Andover draws in crowds with Pymatuning Lake
Andover is a small village on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border that draws in large crowds looking for a lakeside vacation. “We’re a small community, but we expand by hundreds of thousands of people during the summer,” says Lara Reibold, village zoning inspector and president of the Pymatuning Area Chamber of Commerce. Pymatuning Lake is a recreational destination, with swimming in the summer and skiing in the winter. Even during the busiest months, locals come together. “Here, everybody knows everybody, but they also know if somebody is sick, someone’s car broke down, and stuff like that,” Reibold says.” There is a significant Amish presence in the village, seen in local businesses and horse-and-buggies on the road.
Pymatuning Lake and village parks offer outdoor recreation
The 14,000-acre reservoir, colloquially called Pymatuning Lake, is the main attraction at Pymatuning State Park. Boat launches and docks dot the shoreline, making it easy for boaters, kayakers and anglers to access the water. There is also a swimming beach, campgrounds and short hiking trails. During the colder months, winter activities like sledding are popular. “When there is a winter like the winter we just had, people like to ice fish like crazy,” Reibold says.
Besides the lake, Andover has several parks. The village square, also called War Memorial Park, is an expansive green space filled with oak trees and picnic tables. There is also a playground and a ballpark in town. Five miles of the Pymatuning Greenway Trail have just been completed. Once finished, the trail will connect the reservoir to Lake Erie. Andover Golf Course is a public, beginner-friendly, nine-hole course. Programming at the library includes reading with therapy dogs and trivia nights.
Older homes are closer to the village square
Oak trees shade most of the village, where properties sit on grassy lots that are often an acre or smaller. Sidewalks line the roads closest to the square, where the oldest properties include Nationals, Victorian-era homes and Foursquares that date back to the late 19th century. Mid-to-late-20th-century residences, like split-level and ranch-style houses, are also common. Prices for single-family homes generally range from $110,000 to $200,000. Some nearby manufactured homes, like those in Andover Country Meadows, have sold for $80,000 to $120,000.
Pymatuning Lake Festival and Simply Christmas are annual celebrations
The annual Pymatuning Lake Festival draws in over 10,000 attendees every year. Kid-friendly activities include face painting, a watermelon eating competition and an ice-skating rink. “There’s a little something for everybody,” says Reibold, who helps plan the event. “There’s a tent that is shaded, so if people just want to get something to eat or sit down and enjoy the entertainment, they can. We have vendors there that people can walk around, and they’re varied.” Live music plays all weekend, and the first night ends with a fireworks show.
During the winter, locals come together for Simply Christmas, the village’s holiday celebration, on the weekend after Thanksgiving. This all-day event starts with breakfast with Mrs. Claus and ends with a parade and tree-lighting ceremony. The middle of the day features crafting, food and visitors from the North Pole. “We have live reindeer in the square,” Reibold says.
Local businesses include Town Tavern and Sparkle Market
Local shops and eateries surround the village square, ranging from CommUnity Thrift of Andover to the Bonnie Lee Creamery. “You have small-town, little shops that you don’t get in big cities,” Reibold says. “We don’t have your Walmarts and Home Depots.” Siberian Essence sells teas, gifts and herbs. Town Tavern is a longstanding bar in the village, which has been serving the community since the 1940s. At Andover Diner, lunch is available every day, but on Sunday, the menu is exclusively breakfast food. There are also Mexican and Chinese restaurants, and a handful of franchises and chains in the area. Residents get groceries from the independently owned Sparkle Market, although there is a Dollar General on the outskirts of the village. The closest Walmart is 20 miles away.
Pymatuning Valley schools include a Purple Star School
Pymatuning Valley Local School District serves the community. Pymatuning Valley Primary School earns a B from Niche, while the middle school receives a B-minus. Pymatuning Valley High School scores a C-plus and is a designated Purple Star School because of its commitment to helping families with military connections.
Cars and horse-drawn buggies share the road
Most residents rely on cars with U.S. Route 6 going through the village. “You’re either Amish on horse-and-buggy or you’re on a bike or you’re in the car,” Reibold says. While Ashtabula Regional Medical Center, about 30 miles away, has the closest emergency room, Andover Primary Care offers family medicine in the village. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is about an 80-mile drive and provides direct flights to over 40 destinations.
