If these walls could talk. There's something so fascinating about old, historic homes -- these residencies offer a portal into the past and unique opportunity to step back in time. Unfortunately, time isn't always the kindest to these stately structures, claiming many a manse and manor over the decades. This was the story of Van Gorder Manor, a once-abandoned home located in Willoughby, Ohio -- but a new chapter is being writ as we speak. This historic home is getting a new life as a fine dining restaurant, B&B, and event space, and it's a transformation we can't wait to see.
In the immensely beautiful northeast region of Ohio, The City of Willoughby is an impossibly charming town that, while home to a bustling population of 22,000 residents, feels decidedly, delightfully old-fashioned.
Stately homes line the streets of beautiful Willoughby, Ohio; these are well-loved and maintained buildings that harken back to another time.
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Sadly, not all of the homes in Willoughby have stood the test of time, though none of the abandoned and deteriorating homes are quite as tragically beautiful as the Van Gorder Manor.
The 1902 country estate, located at 37819 Euclid Avenue, is a marvelous work of architecture. At 17,000 sq. ft., the home has 34 rooms including 13 bathrooms and eight fireplaces.
This extraordinary estate was designed by architect Charles Schweinfurth for Julia French Boyce. From 1903 until her death in 1915, Boyce shared the house with her daughter, Nancy (Boyce) Van Gorder, her son-in-law Albert Van Gorder, who was a pharmaceutical executive, and their five children.
Nancy and Albert lived together in the stately home until Albert’s death in 1941. Nancy continued to live there until the 1950s when she transferred the estate to the Andrews School for Girls. She then lived in the renovated carriage house until her passing in 1959.
After that, Andrews School used the house as a health center, infirmary, and faculty apartments until 1986 when it was sold. It was eventually converted into an assisted-living facility for senior citizens, but sadly, fell into disrepair somewhere along the way, ultimately ending up on the real estate market.
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This is where the story turns, however. In 2022, Mike Neundorfer, owner of Advanced RV in Willoughby, and his brother Paul, landscape architect and owner of Aristotle Design Group in Cleveland, saw the potential in this once-beautiful estate. Today, renovations are underway on both the mansion and carriage house to transform the property into a restaurant, B&B, and event venue.
Even better? While the home had fallen into disrepair, its bones are strong, with much of the original wood floors, leaded glass doors and windows, glass and brass door hardware, and archways fully intact.
We have no doubt the original owners of this stately home would be delighted to learn of its revival! Stay tuned...
Did you know the once-abandoned Van Gorder Manor in Willoughby, Ohio, was being restored? This home has beautiful bones and we can't wait to see the "after" of its transformation.
Almost frozen in time, Medina, Ohio is a picture perfect getaway just south of Cleveland. Fortunately for locals and visitors, it's just barely south of the snowbelt, too, meaning trips through town are pleasant and easy almost all year-round. With gorgeous architecture, local shops, and a pace of life that's more relaxed, no visit to Medina is uneventful. Pack just enough road trip snacks to keep you satisfied... you'll want to keep your appetite intact for the area's fantastic restaurants!
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When it comes to hidden gems in Northeast Ohio, Medina is a community that's worth writing home about. When the community was founded in 1818, early settlers wanted to pay homage to their New England roots. As a result, they immediately established a Village Green. Today, Historic Medina Square has blossomed around the green space at the center of town. Though an early fire reshaped the community and introduced locals to the gorgeous brick facades that now line its streets in the historic district, the old school New England atmosphere still permeates the town. Its atmosphere ironically shaped the personalities of many famous figures, from Amos Ives Root to Ryan Matthew Dunn.
When venturing into Medina Square, you'll likely come from State Route 18 if you take I-71 or I-77. If you do, you absolutely must stop by the Medina Antique Mall. With 52,000 square feet of space, you could truthfully spend almost all day in this one spot. Its various shelves are lined with treasures, ranging from ancient to vintage. You never know what you're going to find here! With solid concrete floors, though, you'll want to carefully select your footwear. The wrong shoes will have you feeling tired before you even get into town!
