and tube rentals, a high wire course, a go-cart track, and a mini-golf course. Mohican Adventures is a testament to the village’s unique blend of history and wildlife that is calling to nature lovers everywhere.
Making your way to Loudonville, Ohio
Loudonville is conveniently located between Ohio’s state capital, Columbus, and one of the most budget-friendly big cities in America, Cleveland. This makes it very easy to reach, with both cities being well-connected to the rest of the US, and both offering quick routes to the village. From Columbus, the drive is just over 70 miles and will take around an hour and a half. From Cleveland, it’s around 80 miles and should take the same amount of time via I-71. Although you can reach Loudonville via a public bus line, the benefit of bringing a car is that there are plenty of amazing things to see in the area that are best experienced on four wheels, like a charming road trip down Ohio’s Amish Country Byway.
But opting to travel by public transport doesn’t mean that you’ll miss out entirely. You can still wonder at the scenery of the region’s scenic byways from the seat of a canoe, without the hassle of parking or petrol. To experience the region with public transport, you can book a two and a half hour bus from Columbus that runs daily or take a bus from Cleveland to the under-the-radar Ohio city of Akron, where you can change onto a connection straight to Loudonville. You can take a taxi to the historic Wally Road Byway from the nearest station, or some buses may travel it. But the byway itself is scenic, running along a disused, mid-century train track once considered the most beautiful in the state and sitting adjacent to the Mohican River.
What to do in Loudonville, Ohio
Of course, one of the best things to do in Loudonville is canoeing. You can either travel with a guide through one of the many canoe liveries in the area, or, if you’re an experienced paddler, simply bring your gear to one of the public landings and set out on your own. Make sure you check the water conditions before you leave. They can be found on many of the liveries’ websites.
There are two stretches of the Mohican River that are officially recognized as scenic and are connected to create the 26-mile Mohican River Water Trail. The trail runs from the Mohican State Park on the perimeter of Loudonville, down to Walhonding in the south. There are plenty of landing areas along the way, each with different facilities like toilets, picnic areas, and even some campgrounds, so you could comfortably spend a few days packrafting on this beautiful stretch of wilderness. Whilst on your trip, you may get the chance to spot cranes, rare salamanders, and elusive American eels.
The other major draw of this Water Trail is its storied history. You can paddle through significant demarcation lines between native and settler lands — the Greenville Treaty line of 1795 — as well as the abandoned railroad bridges of the Wally Road. Back in Loudonville, you can catch a show at the historic and beautiful early-20th-century Ohio Theatre and discover the history of sidecar motorcycle racing at the innovative Flxible factory, which occasionally opens its doors to the public to tell the story of Loudonville’s contribution to the automotive industry. They even put on a parade of buses event in the summer. It’s the perfect blend of history and nature to detox from a stressful modern world.
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These real estate transactions were recorded in Marion County between June 12 and June 17.
