OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Although Olmsted Falls is not as large or well-known as some nearby communities, the city offers a wide variety of activities for a full day of family fun.
Shop, dine, play, explore historic architecture, marvel at massive millstones, walk the covered bridge and discover the charming waterfalls that have helped shape the community’s identity.
“We’re really a hidden treasure,” says John Lauro, co-owner of Clint Williams Legacy Properties, which manages Grand Pacific Junction, the main attraction in the well-preserved historic downtown.
Mayor James Graven compares the community to a small New England town and champions its authentic American downtown.
“Olmsted Falls reminds me of a Norman Rockwell painting. We have a beautiful downtown, Grand Pacific Junction, scenic bridges, picturesque waterfalls, antique and craft stores, and a variety of other shops.”
Graven adds, “In 2020, we were named the safest city in Ohio.”
The contemporary city of around 9,000 began as a collection of farms and small enterprises centered around water-powered mills that relied on the falls of Plum Creek and the Rocky River.
Several of the falls can be viewed today from David Fortier River Park. The greenspace also contains remnants of a 19th-century quarrying operation. Enormous millstones litter the grounds, and a few have even been repurposed as tables.
In addition, the small park boasts a charming 108-foot-long covered bridge that proves irresistible to shutterbugs.
Families should also check out nearby Village Green Park, which offers assorted recreational activities and will boast a new playground come summer.
The heart of downtown is a restored commercial core of around 170 properties that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Grand Pacific Junction, the center of the historic district, would not exist without the dedicated efforts of one man, Realtor Clint Williams, who died in 2019.
Grand Pacific Junction is much more than a shopping center. It is at once a museum of American architecture, a testament to the area’s rich local history, home to a variety of one-of-a-kind businesses and a place to both play and relax.
Williams purchased the stately Grand Pacific Hotel, which served as a hardware store for around 90 years, in 1989. Williams spent three years restoring the hotel to its mid-19th century glory and it now operates as an elegant banquet hall.
He then set about revitalizing neighboring historic structures, including the old jail, a granary, a carriage house, railroad buildings, the livery and more. He even added a 1922 Vulcan locomotive and caboose -- a thrill for children of all ages -- and a streamside gazebo.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges, though the well-established community continues to thrive.
“Our citizens have been resilient,” remarks Graven, who adds, “2020 has been the most challenging year in my 33-year public service career.”
The city tapped federal funding sources during the shutdown, though creative thinking accounted for much of the success. Officials worked diligently to find solutions -- such as outdoor dining options -- to pandemic-related obstacles.
Still, Graven gives most of the credit to residents who embraced social distancing, hand washing and the wearing of masks with little hesitation.
Event spaces at Grand Pacific Junction have taken a hit since the pandemic led to restrictions on gatherings. The Grand Pacific Wedding Chapel, housed in a restored 1850s Methodist church; the nearby wedding gardens; and the former hotel have all been hurt. Lauro estimates the event spaces lost 75 percent of their annual revenue in 2020.
Lauro remains cautiously optimistic about the future: “We’re starting to see an uptick in people booking for this year and the following year.”
Still, Lauro expects the event spaces will remain socially distanced until late summer.
Olmsted Falls shops have a distinctly Northeast Ohio feel. Antiques, arts, crafts, jewelry, clothing, accessories, boutique items and tasty treats -- many of which cannot be found anywhere else -- are available.
Lauro also recommends that the young and young at heart stop by Dolls and Minis, which carries a wide variety of dolls and toys.
Hungry shoppers and explorers can fuel up at a number of local eateries.
“If it’s summertime, you have to go to the Falls Ice Cream Shop, especially if you have kids,” says Graven. He also recommends Gibbs Butcher & Brews for a burger and beer.
Lauro echoes Graven’s choices and adds the popular Moosehead Hoof & Ladder, housed in a historic 1940 firehouse; Matteo’s Casual Italian Restaurant; and Clementine’s, which features lunches, tea, coffee and pastries in a renovated livery stable.
Additional dining options include Mexican, Chinese, traditional American fare and a variety of others. Visitors feeling just a bit peckish may want to stop by the Grand Pacific Popcorn Company. Oenophiles can enjoy a bottle or just a glass of wine at The Olde Wine Cellar.
There is much more to discover in Olmsted Falls. In the end, the treasure that awaits may be not only the historic city, but also the opportunity to make memories with friends, family and fellow Northeast Ohioans in a place that was here long before we arrived and will continue to thrive well after we depart.
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