Whatever you opt for, make sure it's appropriate for hiking, too. The Medina County Park District serves this area, and Lake Medina is hidden just north of Route 18. It once provided water to local residents, but nowadays the 100-acre lake is simply a pretty hiking spot. It's almost never busy, so you might have the whole area to yourself! Its hiking trails are surprisingly sprawling, so it's also easy to spend a few hours immersed in nature here.
From Lake Medina, you'll only travel on State Route 18 for a short distance. You'll want to wind your way south to Smith Road, which will help you avoid the traffic and casual Sunday drivers that seem to love slowly cruising from stoplight to stoplight. On Smith Road, you'll find Sweets & Geeks. Part candy store, part collectable store, part toy store, this is one of those unique local businesses that has something for everyone. It's a great stop if you're looking for nostalgic and hard-to-find sweets, but they've got modern delicacies like dehydrated candies, too. You might want to set a budget for this spot... they've got so much food and merch that it's easy to go wild!
While you're on the south side of town, you might consider swinging by Black Cat Books & Oddities before you visit the Square. This cool local bookshop spans two full houses, and you'll find classics, modern releases, and local authors among their shelves. In addition to jam-packed bookshelves, you'll also find oddities, bookish merch, stickers, and bookmarks. There are two parking lots right at the two houses, so you won't have to carry your purchases too far.
Just up the street, the charming Medina Farmers Exchange beckons. If you've ever been to the West Side Market in Cleveland, you can envision this spot as a much more condensed version of that landmark. Nowadays, it's a cool market that focuses on local makers and growers. From fresh produce to Keller Meats and pierogies, you'll find all the ingredients needed for a hearty farm-to-table meal. Speaking of tables, this is the first stop on our trip where you can grab a bite to eat. There are a few restaurants on site, including a cafe and bakery if you're just looking for something light. While you're in the building, take some time to drink in the beauty of its architecture. The building has lived many lives since it was rebuilt in 1935, and it's amazing to see how its modern identity has maintained and celebrated its roots as the community's center of agricultural commerce.
From here, you'll venture into the most photogenic part of Historic Medina. On the south end of the Square, Castle Noel and Alien Vacation Mini Golf delight visitors of all ages. Oddly enough, they're two halves of the same business! While the mini golf storefront is exactly what you might expect, Castle Noel requires a bit of explanation. It's a Christmas museum that's open all year-round, and it features everything from intricate window displays to props from movies like Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and, of course, A Christmas Story, which was filmed up in Cleveland. If you're looking for another dose of nostalgia, these cool businesses belong on your bucket list.
In the Square, dozens of local businesses are awaiting your visit. Gift shops, jewelry stores, leather stores, snack centers... you name it, they've got it! I just love walking up and down the street and gazing into the old storefronts. The beautifully decorated windows will take you back to the era of downtown shopping sprees when every store felt beautiful and welcoming. There are also several incredible restaurants and breweries right in the area, so there's something delicious for every type of diner. If you're looking for a snack in the Square, I have to recommend a visit to Sully's. They have some of the best beer cheese in Northeast Ohio, and I'm very serious about my cheeses.
If your legs haven't given up on walking at this point, you have to take a trip out to Root Candles. With 20,000 square feet of shopping space, there's no shortage of locally-produced candles to choose from. And they're simply scentsational! Interestingly, the business is intrinsically tied with the city's identity. Its founder helped modernize the beekeeping industry, and in addition to fueling local industry, his passions also sparked a local love of honeybees. While they may be a coveted rarity in some communities, they're everywhere in Medina!
