There’s more of a relaxed atmosphere in Portage Lakes, a neighborhood surrounding a chain of lakes about 7 miles south of downtown Akron. “The thing about Portage Lakes is that nobody cares who’s rich,” says John Scaglione, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty, who has lived there since 1997. “The guy who owns a lakefront house here is wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and he has a beat-up pickup truck in the driveway. The neighborhood is based on hard-working people who care.” That’s evident in the number of charity events in which the community participates. Portage Lakes State Park is the site for the annual Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump in February, which all proceeds go to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. In July, Dragons on the Lake is a Dragon Boat Festival that raises money for an area organization that consists of breast cancer survivors who competitively race those types of boats. “We have breast cancer survivors speak, and people go out and race against each other, and we have no idea what we’re doing. It’s just fun,” says Sarah Urbano, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty.
Portage Lakes is a cluster of lakes joined together by community.
Boaters can relax and watch the sunset over Portage Lakes for a tranquil evening.
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Portage Lakes restaurant raises money after a tragedy
One restaurant with plenty of dock parking and a large patio conducive to waterfront dining is Upper Deck Bar & Grill. In November 2024, a few weeks after a Portage Lakes family lost two high school students in a house fire, the restaurant held a benefit dinner for three hours on a Sunday afternoon, with all the proceeds going to the family. “We raised $5,700 in that time frame,” says Jack Primack, who works at Upper Deck. There’s an indoor and outdoor stage for live music, and it’s a gathering place for Ohio State football games on Saturdays and Cleveland Browns games on Sundays during football season. Lala’s In The Lakes is a more upscale restaurant that still emphasizes casual dining. Steak, seafood and pasta are some of the favorites. There’s live music on the first Thursday of every month. Grocery store options include Save A Lot, Buehler’s Fresh Foods and Acme Fresh Market.
Upper Deck in the Portage Lakes is a popular destination to see life on the lake.
From date night to family dinner, Lala's In The Lakes makes every night special.
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Speakeasy origins in Portage Lakes
The original houses in the Portage Lakes neighborhoods were small cottages by the lakes. While some of those original houses are still around, many people have either torn down the old house and rebuilt it or added to the original. “When I bought my house, it was 600 square feet, and I added 3,000 square feet,” Scaglione says. “I bought it for $170,000 in 1997 - today, the lot without the house would be worth $700,000.” Many of the cottages date back to the 1920s, around Prohibition. “This was a big speakeasy area,” he adds. “Every once in a while, I’ll notice a still in a basement.” Homes with a view of the lake range from $440,000 to over $1 million. The lakes in the neighborhood are part of a dam system, so severe flooding is rare. The exception is the homes near Long Lake Channel in the north of the neighborhood, which are not on the dam system and are susceptible to severe flooding during heavy rains. Homes away from the water are priced between $100,000 and $360,000. Popular styles are multiple-story contemporary lake houses on the water, modest bungalows and ranch-style designs elsewhere. Most people are full-time residents, though some spend winter in a warmer climate.
Beautiful, well-maintained homes line the Portage Lakes for boaters to enjoy.
There are many types of homes throughout Portage Lakes.
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Parks and Portage Lakes State Park
It’s a short drive south to reach Portage Lakes State Park, which has a public beach on the shore of Turkeyfoot Lake. It’s the site for the July Dragon Boat race and the winter Polar Bear event. The park also has a disc golf course, a dog park and plenty of boating and fishing opportunities. It’s been a few years, but ice fishing and snowmobiling occur on the lake when the ice is thick enough. With the neighborhood surrounded by lakes, there are several opportunities for fishing and sites for boat launching. For those who prefer the occasional water hazard on an 18-hole course rather than frolicking in or near the water, there are a couple of opportunities to do that. Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links has been around for almost 100 years and is a public course. Firestone Country Club is a private members-only facility with three 18-hole courses. Until 2018, the PGA held the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at this course, which Tiger Woods won eight times. It’s the current host course for the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship, a stop on the PGA Champions circuit, a men’s senior golf tour.
Swimmers enjoy taking a dip at Portage Lakes State Park.
Locals head over to Firestone Country Club for a round of golf in Portage Lakes.
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Coventry school chain
The Coventry Local School District is where public school students who live in Portage Lakes attend. Coventry Elementary School is rated a B and teaches kids through fourth grade. Fifth graders advance to Coventry Middle School, rated a B-minus. Coventry High School is rated a C-plus and has a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The school has been in its current location for 10 years, and the old location was at the present Coventry Elementary School building. St. Francis de Sales is a private Catholic school that teaches prekindergarten through eighth grade. It does not have a rating on Niche or GreatSchools.org.
Coventry Elementary School is where young minds start to achieve greatness.
Coventry Middle School is building foundations to success in Portage Lakes.
Coventry High School offers several types of after school programs in Portage Lakes.
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Akron METRO Bus
Many of the streets in the neighborhood are narrow, and there are no sidewalks. The public bus option is the Akron METRO system, which has stops on Manchester Road in the northern part of the neighborhood. Interstate 77 is about 5 miles to the east, and it’s a 9-mile trip to the Goodyear Tire Headquarters, one of the largest employers in Akron. The Akron-Canton Airport is 13 miles to the south, and four airlines serve it. Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport is a little more than 40 miles north.
