Ohio serves as a gateway to the Adirondack Park in New York
The town of Ohio lies in the southwestern foothills of the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. With 6 million acres of forests, rivers, mountains and lakes, the park is the largest publicly protected area in the United States. A large swath of Ohio’s acreage is within the section of the park known as the Black River Wild Forest, and the closest cities, Rome and Utica , are about 40 miles away, affording the town’s 1,000 residents a peaceful lifestyle surrounded by wilderness. “The town of Ohio is the gateway to that section of the Adirondack Park,” says Marty Gorton, real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Sexton Real Estate, who has 10 years of local experience. “A lot of snowmobiling, a lot of skiing, a lot of hiking, a lot of boating.”
Black River Wild Forest offers hiking, camping and wildlife
The Black River Wild Forest spans 120,000 acres of hills, lakes, rivers and woodland, with numerous trails for hiking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Lakeshore camping, canoeing and kayaking are popular in warm weather. Deer and black bear roam the forest, and summer visitors can spot beavers and listen to the cries of the loons. The Adirondack Park is susceptible to landslides, particularly during heavy rainfall, so trails can close on short notice. Hinckley Reservoir is another nice spot for fishing, hiking and mountain biking. West Canada Creek flows out of the reservoir and follows the path of New York State Route 8 for several miles. “They call it the West Canada Creek, but it’s a pretty good-sized river, famous for fly-fishing,” Gorton says. The Town of Ohio Municipal Park has a playground, a recreation hall, a large picnic shelter and a playing field.
Cabins and A-frames shaded by evergreen trees in rural Ohio
Ohio’s narrow roads lead past properties hidden behind tall evergreen trees. Most homes are concentrated in the lower half of the town, with some scattered throughout the Black River Wild Forest. Some offer direct access to the area’s lakes, ponds and streams. Land parcels typically measure 5 to 10 acres, and many cottages and cabins serve as hunting getaways. “A lot of people have summer homes there, but sometimes they’re there all year long,” Gorton says. Homes linger on the market for 141 days — nearly three times the national average of 53 — and sales are rare. Recently, a ranch-style home sold for $196,000, and a small cottage went for $215,000, while two A-frames with access to Honnedaga Lake sold for $825,000 each. Ohio has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Ohio residents head to Poland and Utica for gas and groceries
Wood-paneled walls and deer mounts create a rustic, cozy atmosphere at Ohio Tavern & Restaurant. Snowmobilers often park outside before heading in for comfort food and Bloody Marys at the long, curved bar. Locals can fuel up at Northway Stop & Shop, about 25 miles away on Route 365 near the Hinckley Reservoir, or drive 35 miles to Stewart’s Shops in Poland. More restaurants, shopping centers and grocery stores, including Aldi and Price Chopper, can be found about 40 miles away in Utica.
Travelers use Route 8 to reach Utica and other highways
Route 8 is the main road connecting Ohio to Utica, where travelers link to other highways to complete the 80-mile drive to Syracuse and the closest major airport. Health care services are available 40 miles away at Wynn Hospital in Utica. Upstate New York winters are cold and snowy, which can interfere with travel plans.
Students benefit from small class sizes at Poland schools
Most students start at Poland Elementary School for prekindergarten through Grade 5. The elementary school receives a Niche grade of B-minus, and Poland Junior/Senior High School is rated C-plus. Both offer small classes with student-teacher ratios of 10 to 1. Several of the district’s bus routes run to Ohio but mostly stick to the roads southeast of State Route 365 and the Hinckley Reservoir.
Fireworks, tractor pulls and BBQ at Ohio’s Field Day
Ohio’s Field Day brings neighbors together in August for tractor pulls, a parade, a car show, a cornhole tournament, kids activities and a chicken BBQ. The one-day event caps off with an evening fireworks display. Proceeds benefit other community gatherings, including the town’s summer youth recreation program, which offers free breakfast and lunch to kids 18 and under.
