Seniors Are Welcome In Elyria

 Senior travelers learn that Elyria, Ohio’s Community of Opportunity, is a township and county seat of Lorain County, Ohio located at the forks of the Black River in north central Ohio. The population runs right at 55,000.

This area was occupied for thousands of years by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. It began to be settled by European Americans after the American Revolutionary War, when demand for land drove settlers west along the Great Lakes from New York and New England.

Elyria was founded along the Black River in 1817 by Herman Ely, who built a log house, dam, gristmill and sawmill on the site and Elyria is named for its founder.

Senior Travelers Find Scenic Views

Bring along some extra memory chips for your camera and shoot a few scenic views of East Falls on the Black River in Cascade Park. Elyria High School is also a great photo shoot. Its structure is unique among such schools all over the country. For me it was hard to believe that it is actually a school.

In the 1990s, Elyria experienced a minor revival with construction of some new roads and housing. It serves as a residential, suburban “bedroom community” for Cleveland, located to the east, where new businesses and industries are developing with an increase in new jobs. Elyria is home to Lorain County Community College.

Elyria has a large number of parks and four recreational centers that are named after their location on the map – North, East, South, and West. They each include one or more baseball fields and at least two tennis courts. There are two main parks, Cascade and Elywood, which are connected by a drive-on ford in the center. Ever passed through one of those?

Seniors Enjoy Unusual Park

Cascade Park is the largest and most popular park in Elyria. The Park is situated in a scenic ravine with a large playground and a large hill used for seating at the 4th of July fireworks show. This ravine was carved by the same glaciers that created the Great Lakes.It is a popular spot for sledding during winter months.

TripAdvisor suggests a visit to Black River Reservations and Rowland Nature Preserve. I find it neat that the Black River runs through town. Elyria is home to the headquarters of Invacare, Ridgid Tool, Elyria Manufacturing Company, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, and Diamond Products. A large number of residents commute 23 miles southwest to Cleveland to work.

Seniors can enjoy Elyria’s attractions which include The Apple Festival, Stocker Humanities & Fine Arts Center, Elyria Civil War Monument, Jamie’s Flea Market, and Stocker Center Art Gallery.

The Hickories features exhibits on the history of Lorain County, The Train Depot, Town Hall and what is known as Stone Tower. Seniors, set your GPS for Elyria and enjoy the many amenities the city offers. -jeb