Lake Waynoka is a gated community stocked with amenities
Lake Waynoka is a gated lakeside community about an hour outside of Cincinnati. It's a place where residents spend their weekends relaxing on the water and can drive golf carts to get around instead of cars. There are plenty of private amenities, including a full-size fitness center and a restaurant with poolside service. "My wife and I have always said it's our little piece of heaven," says Ron Garland, a Realtor with Comey & Shepherd Realtors and a local resident. "It's far enough to get away from the city, but you can still come and go as you please." About half of the residents are vacation homeowners, while the other half stay here year-round. Though part of the lake is open as a campground, no short-term housing rentals are allowed, leading to a tight-knit community.
There are several similar lake communities in the Cincinnati area, notably Lake Lorelei and Lake Lakengren. In comparison, Lake Waynoka has more extensive amenities, but also slightly higher prices.
Open lots and homes that range from $200k to $1 million
When Lake Waynoka was first established in the 1970s, the developer encouraged many families to invest in the land as campsites, even if they couldn't afford to build yet. As a result, the age of homes varies greatly, with properties still being built today. The neighborhood has a relatively even mix of established homes and plots of land for sale. "On the water, land will probably be over $100,000, and if it's a really good location with a great dock, over $200,000," Garland says. "Something off the water could be around $7,000." All plots of land and existing houses are part of the Waynoka Property Owners Association, which has annual dues and regulations.
Prices for inland homes are typically between $200,000 and $450,000 and often come with an acre of land or more. Lakefront properties start at around $450,000 and go all the way up to $1 million. "If you want a lakefront home, it's important to get an agent who knows the lake," Garland says. "All sorts of details about your location and depth at the lakefront really matter." According to FirstStreet.org, the community's risk of flooding is moderate.
Year-round recreation at the lake, pools and indoor fitness center
The lake is the community's headline attraction, with 290 acres open for boating, swimming and fishing. Lake Waynoka differs from other regional lake communities because it does not allow jet skis. For those who don't have waterside homes, Waynoka Marina has boat slips for rent and a sandy beach area. "A few years ago, we renovated part of the marina to have an outdoor brewery feel with string lights, a fire pit, and corn hole," Garland says. "And we have a little stage for live music."
The Waynoka Health & Recreation Center has a game room, a full-service fitness facility and a gymnasium with courts for basketball, pickleball and tennis. There's also an indoor pool, a hot tub and three outdoor pools. The community has regular event programming at the Rec Center, including Zumba and swim lessons.
An active community brought together by clubs and community events
Lake Waynoka is knit together by its clubs and committees. There's a Civic Club to beautify common spaces, a Fishing/Lake Committee to oversee water maintenance and several social groups who share a love for books, gardening or golf. "You can be as involved as you want to be," Garland says. "There's a lot of stuff going on all the time, so this is often a popular place to retire. But there are also people who have a house back in the woods and just want to be more private."
The clubs also help to plan annual events. "One of our biggest events is the annual Poker Run put on by the Water Sports Club," Garland says. During the Poker Run, residents decorate their boats and travel to designated stations around the lake to pick up cards to try and get the best poker hand. Other celebrations at the lake include a golf cart parade, a beach party on Labor Day and fireworks for the Fourth of July.
One local restaurant and bar, with more options in Mount Orab
The community has its own restaurant, Angela's Curbside by the Lake, which serves classic American fare like burgers and milkshakes. Right next door, Waynoka Lounge has daily drink specials and stays open late. "If you need something real quick, like ice or drinks, the Outpost is a convenience store just a mile or two down the road," Garland says. "But the closest city would probably be Mount Orab, which has a Kroger and some restaurants." Mount Orab is 15 miles away.
College credit opportunities at Eastern High School
Kids are zoned to attend Russellville Elementary School, which gets a B-minus grade from Niche. Then it's on to Eastern Middle, rated C-plus, and Eastern High, rated C. The high school offers College Credit Plus courses in partnership with local universities.
About one hour east of Cincinnati
Residents often use golf carts to get around within Lake Waynoka, but once outside the gate, it's a car-dependent area. Cincinnati is 55 miles away, about an hour trip by connecting with state Route 32. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International is the closest major airport, and the nearest hospital is Mercy Health in Mount Orab, about 15 miles away. Other major cities like Dayton, Columbus and Lexington are just less than a two-hour drive.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