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GreatSchools:
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Welcome home to this well-maintained Coventry Township property in a prime location near Portage Lakes, Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Course, Coventry Middle & High School, and convenient local shopping and dining. Situated on nearly half an acre, this home offers a spacious backyard, large driveway, handy storage shed, and a generous back deck—freshly repainted in 2025—perfect for relaxing or
This custom-built 2024 log home now offers additional land of .34 acres - totaling nearly 0.64 acres—in the heart of Portage Lakes, with lake privileges see supplements on the peaceful, no-wake North Reservoir. Ideal for fishing, kayaking, boating, and birdwatching. Enjoy beautiful lake views from the covered, open-framed front balcony, great room, and primary bedroom. The property is fully
Charming and well-maintained bungalow, situated on an oversized corner lot spanning over 3/4 of an acre. This 3-bedroom, 2-full bathroom home has been freshly painted throughout, with all carpets professionally cleaned--move-in ready and waiting for you. Sit back and enjoy your favorite drink on the enclosed back porch. The home includes a 1-year home warranty, offering added peace of mind for
Location! Location! Location! Super portfolio addition in a quiet residential neighborhood this triplex with ALL BRICK EXTERIOR offers a 2 car garage (22x24) with a large concrete drive for ample off-road tenant parking. Five exterior doors is a great safety features. Vinyl windows with pleasant views, updated leaf guards, and one layer roof. Tall 12-course basement, steel beam in garage, fenced
Clean & Contemporary Ranch in the "Portage Lakes" Area w/a Jumbo 1+ Car Garage, all nestled on a lovely lot across the street from Beautiful Long Lake! Enjoy the Ease of 1st floor living w/an inviting, large Living Room and glorious, seasonal Lake View! A Delightful Kitchen w/ room for your table & chairs. Two Roomy Bedrooms w/ Plush Carpet and A Full Bathroom that was beautifully updated in
Move in ready 2 bedroom, 2 bath brick ranch with lake view. Amish built oak cabinets in the eat-in kitchen with skylight and pantry. Living room with fireplace, 2 nice sized bedrooms and full bath. Family room off kitchen. Two 3 season sunrooms for your relaxation and enjoyment. Private park like backyard. 2 Car detached garage with new opener (2025) with Wi-Fi capabilities. Full basement with
Welcome home to this well-maintained Coventry Township property in a prime location near Portage Lakes, Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Course, Coventry Middle & High School, and convenient local shopping and dining. Situated on nearly half an acre, this home offers a spacious backyard, large driveway, handy storage shed, and a generous back deck—freshly repainted in 2025—perfect for relaxing or
This vacant lot is situated between Long Lake Channel and North Reservoir. Beautiful lake views are right across the street! This property features a single car garage and parking in the front as well as in the back through an alley easement. This property is being offered together with the adjacent house (MLS #5065400 - priced at $165,000) for total of $210,000. Schedule a showing today for a
Build your dream home on this 1.01 acre lot. Seller has made it ready to build! House has been removed. Abandoned well has been sealed. Fence has been added and trees taken down. A blank slate for your masterpiece. See supplements for additional information. Subject to a new survey to be filed when property is sold.
possibilities are endless... with this diamond in the rough. Truly a remarkable amount of lake frontage at approx 150 ft. providing spectacular lake views from nearly every room. There is a unused room off the foyer, that could be opened up to a room accessible from the front porch, could be another bedroom w/access to an awesome sunroom. There is a bedroom and full bath at street level. The
Location Location! Affordable building lot in the heart of Portage Lakes. This level lot is just a short walk to the Portage Lakes and the Portage Lakes restaurant district. Also convenient highway access. This lot one had a home on it so utilities are available at the street. These include gas, electric, phone, cable, and sewer. The owner had cleared a house site and includes a new survey
Location Location! Affordable building lot in the heart of Portage Lakes. This level lot is just a short walk to the Portage Lakes and the Portage Lakes restaurant district. Also convenient highway access. Utilities at the street include gas, electric, phone, cable, and sewer. This lot does not have an HOA so bring your own builder and park your boat in your own driveway. There are 2 additional
Only minutes from Akron, Newport Landing is located in the Portage Lake Recreation area where boating, skiing and swimming are just around the corner. These luxury 1 and 2 bedroom suites feature an in-suite washer and dryer, a fully equipped kitchen, large walk-in closets, and all the amenities of home. Community perks at Newport Landing include a renovated club house with a social room available
Welcome to your perfect lakeside retreat at this beautifully renovated 3-bedroom home on Portage Lakes (Long Lake). The master suite features a private balcony with stunning lake views, making it an ideal spot for relaxation. Enjoy the entire home and lake access, perfect for a getaway with friends and family.Inside, indulge in entertainment with a Nintendo featuring 620 games. Outside,
Enjoy a fully renovated lakefront retreat on the Western Reservoir, perfect for families and friends looking for relaxation and adventure. This 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home offers direct lake access, kayaks, a hot tub, and two levels of outdoor dining and lounging areas—everything you need for an unforgettable stay.The home features a fully equipped modern kitchen and a gorgeous resin wood
**Lakeview Portage Lakes unit**Beautiful fully renovated 3 bed 1 bath bottom unit! Completely remodeled kitchen and bathroom with new laminate vinyl plank flooring. Every wall and ceiling has been freshly painted with plumbing and electrical upgrades. Everything is brand new.Best part, right on the lake with a view you cant believe! Conveniently located next to bars and
Cottage located in Coventry Township on the Portage Lakes. Private entrance located on a private estate. 1 bedroom, 1 full bath, gas stove, fridge, microwave. Water has softener and purified. Basement a washer & dryer is provided and space for storage. Private parking with own driveway. Beautiful view of the lake with a patio and grill to spend summer days watching the boats
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