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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Elevate your lifestyle with this exceptional west-facing lakefront retreat on the Main Chain of Portage Lakes’ West Reservoir, where breathtaking sunsets become part of your everyday experience. Offering 80 feet of prime frontage on the widest part of West Reservoir, this contemporary home has been completely transformed inside and out, blending modern luxury with effortless lakeside living. A
Prime Portage Lakes Potential | Coventry TownshipOpportunity knocks on this oversized corner lot! Located just a stone’s throw from the water and minutes from the public boat launch, this property is the ultimate "diamond in the rough" for anyone looking to plant roots in the Cottage Grove Lakes community. Sitting on a generous, level corner lot, this home offers the footprint and yard space
Meticulously maintained and thoughtfully upgraded ranch located in New Franklin City/Coventry School District. Ideally situated just minutes from all that the Portage Lakes area has to offer, including State Park lake system, bars & restaurants, Clock Tower District and nearby public golf course. This home has seen numerous updates, including newer siding, roof, H/E. furnace, central air, an
Welcome to this stunning lakefront home situated on the main chain of Portage Lakes. This inviting home has a WOW factor. This is a four level split home with a two car attached garage. There are three nicely sized bedrooms and three full baths. There are also two full kitchens in this home. Upon entry at the front door, there is a large kitchen and dining room overlooking the huge windows to the
Welcome to this charming and beautifully maintained home located in the heart of Portage Lakes! Situated just moments from the water, this property offers the perfect blend of lakeside living and everyday convenience. Step inside to discover a warm and inviting interior filled with natural light, featuring spacious living areas for both relaxing and entertaining. The thoughtfully designed layout
Courtney HatfieldMcDowell Homes Real Estate Services
Rare opportunity in the desirable Portage Lakes area! This nearly 7.8-acre property sits directly across from North Reservoir, offering beautiful views and easy public access for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing, plus it’s just minutes from Portage Lakes State Park and public boat launches. The spacious ranch features three first-floor bedrooms with refinished hardwood floors, 1.5 updated baths,
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
HELLO DARLING! Welcome home to 316 Hohman Ave in Portage Lakes. This property has a perfect location: close to the lakes, highway access and many amendities (including ice-cream within 1/2 mile). The home boasts 960 square feet on the first floor including large living room space + corner windows, *fun* eat-in-kitchen, three bedrooms that share the full bath. Lower level includes a huge rec room
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
Charming Cape Cod situated on a spacious half-acre lot, featuring an inviting enclosed front porch perfect for relaxing. The main level offers a generous living room, formal dining room open to an updated kitchen, and a convenient mudroom area. You’ll also find a versatile first-floor bedroom or office, along with a half bath and first-floor laundry for added convenience. Upstairs boasts two
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
The advertised rate of $11,118/month is the lowest available price, based on a 30 day(s) stay with a move-in date of October 26, 2026.Rates vary depending on the duration of stay, season, and other parameters. For exact pricing and additional pricing components, please visit our website and enter your desired move-in and move-out dates. The rate is applicable when billed upfront; it can
The advertised rate of $11,343/month is the lowest available price, based on a 1 month(s) stay with a move-in date of September 10, 2026.Rates vary depending on the duration of stay, season, and other parameters. For exact pricing and additional pricing components, please visit our website and enter your desired move-in and move-out dates. The rate is applicable when billed upfront; it
The advertised rate of $7,518/month is the lowest available price, based on a 30 day(s) stay with a move-in date of October 27, 2026.Rates vary depending on the duration of stay, season, and other parameters. For exact pricing and additional pricing components, please visit our website and enter your desired move-in and move-out dates. The rate is applicable when billed upfront; it can be
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