If you're looking to stay in town, the charming Spitzer House Bed and Breakfast is just a few doors down from Root Candles. (Hopefully you don't mind sharing your room... it's said to be haunted.) Corkscrew Saloon is just down the road, too, so you can admire more architecture while you dine. Truly, the architecture in Medina is next-level. It's gorgeous and indulgent, and it shines throughout and beyond the historic district. Once you get a full dose of it, you can spend some time in the great outdoors at Majestic Meadows' alpaca farm.
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All in all, Medina, Ohio is a gorgeous little town that's jam-packed with family-friendly things to do. You might even visit during a special event at the Square, and if you don't mind the foot traffic, they offer a great way to see all that the city has to offer. The community is picturesque and welcoming, so whether you visit for a day or decide to put down roots, you're going to love your time in Medina.
Looking for one more local attraction to add some oomph to your visit? Mapleside Farms is just one community north, and it's an autumnal wonderland.
Ohio trivia time: Ohio became a state in 1803, the same year the Louisiana Purchase was completed. While it was an exciting time for the U.S., the field of archaeology was still very much in its infancy. Things would really take off roughly seven decades later when Heinrich Schliemann discovered the remains of Troy, which added extra legitimacy to the young science. Unfortunately, before archaeology really had its footing as a field, we lost many fascinating landmarks in the U.S. to development and curiosity. Nevertheless, Ohio has managed to keep a few of its historic sites intact for us to enjoy. Today, we're going to take a look at a site in the Licking Park District that still has a significant Hopewell cultural site intact, though it will take a bit of searching to uncover. As the area of interest is hidden in a public park, you can get to know its hiking trails on AllTrails before you even hit the road.
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Once upon a time, the Hopewell peoples flourished in and around the Granville area. Today, this culture is known for its mounds, which are ancient earthworks used for a variety of different purposes including funerary burials, religious ceremony, and even construction. Some of these mounds required millions of cubic feet of dirt to construct, and this culture is responsible for building the very largest earthworks in North America. In fact, some Hopewell earthworks rank as the largest on the planet, earning them much-deserved recognition on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
Infirmary Mound, which we're going to visit today, is rather quaint compared to these massive examples of ancient engineering, but it's still got a remarkable history. It's one of several mounds in Licking County, though, and it's well worth a visit.
About 70 feet in diameter and rising a mere three feet above the landscape, Infirmary Mound is a bit hard to spot. This is unfortunately due to human activity in the region... farming, landscaping, and footfall have made it susceptible to erosion. This isn't all modern, of course. Back in the 1850s (before the discovery of Troy and before widespread acceptance of the importance of preservation), this landscape housed the county home. It went by many different names, including The Infirmary.
As the landscape has been worn down, you might want to reference a trail map to locate the old mound. Unlike some of the more famous mounds, the Granville ones likely were not burial sites. Likely ceremonial sites, these Licking County mounds preserve a long-lost culture rather than the remains of that long-lost culture. Without significant artifacts and archaeological study, this site is a bit of a mystery. However, it does make one thing clear: generations of ancient peoples called this area home.
Though the site isn't huge, it's a true hidden gem that history lovers are going to want to (metaphorically, of course) dig into. It's a fascinating reminder that though our country is young, Ohio has been populated by humans for as many as 15,000 years. The first European settlers (many of whom were French fur trappers exploring the wild Northwest Territory) must have been humbled to see massive and, in some cases, elaborate earthworks greeting them.
Nature lovers can also enjoy the park's 316 acres without feeling like they need to do some homework to understand the landscape's significance. It's beautiful, quite simply put, and it has unique trails like Wildflower Fairy Trail waiting to be explored. This trail is just a quarter mile in length, but it features fairy houses, secret doors, and magic around every corner. It's perfect for hikers of all ages!
All in all, the park has about nine miles of trails encircling its acreage. There's a scenic lake, forested stretches, meadows, and just an endless dose of beauty awaiting nature lovers. Of course, the real magic at this site is not on the Wildflower Fairy Trail, but hidden in one ancient earthwork that only history buffs know to look for.