Garrettsville has a quaint downtown, diverse events, tight community
Water flows off a scenic 13-foot waterfall in the center of Garrettsville, a small village about 40 miles from Cleveland. “There is a great community feel,” says resident and Realtor Kelly Zander with Vincent Patrick Realty. “Everybody is there for each other, and there’s lots of fun stuff to do.” Residents can explore the boutiques in the historic downtown area, catch a movie at the locally owned Garrettsville Cinema for $6 or less and attend one of the village’s many events. The chamber is expanding what people can do with the revival of Buckeye Block to include an outdoor amphitheater, a project primarily funded by grants and donations. Construction begins in the summer of 2025.
Most local shops and restaurants are along Main Street
Main Street is lined with restaurants and local shops like Waterfall Antiques & Collectibles and Village Book Street. Cellar Door Coffee Co. has coffee, breakfast sandwiches and wraps. “That’s a really big gathering place,” Zander says. “A lot of people get their coffee and hang out.” The menu at Two Travelers Tavern is filled with upscale twists of bar classics like sliders, flatbread and nachos. Garrett’s Mill & Brewing Company is known for its craft beer and views. “The Mill is really good,” Zander says. “If you eat in their dining room, you can see the waterfall.” There are several chains farther from the village center. Residents get their groceries from IGA or Save A Lot. The Garrettsville Farmers’ Market is every Thursday evening from June to August. Target, Walmart and Home Depot are less than 20 miles away.
Century Homes and New Traditional houses are common
Towering trees shade the heart of Garrettsville, where houses are close together on lots that are often less than a quarter of an acre. The trees thin out as the roads get farther from downtown. “Our outskirts are more rural, and people have bigger land,” Zander says. These larger lots range from half an acre to over 2 acres. The village center features what Zander calls “Century Homes,” properties that date back to the 19th century. These include Queen Annes, Gothic architecture and some Craftsman and Italianate homes. The rest of the area has ranch-style and New Traditional houses and Cape Cods built as recently as the 2020s. Depending on size and condition, prices generally range from $160,000 to $516,000.
Nelson Ledges Quarry and Bill Phelps Park have outdoor recreation
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park is less than 5 miles outside Garrettsville and spans about 250 acres of forests, meadows and water. It has four main hiking trails of varying difficulty that offer views of the falls. “They have a glass walkway that goes over the falls,” Zander says. “It’s gorgeous.” It's neighbor, Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, has swimming and cliff-jumping and hosts music festivals like Grassfire in the summer. Bill Phelps Park is next to the Portage County District Library and has basketball, baseball and softball fields. There is also a dog park and playground. It is near the multipurpose Headwaters Trail, over 8 miles long.
Locals support athletes in and out of James A. Garfield schools
Students attend James A. Garfield Local Schools, which have open enrollment. James A. Garfield Elementary, Middle and High Schools earn a B-minus from Niche. The high school’s track and field team has won 11 individual State Championship titles since 1993. “There’s a really big sports presence,” Zander says. “Everyone is really into it.” This goes beyond school sports, with many residents involved in activities like the Little League.
Community events include Summerfest, car cruises and garage sales
Garrettsville Summerfest is one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year. Live music plays all weekend, and attendees can explore vendors and competitions like the cornhole tournament and the hot wing eating contest. The weekend ends with a raffle and Garrettsville’s Got Talent, which any resident can sign up for. “People sing, they dance. Somebody did a comedy skit for it one time,” Zander says. Other events include car cruises, which happen every month during the summer, and the annual Garage Sale Weekend every May, which draws in hundreds of participants. “All the stuff that you don’t sell, you can take it to the YMCA, where they have a rummage sale,” Zander says.
Cars and golf carts share Garrettsville roads
Most people rely on cars to get around, although the main strip of Garrettsville is walkable. Golf carts are also common on the road. State Routes 88 and 82 cut through the village. The closest emergency room is about 12 miles away, at the University Hospital Portage Medical Center. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is about a 45-mile drive and offers nonstop service to over 40 destinations.
