There's A Trail In Ohio That Leads You Straight To Some Abandoned Coke Ovens
By April Dray|Published July 06, 2018
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April Dray
Author
April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
All throughout the state of Ohio, there are abandoned places and pieces of history that are just waiting to be explored. The Leetonia Beehive Coke Ovens Park is a hidden gem most people don’t even know exists. It’s home to a unique piece of Ohio history, blended with nature to create a hauntingly beautiful sight.
Take a look:
Tucked away in the village of Leetonia, there are some curious looking structures emerging from the earth that remind you of hobbit houses.
Leetonia Beehive Coke Ovens Park is located at 999 Cherry Valley Rd., Leetonia, OH 44431.
A short, gravel trail will lead you to what were once the Cherry Valley Iron Works coke ovens. Today, they're a fascinating historical landmark you can explore.
Constructed in the 1860s, these manmade "beehives" were used to purify coal and produce coke, which was used to make iron and steel. The coke ovens were abandoned in the 1930s, after the company closed.
Consisting of 200 ovens, this facility was one of the largest of its kind in America. The coke ovens were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
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Today, the park covers a total of 35 acres and restoration efforts are currently underway, as well as plans to create additional walking paths.
This is one piece of Ohio history you'll definitely want to explore.
Leetonia Beehive Coke Ovens Park is located at 999 Cherry Valley Rd., Leetonia, OH 44431. Have you ever been here before? If so, we want to know what your experience was like!