City of Marion
336 Silver St., Marion; Jeffery A. Hallie to Cassidy Manley and Jamal Tyre Manley; $100,000.
597 E. George St., Marion; Robert E. Edens Jr. and Kristin Edens to Clifford D. Hall and Judith K. Hall; $100,000.
395 Park St., Marion; Robin Hirsch to Christian Jaimes Mejia; $165,500.
1007 Fariwood Avenue, Marion; Sherry D. Smith, Jerry L. Winget and Vickie L. Pinyerd to Tami S. McCarty; $149,900.
302 Silver St., Marion; Heaven M. Daniel to US Bank National Association; $44,100.
358 Nye St., Marion; Trever Rinehart to Daniel Murfield and Athena Murfield; $199,000.
538 Cherry St., Marion; Marry On LLC to Tylere Shuster; $150,000.
618 Irey Avenue, Marion; Keith A. Radebaugh to Brittany Marie Crampton; $125,000.
1138 Independence Avenue, Marion; Marion County General Surgery LLC to Independence Avenue Medical LLC; $215,000.
1950 Linda St., Marion; Ralph W. Smith Jr. and Betty J. Smith to Dawn Comer; $116,000.
555 Avondale Avenue, Marion; Angela R. Rivers to Prospect Endeavors LLC; $75,000.
523 Mary St., Marion; Frank Hoffman and Robin Hoffman to Crystal A. Bonsel and John H. Thacker; $175,000.
436 Thompson St., Marion; Shovel City Investment LLC to Duel Patrick Davidson; $47,500.
661 Adams St., Marion; Hideaway Properties 4 LLC to Crystal Lynn Hall; $85,200.
288 Chicago Avenue, Marion; Jeffrey L. Young and Kimberly M. Young to OpenDoor Property Trust; $179,900.
691 Bennett St., Marion; Steven Higgins, Larry Higgins Jr. and Shawn Patrick Higgins to Kyle R. White; $200,000.
Richland Township
5544 Tittlebaugh Road, Marion; John E. Morgan, Rebecca Sue Morgan, Bridget Corcoran and Patrick Corcoran to John E. Morgan and Rebecca Sue Morgan; $87,340.
Pleasant Township
2.345 acres on Gooding Road, Marion; 533 Farm Holdings LLC to Thomas Savage and Lissa Savage; $250,000.
4714 Larue Prospect Road S., Prospect; Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance to Allyson Fitch and Brandon Fitch; $260,000.
1552 Marion County Club Drive, Marion; WY Corp II to ABI Development LLC; $40,000.
Prospect Township
8323 Hughes Road, Prospect; Cole A. Hess and Cheyenne Hess to Kamryn Miah Jean Sutherland and John Daniel Yersavich; $415,000.
608 Water St., Prospect; EyE Homes Inc. to Mary Elizabeth Machingo and Jeffrey Paul Machingo; $305,000.
Tully Township
2946 Martel Road, Caledonia; Vincent L. Cleveland and Jo D. Cleveland to Carly Rene Bailey-Stultz and Dennis Stultz; $375,000.
Ohio
Ohio lawsuit alleges new NCAA rule unfairly denies high school Class of ’22 athletes a 5th season
Why artists are dropping out of the Great American State Fair
Musicians cancel appearances at the Great American State Fair after questions over Freedom 250 and claims the July Fourth event is nonpartisan.
As several states pull out of the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., questions are coming up closer to home — Is Ohio still participating?
Massachusetts and North Carolina won’t participate in the fair, according to USA TODAY. Reports also indicate that Connecticut, Illinois, Maine and Oregon are also expected to skip the event, with some states citing a combination of financial and political concerns as reasons for opting out.
Here’s what we know about Ohio’s role in the event so far.
Is Ohio skipping the 2026 Great American State Fair?
Ohio has confirmed its participation with a booth titled “Ohio: The Heart of it All,” which showcases state parks and childhood development. The governor’s office began the planning process for the booth in February, shortly after the Great American State Fair was announced, said Lisa Peterson director of communications in the governor’s office.
The Great American State Fair, organized by Freedom 250, is a 16-day exposition that will be displayed on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10.
Additionally, Ohio will host a stop from the “Freedom Truck,” a traveling exhibit tied to Freedom 250. The exhibit will appear at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Organizers describe the Freedom Truck as a mobile museum that visits existing fairs and community events, not a version of the Great American State Fair itself.
When does the ‘Freedom Truck’ stop in Ohio?
The Freedom Truck is scheduled to be at the Ohio State Fair from July 27 through Aug. 10, 2026 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.
The exhibit includes interactive and historical exhibits about the founding of the United States, according to organizers.
The mobile museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, with the final day closing at 6 p.m.
What is the Great American State Fair?
The Great American State Fair is a 16-day event planned for June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Organized by Freedom 250, the fair is part of a broader effort to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with state exhibits, food, entertainment and cultural programming, according to USA TODAY.
President Donald Trump announced he will headline the Freedom 250‑organized Great American State Fair and hold an “America Is Back” rally, the publication reports.
America250 vs. Freedom 250: What’s the difference?
The Great American State Fair is part of Freedom 250, a Trump-backed initiative to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.
That effort is different from America250, the official, congressionally-authorized program coordinating nationwide commemorations. Meanwhile, America 250‑Ohio, the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial, is the official state-level partner to the national America250 effort.
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