Greendale

Just 24 miles down U.S. Route 50 along the Ohio River from Downtown Cincinnati, homebuyers can find a secluded lake life in Hidden Valley, a quaint neighborhood hiding in the majestic beauty that surrounds the Cincinnati tri-state area just on the other side of the Indiana state line. “The lake access and being able to use the lake is a big plus in Hidden Valley,” John Miller, a Realtor for Fehrman Realty, says. “You can get on the main roads and get over to Ohio, and you’ve got jobs there, but the taxes are a lot less expensive than they are in Ohio.” While the taxes and proximity to Cincinnati and the lake attract prospective residents to the area, they stick around for the laundry list of recreational opportunities, beautiful homes, community events and impressive schools. The Hidden Valley Lake Sports Complex provides a neighborhood green space with volleyball courts, an elaborate playground and baseball fields hosting local Little League games. The complex also has a 2.5-mile walking path that goes past the fields and into nature. When the weather heats up, residents sink their toes into the sand at Hidden Valley Lake Beach. Children enjoy spending time at the Hidden Valley Lake Pool Complex, which has two pools and a swim & dive team that children can join. Along with everyday lake use, residents can join the community Fish and Game Club. Hidden Valley has become a very sought-after neighborhood. “We have more buyers than listings available; it’s very desirable,” Jessica Mueller, a Realtor with Sibcy Cline Lawrenceburg, says. The tight, winding roads surrounding Hidden Valley Lake feature custom Craftsman designs, sporting a mix of Colonial Revival and midcentury modern styles on lakefront or lake-adjacent properties. New Traditional homes are common, but homebuyers will also find plenty of ranch-style builds or split-level floorplans along circular cut-outs and cul-de-sacs. As homebuyers move further from the shores, they’ll discover hillside homes surrounded by densely wooded areas and large lawns. Most properties sport plenty of room between neighbors, leaving space for private driveways and elaborate gardens. Prices range from $220,000 for a three-bedroom home removed from the lake to $1 million for a waterfront home with six bedrooms and over 6,000 square feet. Townhouses and condominiums are also available in the neighborhood and have sold for between $175,000 and $310,000. As for crime, the CAP Index gave Hidden Valley a Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score a neighborhood can receive. “We have 1-2 events every month,” Mueller, a member of the Hidden Valley Lake Civic Club, says. “We have over 200 people show up and watch the Polar Bear Dip every year, where people jump in the lake on New Year’s.” Along with the Polar Bear Dip, other Hidden Valley Lake community events include Weekly Family Beach Nights on Fridays in June and a Luau on the Beach in July. Outside the Hidden Valley Lake community, people can head 5 miles down Highway 50 to Lawrenceburg and be part of small-town community events like the annual Dearborn County Fair or the frequent races and car shows at the Lawrenceburg Motorcycle Speedway. For your closest shopping essentials, 7 miles east on Highway 50 is a Kroger in nearby Cleves. 8 miles in the opposite direction on Highway 50 is a Lowe’s, Kroger and a Wal-Mart along with chain food spots like Steak n’ Shake, Skyline Chili and Firehouse Subs. Right on the lake, Willie’s Sports Café has a friendly atmosphere offering classic bar bites on a lakefront patio. “You can park your boat and eat, they have docks attached,” Mueller says. State Line Restaurant slings classic comfort foods with homemade recipes, including breakfast favorites like pancakes and hashed potatoes. Students living in Hidden Valley may attend schools within the Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation. They may start at Bright Elementary, which serves kindergarten through fifth grade and earned a B-plus grade from Niche. From there, students move on to East Central Middle School, which also received a B-plus grade from Niche. In ninth grade, students head to East Central High School, which is A-minus-graded by Niche and won the Indiana 4A football state championship two years in a row (2022, 2023). Downtown Cincinnati is just a 24-mile drive from Hidden Valley using Route 50, which provides views of the Ohio River much of the way. No public transportation is available from Hidden Valley. Those looking to catch a flight can do so from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, a 17-mile drive from the neighborhood. Medical attention for locals can be found at the St. Elizabeth Dearborn Hospital, 8 miles away. Residents of Hidden Valley can join the Hidden Valley Golf Club, a member-only club with an 18-hole course, a snack shop, a putting green and a driving range. Just east of the neighborhood is the Sugar Ridge Golf Club, an 18-hole public course with a brand-new events center.