Aurora Ohio offers indoor and outdoor fun, food and wine
There is little in town to remind visitors that Aurora used to be the cheese capital of the country. Its days as a small farming community ended in the 1960s when its location near both Akron and Cleveland fueled its growth into a 25-square-mile suburban city. Still, it retains a rural feel in many areas, with lots of green space, a Western Reserve architectural style, family-friendly neighborhoods and one of the best public school districts in Ohio.
Location
Aurora is in the northwest corner of Portage County, with Geauga County on its northern border, and Summit County to the west. The city is bisected by state Routes 82 (east-west) and 43 (north-south).
Highlights
The origin of the city’s name is a bit of a mystery. Some believe Aurora was the name of the daughter of Maj. Amos Spafford, one of the first settlers of Cleveland. Others believe the village was named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn.
The city used to be the cheese capital of the country. The earliest cheese factories were built in 1862. By 1904, the town was shipping more than 4 million pounds of cheese annually.
The city’s Geauga Lake became the site of several recreational facilities over the years, as early as 1887. An amusement park of the same name operated until 2007. The Wildwater Kingdom water park attached to the site continued to operate until 2016. Geauga Lake was also the second location for the SeaWorld chain of marine theme parks, closing in 2000.
Notable residents have included former Cleveland Browns football coach Blanton Collier, actress Anne Heche, and Cleveland baseball team fan favorite Jim Thome.
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Attractions
Please note: As the area recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are altering their hours of operation. Be aware that the information reported in this list may change.
• Aurora Farms Premium Outlets is a collection of more than 50 brand-name stores, including clothing and shoes, kitchen wares, home decor and gift stores. General hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. However, hours may vary between individual stores. Located at 549 S. Chillicothe Road. premiumoutlets.com/outlet/aurora-farms
• ThornCreek Winery & Gardens, 155 Treat Road, is nestled among 8 acres of gardens. In 2013, the venue added a waterfall, babbling brook, lush plantings and twinkling lights and can cater events up to 200 people. The winery is open for bottle carryout 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The tasting room is open 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. thorncreekwinery.com
• Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, was founded by a small group of friends in 1959. Today, it still produces four shows a year, changing with each season. A Children’s Theatre Workshop is also offered during the late summer with a hands-on instructional emphasis. The ACT is located in the Performing Arts Center of Aurora Memorial Library. Visit auroracommunitytheatre.com to find the schedule and purchase tickets.
• Secret Garden Antique Mall is 3,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles, staffed by a co-op of vendors. Located at 196 S. Chillicothe Road. Follow facebook.com/secretgardenantiquemall for specials and news about the sellers. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
• Sunny Lake Park is just one of several great parks in the city. Amenities include a paved exercise trail, pavilions, athletic fields and a sand volleyball court and nature trails. There’s a 68-acre fishing lake (catch and release only) and a boathouse with rowboat, paddle boat and kayak rentals (in season). There’s also a dog park and a disc golf course. Find the south entrance at 885 East Mennonite Road, or the north entrance at 625 Page Road.
• The city bills its Moebius Nature Center as its “natural treasure.” The center — which is 100% volunteer supported and funded — hosts educational programs and activities on its 44-acre property, located just east of Sunny Lake Park. There are trails, a pond, picnic pavilion, turtle and deer enclosures, and the facility is available for rent. Learn more at mymnc.org but also follow the center on Facebook to learn what programs are coming up: facebook.com/my.mnc.
• In addition to its parks, the city offers these outdoor activities: There are community garden plots (available to residents and nonresidents for a fee), there is city property available to bow hunters during deer season, and fishing is permitted at Sunny Lake Park and Spring Hill (with a city permit). Find details at auroraoh.com/467/Parks-Recreation.
• Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve, 1230 Old Mill Road, showcases swamps and marshlands filled with herons, ducks, geese, muskrats and beavers. The wetlands owe their existence to ice age glaciers. Fishing is permitted in a spring-fed lake, and there are hiking trails, picnic shelters and cross-country skiing in the winter. stateparks.com/tinkers_creek_state_nature_preserve_in_ohio.html
• Another nature preserve is the Aurora Sanctuary, owned by the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland. To date, 185 species of birds have been identified on this property, located north of Pioneer Trail and east of Page Road. It was initially purchased by the Cleveland Bird Club in 1941, and is believed to be the oldest bird sanctuary in Ohio. A 2-mile trail system can be found on the west end of the property. Find a map at https://clevelandaudubon.org/?p=45.
• Mad Jack’s Grill & Pub, 204 S. Chillicothe Road, offers traditional American food. There’s also an adjacent 1815 Tavern. It’s open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday. madjackspub.com
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• Cafe Toscano, 215 W. Garfield Road, is a classic Italian eatery. Open for dinner only: 4 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Find the menu at mycafetoscano.com.
• Cafe Tandoor, 96 Barrington Town Square Drive, features traditional Tandoori cooking from India. Because food is served in an a la carte system of serving bowls, diners can share many different dishes. Open for dinner only: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday. cafetandoorcleveland.com
• El Camino, 395 N. Aurora Road, specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine, with Taco Tuesdays, Fajita Night and weekday happy hours. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. elcaminomexican.com
About Aurora
Founded: 1799. It became a village in 1929, and a city in 1971.
Population: 16,000
School and mascot: Aurora City School District, the Greenmen
Website: auroraoh.com
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