American history highlights this waterfront community 53 miles from Cincinnati
Fifty-three miles from Downtown Cincinnati, Ripley is big on two things: American history and the Ohio River. “People move there because it’s a great little river town and a little village of people. It’s out in the country but close to Maysville, Kentucky,” Jo Ann Morgan, a Realtor with Ring Real Estate, says. The geography of Ripley plays into the waterfront lifestyle, which is ingrained in the town’s recreation and restaurants, while its border on Kentucky factors into how Ripley played into one of the pillars of American history: the abolitionist movement. A pair of museums in the area, the John Rankin House and the John Parker House, walk locals through that history. As for the waterfront aspect of the neighborhood, Ripley recently received $16 million for riverfront development. “It’s going to boost the community; a boat dock being built will be part of that,” Dave Campbell, the Vice President of Sales at Sibcy Cline Realtors, says.
From colonial townhouses on the water to farmhouses on acres of land
With its western edge on the river, Ripley has blocks of houses resting along Front Street for views of sunsets on the water from front porches and windows. These homes are usually close-set, giving many single-family homes small lawns and some townhouses no yards. Many homes reflect the area's history and date to the 1800s. Styles by the river include Victorians with wraparound porches and colonial townhouses. Further inland, locals can find brick bungalows, Folk Victorians with decorative trim and Italianate houses featuring corbels and brackets. As homebuyers expand their search from the town of Ripley into the rest of the neighborhood, ranch-style and farmhouse homes sit on large lots with several acres of land. Homes in the neighborhood have sold anywhere from $13,000 for a ranch-style home in need of a full renovation up to a $2.4 million farmhouse on 309 acres of land. As for crime, the CAP Index gave Ripley a Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average. Environmentally, homes near the water in Ripley are prone to flooding.
Three historical venues bring people from all over
As for the history of Ripley, residents can go to three museums to learn more about the town’s abolitionists. At the John Rankin House, they can visit an abolitionist and minister’s home. Rankin signaled to enslaved people escaping Kentucky and sheltered them as a stop on the Underground Railroad. “Students will do field trips to the Rankin house,” Morgan says. The John Parker House tour tells the story of a formerly enslaved person who bought his freedom and moved to Ripley to become a conductor of the Underground Railroad. The museum showcases his inventions and restored house. The Ohio Tobacco Museum is another popular historical spot for locals as it walks them through the history of tobacco and its role in Ohio.
Take in views of the Ohio River at John P. Parker Memorial Park
In Ripley, residents can spend quality time outdoors in a couple of recreation spots. At John P. Parker Memorial Park, visitors can stroll along paved paths below trees and alongside the Ohio River or rest on benches to relax while enjoying scenic views of the water and the Kentucky border. Eagle Creek Marina has a launch for boats, kayaks and more to get on the river. Logan’s Gap Campground offers campers in the area to spend a weekend. The campground also provides activities for children every weekend. Aberdeen Community Park offers the neighborhood children a playground to play on. The park also has a pavilion area with tables perfect for a family lunch.
Grab a meal at the Ripley Boat Club
The small town has essential retail and a few riverfront restaurants. To stock up on groceries and other goods, residents can visit the Family Dollar and Bristow Pharmacy for prescriptions. “It’s just local people and local restaurants. Ripley Boat Club is one that everybody seems to enjoy,” Morgan says. At Ripley Boat Club, customers can eat on a floating dock and then launch canoes on the dock after the meal. “It’s a huge highlight for the community,” Morgan says. Snappers Saloon has bar fare in a nautical-themed interior, plus listen to live music and karaoke on the patio overlooking the Ohio River.
Ripley hosts the Ohio Rural Heritage Festival
“The community has an Ohio Rural Heritage Festival every August,” Morgan says. The three-day festival includes a vendor market, live music, a car/truck show and more. People from all over the state attend the event.
Students attend the Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington Local School District
Students in Ripley may attend the Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington Local School District. Schools include Ripley Union Lewis Huntington Elementary School, Ripley Union Lewis Huntington Middle School and Ripley Union Lewis Huntington High School. According to Niche, the elementary school received a B-minus grade, the middle school was given a C-plus and the high school earned a B-minus. The high school has unique courses like Forensics and Transition to Career Math. As for private school options, the St. Michael School serves Pre-k through eighth grade and is located in the neighborhood. The school has not yet been graded from Niche.
53 miles from Downtown Cincinnati via U.S. Route 52
Residents of Ripley, about 53 miles southeast of Cincinnati, can commute to the big city via U.S. Route 52. For weekend trips in the city, they can visit the Cincinnati Art Museum or Washington Park. For residents looking to catch a flight, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is a 61-mile drive from Ripley. Medical attention can be found at Adams County Regional Medical Center, 24 miles away.
Photography Contributed By
Aislyn Sharp
