Wrapping up the Loveland Section

Head east out of Loveland and turn left on North Second Street. We will be on the road for a while before our next stop. The route I am taking us on may seem a bit discombobulated but there is a method to my madness. For one, I always try to avoid retracing my steps whenever possible. Sometimes you have to drive a dead end road and that is fine. But if you know where you are heading and there is a way to see what you want to see without turning around and backtracking, I am all for it. Also, I want to set the scene for you for one of our last stops in the Loveland Section.

Head left on Butterworth Road. You will come to a small neighborhood and to stay on Butterworth take a short turn to the left on Sibcy Road and then a right to be once again on Butterworth which dead ends with West Foster Maineville Road, where you will turn left. This roads dips into the river valley and the hillsides are steep and strong. This is another place in which you can truly experience the rolling hills of the area which not only create fabulous roads for driving, but conceal the massive development that is only a stone’s throw away. It is hard to believe that we are only a minute or two from Kings Island Amusement Park. Here there is quiet.  A river flows, birds sing and we can forget for a moment that we are still quite close to a large city.

After crossing the river on US 22/ Route 3 turn right onto Socialville Foster Road, right onto Western Row Road, and right on Kings Island Drive. Hang with me! Right about now you are asking, why are we so close to this monster of an amusement park and major interstate? I want the quiet roads I have grown to love already on this journey. (At least that is what I hope you are thinking.) Take a right on Kings Mill Road and in a moment the next story in our journey begins to unfold. You are now driving through what was most likely the neighborhood of those who worked in the Peters Cartridge Company, located just across the Little Miami River.

The road makes a hairpin turn before crossing the Little Miami River and then the bike trail (Buckeye Trail). As soon as you catch your breath from your decent to the river a commanding, albeit crumbling, presence dominates the scene. Some say it is haunted, some try to sneak in to get photographs of dilapidation and relics from times gone by, others race by on their bikes vaguely aware of its presence (have you seen how fast they ride their bikes?!) and for those hiking the Buckeye Trail it is a domineering force along the trail. Fortunately for us there is a parking lot across the street from the Peters Cartridge Company.  

The Peter’s Cartridge Company was a smokeless ordnance and shot and shell ammunition factory built by J.W. King along with his nephew Ahimaaz King. With their purchase of 832,000 pounds of surplus mortar powder from the Civil War, they were able to amend the material so it could be used in rifles. The factory, which sits on 71 acres, is just a shadow of its former self. The original timber structures were destroyed on July 15, 1890 when a train car collided with two load cars containing 800 kegs of gun powder. The resulting explosion could be heard for miles. Eleven men were instantly killed and several others died later in the hospital. The factory was rebuilt and expanded to meet the demands of World War I. In 1916, the temporary wood frame buildings were replaced with concrete structures.  Ammunition was still produced in the factory through World War II. Since the close of World War II, many of the buildings were brought down and the remaining space was occupied by various tenants.  What remains is in rough shape. A man who introduced himself as the manager told me he spends much of his time keeping trespassers at bay. Safety is a huge concern. As he glanced up at a bank of windows he shared that recently a large section of window broke free, crashing to the ground.

Ghosts, death, explosions - I think I am ready for some good wine and a quiet place to relax. Heading east on Grandin Road, turn right on RT 48 then left on U.S. 22. You are travelling through historic wine country and arriving at the home of Valley Vineyard Winery (on your left). The vineyard was established in 1969 and today three generations of Schuchters produce award-winning wines and Cellar Dweller craft beers. Looking for something to do in the summer? Gather with friends to enjoy the vineyard's regular schedule of events including the Thursday night event It’s Just Wine, Beer and Music.

Continuing east we reach Morrow. Turn north on State Route 123, crossing the bike path and the Little Miami River once again.  Where US 123 takes a sharp turn to the left, we continue straight on South Nixon Camp Road, then right on State Route 350 which takes us into the heart of Fort Ancient State Memorial.

Bridge in Morrow

View from North Overlook at Fort Ancient. Photo by Darryl Smith

I have hiked several times in this park over the years. The climbs will get your heart pumping, the views are lovely and the history of the area is an added bonus. Once believed to be a fort, the mounds and walls are now known to have been made for ceremonial purposes. The roughly 126 acre plateau is surrounded by an earthen wall built by the Hopewell people, one basket of soil at a time. The main road through the park as well as trails bring us up close to some of the mounds.  If you would like to spend more time at the site and learn about past cultures, the Fort Ancient Museum is a good place to visit. It is divided into three main focus areas; The First Ohioans, The Tillers of the Earth and When Worlds Collide.

In the woods, Fort Ancient Photo by Darryl Smith

Exit the park by turning right on State Route 350, then turn left on Middleboro Road, left on Wilmington Road, which bends right and turns into Corwin Road and takes us through the small village of Oregonia and back along the Buckeye Trail. This small town was once centered around a mill and the railroad. Today, the bike trail is what brings in visitors who often stop at the Little River Café for pizza, burgers, hoagies and a cold drink. We will end our tour here. The Loveland section continues a bit farther before changing to the Caesar Creek section along a road. 

**I will start and end our treks along the Buckeye Trail in a town or park.