The rural community of Walnut is growing
Just east of Liberty Township, Walnut encompasses an area of communities and farmland from Millersport and Fairfield Beach in the north to Thurston and Pleasantville in the south. Each of these villages has a population of about 1,000 or less. However, a growing economy has recently been responsible for new development. “An Intel plant is being opened about 30 minutes from here, so the whole area is experiencing growth,” says Sam McCreery, an administrative assistant for the village of Pleasantville. Despite this expansion, most of the region is still farms and undeveloped countryside, creating a rural environment that attracts many homeowners interested in a quieter spot to come home to after work. “We’ve still got a small-town atmosphere,” says McCreery, who lives in Thurston. “Looking out for your neighbors, getting to know them – that sort of thing.” The area also offers a variety of outdoor opportunities and locally run restaurants.
Fairfield Beach has lakeside midcentury homes
Millersport and Thurston have turn-of-the-century Cape Cods and traditional homes. Pleasantville has some of the area’s newest construction, with 21st-century neotraditional styles. Fairfield Beach is best known for its midcentury homes, often featuring beachfront accents and views of Buckeye Lake. Homes on acreage are scattered irregularly in the countryside between villages, sometimes equipped with farming-appropriate outbuildings. The median price for a single-family home in Walnut is around $330,000.
Millersport High has smaller class sizes
Most of the area is served by Walnut Township Local School District, which has a B-minus from Niche. However, smaller sections are part of the Liberty Union-Thurston Local School District and the Fairfield Union Local School District, which have a C-plus and B-minus, respectively. Millersport Junior/Senior High School has smaller classroom sizes, but some locals say the same advantage can make after-school activities difficult. “The extracurriculars struggle sometimes just based on the numbers,” says Kylee Lines, an accounting assistant to the village of Millersport. “Finding enough kids for certain sports can be hard.”
Buckeye Lake State Park is the oldest state park in Ohio
The oldest state park in Ohio, Buckeye Lake State Park is a popular destination for locals and vacationers. Known best for 3,100 acres of open water and 4 miles of shoreline, boaters, anglers and sunbathers frequently visit to relax or let off some steam. “If you visit on a Saturday or Sunday, it gets really lively,” says Lines, who’s lived in the area her entire life. Pleasantville Park has several athletic facilities, including a full-sized basketball court, a baseball field and a soccer field. It also has playground equipment and a picnic area.
Locally owned businesses are scattered throughout the area
Some boutique and locally owned businesses are in Pleasantville and Millersport, but the closest shopping tends to be in the nearby community of Baltimore. This includes grocery stores like Baltimore Food Value. Fairfield Beach’s Beach House Pub offers a laid-back menu with patio seating, live music and weekly events like karaoke. The Canal on Buckeye Lake Breakfast and Mexican Grill trades its eggs in the morning for tacos in the evening, all with a waterside view.
Fairs and festivals draw crowds each summer
Held every summer, the Pleasantville Music and Street Festival attracts visitors from all over central Ohio with a multiday lineup of live music, carnival rides, food trucks and a parade. “This is our fifth year,” says McCreery. “And all the money we raise goes back into the community as grants that local organizations and businesses apply for.” The Millersport Sweet Corn Festival has welcomed the harvest every year since 1947 with tractor pulls, a 5k run and competitions like the corn cob toss and sweet corn eating contest.
Columbus is 35 miles west
State routes 204, 188 and 256 are the main highways in the area. Columbus is about a 35-mile drive west.
