Kings Mills

In southwest Warren County, residents of Kings Mills enjoy returning home from downtown Cincinnati, Kings Island amusements, or local sports facilities to quiet suburban streets. It’s just as easy to access Interstate 71 for your daily commute as it is to plan a weekend staycation. Adam Teutsch, Assistant General Manager of popular local gathering spot, Cartridge Brewing, says, “In Kings Mills, there’s more than enough for families, history buffs and thrill seekers — from the fantastic school district, tennis opens, and Kings Island fun, to an interesting past as the town where King Powder Company set up gun powder operations. That all ceased when Peters Cartridge Company closed in the 1940s, and today, our brewery is inside that renovated factory, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

Along its residential streets, sidewalks that are far back from the roads connect sizable, beautifully landscaped yards. Cape Cods with quaint porches are priced under $300,000 and four-bedroom two-story homes built in the late 1990s range from $390,000 to $500,000. Homes are often a blend of brick and siding, with multiple gables and two-story foyers. Contemporary brick-front Colonials built in 2002 can ask around $470,000, and three-bedroom ranch styles built in the 1960s are often priced under $200,000.

Public schools are within the Kings Local School District, which earns an A grade from Niche. Kids start at one of three elementary schools, including Kings Mills Elementary. For grades 5 and 6, students move on to Columbia Intermediate School and then attend grades 7 and 8 at Kings Mills Junior High, which is connected to Kings Mill High. When eighth graders take advanced courses, they can walk through a connecting door to classrooms in the high school. All four of these schools earn an A-minus grade from Niche. In 2022, the Kings High football team captured the Division II title, and every year, seniors custom-paint their assigned parking spaces.

Recreation is abundant in Kings Mills, whether kicking soccer balls at Carter Park or biking the Little Miami Scenic Trail along the river. Residents can also join the Lindner Family Tennis Center to practice, compete or attend the Western and Southern Open tournaments featuring stars such as Venus and Serena Williams. The Lindner food court offers more than a dozen restaurants, including Firehouse Subs, Planet Smoothie, Skyline Chili and more.

Kings Island Amusement Park is a community centerpiece, teeming with coasters, rides, and a 35-acre water park. New in 2023 is the themed Adventure Port, which is home to the Adventure Express wooden coaster and the Sol Spin flying swings. Just one mile from Kings Island Amusement Park, locals find off-the-grid refreshment at Camp Cedar RV Resort, which is well-equipped with poolside cabanas, restaurants and cozy cottages. For spur-of-the-moment dinners out, residents love the margaritas and Mexican classics at El Rancho Nuevo, where larger-than-life sculptures of a three-man mariachi band flank the outdoor patio. For steak lovers, there’s an Outback tucked at the end of Kings Center Court.

Kings Mills is also home to Cartridge Brewing, which Teutsch says sat abandoned for many years. Teutsch adds, “The Cartridge Factory is a big draw to guests who snuck in all those years ago. They love coming back to see the abandoned building transformed. Also, having award-winning beers — with a combined 13 medals from the Ohio Craft Brewers Cup and the U.S. Open Beer Championship — certainly helps. Plus, our famous Detroit-style pizzas are always a fan favorite. Locals can make reservations for tours of the brewery, covering everything from the factory’s history to the science of beer-making, along with guided flight tastings and pretzels.” Just west on Kings Mills Road, the relatively new Shoppes of Mason, which opened in 2017, gathers salons, services, stores and eateries in one convenient plaza. Kroger is the Shoppes’ anchor grocery store.

Easy-access Kings Mills is a community that blends city conveniences, lively destinations and local history with an easygoing suburban vibe.

Written By

Lia Girard

Photography Contributed By

Holly Haarmeyer

Video By

Stewart Taveras