A rustic 'river town' about 10 miles from Cincinnati
In an early scene from 1988's Oscar-winning film, "Rain Man," Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman walk the shaded streets outside St. Anne Covent before departing on a cross-country road trip. The convent, which sits directly across Mary Ingles Highway from a nature preserve—and the Ohio River beyond—was built in 1919. Today, it's home to the Sisters of Divine Providence, a Gothic brick anchor in Melbourne, a neighborhood approximately 10 miles from Cincinnati. "We're a river town," says Angela Ross, City Clerk for the City of Melbourne. "There aren't a ton of people here…but the river is a major shipping channel to the Midwest, so there's almost always constant employment." Manufacturers beside the Ohio include CertainTeed, which employs close to 300 people, and, with the exception of a few numbered residential streets in a part of town better known as Silver Grove, the area is still relatively rural. It's a mix of farmland, a few church steeples and creekside industrial buildings, whose moss-covered stone reflects the passage of time.
1920s bungalows beside the river and rural farmland
Housing in Melbourne is mainly concentrated closer to the Ohio River and along Mary Ingles Highway, also known as U.S. Route 8. Prospective buyers will find 1920s-era bungalows and split-level houses from the 1960s on relatively compact lots for between $100,000 and $250,000. On the outskirts of town, often beside Four Mile Creek, it's common to find modest homes on larger swaths of land with enough room to park off-roading vehicles or keep chickens. There's 1990s Traditional architecture, a few 19th-century farms and ranch-style houses on rolling hillsides; and homes on the neighborhood's largest lots can sometimes reach prices upwards of $600,000. In Melbourne, higher price tags often correspond with acreage. Properties here sell after an average of 15 days, weeks faster than the national average of 44.
Route 8 dive bars, groceries 6 miles away
Retail and dining within the neighborhood are limited to a few stops along Route 8. There's Pepperoncini's Pizza, a popular destination for takeout and delivery, and Melbourne Roadhouse, which is open until 2 a.m. daily. "Melbourne is quiet and peaceful. There's a church, a quickie mart, then you blink, and you're Downtown," notes one of Roadhouse's long-time bartenders, who herself calls the area home. "There isn't even a dollar store, which is unusual," she adds. Regulars at this dimly-lit neighborhood haunt can play pool after work or order classic bar food in plastic, paper-lined baskets. For groceries, big-box retail and chain restaurants, residents can drive along Alexandria Pike; there's a Kroger 6 miles away, along with stops like Applebee's, Raising Cane's and Arby's. Fine dining and boutique shopping are accessible in larger cities like Cincinnati, which has become a Midwest destination due to its growing independent restaurant scene, according to Doug Spitz, lead Realtor at DWELL513.
A nature preserve and athletic facilities in Pendery Park
Considering that the majority of the neighborhood is still relatively undeveloped, open fields and heavily forested areas aren't difficult to find within Melbourne. Residents can explore hiking trails lined with birch trees, silver maples and sycamores in St. Annes Woods and Wetlands, a nature preserve established in the early 20th century by the Cincinnati-born botanist Lucy Braun. Less than 2 miles away, youth teams practice at Pendery Park, which includes 70-plus acres of baseball fields, basketball courts and soccer fields. It's also common to find small farms along narrow, winding roads, equestrian centers, dog breeders and vineyards throughout Melbourne's rural landscape.
Vineyards, Fall Fest at Neltner's Farm and venues in Cincinnati
Since 2000, StoneBrook Winery has been operating off of Vineyard Lane. It's one of the eight stops along the Northern Kentucky Wine Trail, and visitors can make appointments for tastings on the weekends. Neltner's Farm hosts Fall Fest throughout the end of September and into October, a month complete with petting zoos, pony rides, live bluegrass performances on the weekends and vendors selling homemade ice cream. "We've been doing Fall Fest for the last 13 years," says Kevin Neltner, a partner at the Farm. "The Farm's been in the family since 1892. It's generational." Couples book the venue for weddings throughout the year, and it's also known for its fresh vegetables. "We also do hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers," says Neltner. There are always more opportunities at Cincinnati event venues like Riverbend Music Center, Paycor Stadium—home of the Bengals—and the Great American Ballpark.
AP options and career pathways at Campbell County High School
Students can enroll in Campbell County Public Schools, starting off at Crossroads Elementary School in prekindergarten, which has an A-minus grade from Niche. The school is approximately 7 miles—or 15 minutes—from Melbourne. Campbell County Middle and Campbell County High both have B-plus grades, and over 50% of students at Campbell County High are enrolled in AP classes. Options include everything from 2D Art and Design to Music Theory, and students can also choose between four career pathways, taking courses in fields like Early Childhood Education and Animal Science Systems.
Commutes along Route 8 and Interstate 471
Public transportation is limited within Melbourne, and most commuters rely on their own vehicles when traveling into Downtown Cincinnati, Newport or Covington. Queen City, specifically, is just over 10 miles away—about 20 minutes—along Route 8 and Interstate 471. The Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, home to a dozen commercial airlines that fly everywhere from Boston to Paris, is just over 20 miles from the neighborhood along Interstate 275. Cincinnati is also known for its top-rated medical care, where facilities include Cincinnati Children's and Christ Hospital. St. Elizabeth is closer to Melbourne in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.
Photography Contributed By
Lisa Dachsteiner
