Ballville has quiet streets, outdoor spaces and Fremont connections
Ballville is a rural bedroom community sandwiched between farmlands and Fremont ’s city amenities. Locals have just as much access to thriving businesses and major employers as they do to locally sourced produce and outdoor destinations. Residents can spend their days fishing along the Sandusky River, walking nature trails and golfing before returning home to tranquil neighborhoods. Students are only a few miles from Fremont schools, which offer flexible learning programs. Community events, like car shows and egg hunts, help keep neighbors connected throughout the year. Ballville has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Sandusky River access, primitive camping and plenty of deer
The Sandusky River winds through the community, creating year-round opportunities for fishing and kayaking. The river’s presence puts the area at moderate risk for flooding during heavy rain, according to First Street.
The Historic Tindall “Blue Iron” Bridge offers scenic views and passage over the water for pedestrians and cars. Nearby, Chudzinski Johanson Conservancy Park has walking trails and open fields. Conner Park is the community’s mainstay for local events, youth sports and playground playdates. People can walk on the paved paths encircling Fremont Reservoir or ride toy race cars on the track at Fremont Raceway Park. Other destinations include Sycamore Hills Golf Club and Fremont Community Recreation Complex. About 5 miles from Ballville, Wolf Creek Park offers canoe launches onto the Sandusky River, nature trails, fishing spots and campgrounds. “It’s primitive camping, meaning no electric, but you’ll still see people bringing in their RVs with generators,” says Jason Ginnever, staff member at Ballville Township.
Although no public hunting sites are within Ballville, deer are plentiful around Sandusky County and the Sandusky River, making hunting a popular county pastime. “Oh, Jesus Lord, there’s deer everywhere,” Ginnever says. “You drive very slowly on the way to work in the morning.”
Ranch-style and colonial homes have neatly trimmed grass lawns
Ballville mainly has residential streets. Bright green, neatly trimmed lawns dotted with mature trees, bushy shrubs and potted plants line long two-lane roads and short cul-de-sacs. Neighborhoods primarily have ranch-style homes, but colonial two-story homes, New Traditional houses and split-levels are other common architectural styles. Move-in-ready homes typically cost between $150,000 and $485,000, depending on size and condition.
A few local shops and farms with more options in Fremont
The community has minimal commercial options. Ballville EZ Shop Food & Beverage has been a longtime staple for fresh meat cuts, cheese and bakery specials. Casa Fiesta’s colorful interior invites people to enjoy authentic Mexican fare. Some farms surrounding Ballville sell fresh produce and seasonal plants. TJay’s Farm Market is popular for its sweet corn and pumpkin patch, while Steinberger Christmas Trees opens around the winter holidays. For more options, locals head into Fremont, which has various fast-food chains, small businesses and supermarkets, like Kroger.
Ross High School offers credit flexibility and student choice
Students attend Fremont City Schools, which has Lutz Elementary, Fremont Middle and Ross High. The elementary and high schools have C-plus ratings from Niche, while the middle school has a C score. Ross High School offers a credit flexibility program that allows students to test out or replace a traditional course with an alternative education option, like an internship or an online course.
Car travel is essential for jobs in Clyde and Toledo
Residents are car-dependent. Buckland Avenue and Morrison Road are main roads within the community, while Highways 6 and 20 are for traveling around the county. Highway 20 connects with Interstate 90, which leads to Toledo in roughly 40 miles. Drivers are also 51 miles from Toledo Express Airport.
Ballville doesn’t have many employers, so commuting is a must. “If there’s any industry, it’s farming,” Ginnever says. “This is definitely farming country.” Drivers are about 4 miles from Heinz North America in Fremont and less than 10 miles from Whirlpool warehouses in Clyde . ProMedica Memorial Hospital, which sits on the border of Fremont and Ballville, is another major employer.
Holiday attractions range from egg hunts to haunted houses
Conner Park is the epicenter for Ballville events. “There’s always something, whether seasonally or around the holidays, that the park tries to put on,” Ginnever says. One of the biggest annual events is the All Wheel Car Show. Locals line up their antique and classic cars for viewing and judging while food vendors sell snacks and bands play. Families visit the park in March for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, where the Easter Bunny cheers kids on as they search for over 1,200 eggs. Around Halloween, locals visit Don Miller Memorial Park to walk through the Haunted Hydro haunted house or head to Nightmare Grove near Fremont Raceway Park.
