Rural roads and agriculture define daily life in South Amherst
South Amherst offers true country living around the corner from the city of Amherst. Rural residential roads surround private farmlands and undeveloped natural areas. “A lot of people who live there have 4-H or FFA projects to raise livestock,” says Anne Zacharias, Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services who has sold in the area before. “If you want some chickens or cows, you can have them.” The village also offers residents recreational areas, small locally owned businesses and seasonal community events. Main roads connect drivers to busier commercial centers, Amherst employers and a major interstate into Cleveland.
Farmlands and country homes line quiet village streets
“It feels like there’s really only about seven streets in South Amherst,” Zacharias says. “It’s so small, but still, there’s more space between people.” Single-family homes line long country roads and shorter streets off-shooting from the main stretch. Grassy lawns have large-bowed shade trees and bushy, sometimes overgrown, shrubs. Bright flowers, flapping American flags and telephone poles add visual variety. Dense forests and private farmlands butt up against the backside of homes. Bungalows, ranch-style houses, split-level homes and Colonial-inspired farmhouses are the most common home styles. Prices typically range between $140,000 and $390,000, and Zacharias says listings rarely stay up for long.
A community park, golf course and raceway draw locals outside
Most of the village’s green space is farmland, but South Amherst Community Park offers a place for recreation. It has a basketball court, a shaded picnic shelter and a playground. People also use the park’s large field for soccer games and picnicking. Douglas Field hosts Firelands Falcons baseball games in the spring but is also open for public use. Whiskeyville Golf Club’s fairways are also open to the public. Just outside the village, people gather at Lorain Raceway Park to watch high-speed racing from April to October. People also visit the Buckeye Quarry, which used to be the world’s largest sandstone quarry. It stopped operating in the 1990s and is now a historic and picturesque natural landmark.
Commercial options are limited, but other businesses are minutes away
Only a few businesses are inside the village. Whiskeyville Still N Grill serves laidback fare but also hosts pool tournaments and motorcycle meetups. Piggy’s Main Street Market is the community’s corner store, selling snacks and a few grocery items. More options are outside village limits along Milan Elyria Road. Secondhand shops like Quirky Trinkets and Thrifty Treasures are popular. Jamie’s Flea Market has both indoor and outdoor vendor stalls. Amherst Diner serves breakfast classics, and Big V’s Ice Cream is known for its Dole Whips and specialty sundaes. Residents are also roughly 6 miles from shopping centers in Amherst and Oberlin.
Country roads connect to Amherst jobs and a major toll highway
Milan Elyria Road and North Lake Street create the village’s central intersection. These country roads connect to Amherst, where many people work, and Interstate 90. The highway leads to downtown Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in about 30 to 40 minutes. Drivers must pay a toll to access the interstate. Residents are also 10 minutes away from hospitals in Amherst and Oberlin.
Two creeks pass through the village. While seasonal flooding minimally impacts homes, it can occasionally cause hazardous conditions along roads.
Students are near Firelands schools and Oberlin College
Students attend the Firelands Local Schools district, which earns a B rating from Niche. The district’s three schools serve kindergarten through 12th grade and have thriving athletics programs. South Amherst is also 6 miles from Oberlin College, the nation’s first integrated and coeducational college.
Car shows, parades and markets fill the village calendar
While the community is small, locals find opportunities to connect and celebrate. Spring and summer bring farmers markets, village-wide rummage sales and the South Amherst Historical Society’s Dust-N'-Drive Car Show. Holiday events include a Memorial Day parade, Halloween trick or treating and a December tree lighting.
