Posted March 4, 201510 yr Wow, no thread for the CVNP?? Cuyahoga Valley National Park was 11th most-visited national park in 2014 By CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS Originally Published: March 03, 2015 10:03 AM Modified: March 03, 2015 11:38 PM Cuyahoga Valley National Park was the 11th most-visited national park in the United States last year, according to data released by the National Park Service. The park, stretching across 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, drew 2,189,849 visits in 2014, up 3.8% from 2,109,010 visits in 2013. (The park does not charge an entrance fee and therefore does not have formal entrance stations. Visitation is determined by counters placed at trailhead parking lots.) “We are pleased to be ranked among the treasures of the National Park System like Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks,” said Craig Kenkel, superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, in a statement. MORE: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150303/FREE/150309959/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-was-11th-most-visited-national-park-in "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 4, 20169 yr Author Cuyahoga Valley National Park gets love at the top of this global tour by NatGeo of great urban parks. Of course, I love the CVNP for the CVSR -- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad which carries more people than Amtrak's nocturnal Ohio services statewide... http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/04/nature-urban-national-parks/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 26, 20169 yr From the Akron Beacon Journal: Fundraising for new visitor center in Cuyahoga Valley has collected $3.8 million for $5.96 million facility The Cuyahoga Valley National Park wants to open its first full-service visitor center to help the millions of park visitors, especially those from other states and countries, find their way around the popular destination and the entire region. The effort is being driven by a nearly $6 million fundraising campaign by the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the friends-of-the-park group. That fundraising campaign — the biggest ever undertaken by the nonprofit grass-roots group — has quietly raised $3.8 million or nearly 64 percent for the welcome gateway in northern Summit County. Officials are optimistic that the remaining $2.1 million will be donated by Dec. 31. If the money is raised, design plans for the three-building complex off Riverview Road in Boston Township would be prepared in 2017 and construction would begin in 2018. The new visitor center would open in late 2018 or early 2019. The Cuyahoga Valley park has never had a full-service visitor center, and that’s been a desire for many years. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/fundraising-for-new-visitor-center-in-cuyahoga-valley-has-collected-3-8-million-for-5-96-million-facility-1.678020
December 22, 20168 yr I just got done watching some videos about this place.. never knew how much of a gem it was! I'm definitely going to have to make plans to see this place next summer!
December 23, 20168 yr Author Are there still plans to extend the scenic railway? Or has that been scrapped Hasn't been scrapped, but isn't an active plan either. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 23, 20168 yr Author BTW, does the PD know the national park even exists?? Cuyahoga Valley National Park plans new visitor center By The Associated Press POSTED: 12/23/16, 9:42 AM EST | UPDATED: 2 HRS AGO 0 BRECKSVILLE >> A nonprofit group has announced plans for a new $5.9 million visitor center at a national park in northeast Ohio. The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park says it has already raised more than $4.6 million for the project. The new center would replace the current one located in a historic 1836 building that the group says is too small and isn’t located on park grounds, but in the village of Boston, Ohio. MORE: http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20161223/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-plans-new-visitor-center "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 24, 20168 yr This was from the other day... http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/12/cuyahoga_valley_national_park_13.html
December 24, 20168 yr Author Glad to see it. The Beacon Journal does a much better job of covering the park than the PD. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 24, 20168 yr Can anyone tell me how much time/days I'd need to see all the cool stuff in the park? Im sure I could literally spend days there just fishing..
December 24, 20168 yr Author I'd say 2-3 days. But you could spend one whole day biking the trail in the warmer months or skiing in the winter months. You could spend half the day on the CVSR train, riding one way with your bicycle and biking in the other direction. There's several B&B's in the middle part of the park, from Peninsula north to Boston Heights near Boston Mills Ski resort. And there's a Marriott hotel next to the CVSR Akron Northside station. One of the best pizza restaurants in NE Ohio is right there too -- Luigi's. Hale Farm & Village is worth a couple of hours, as are the shops in downtown Peninsula. Brandywine Falls is up the hill from Boston Mills, with a B&B next to it. Plus there's lots of natural habitats and historic remnants of the canal to see along the trail. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 24, 20168 yr Author No. I don't fish. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 26, 20168 yr Well what good are ya then??? Lol, thanks again for the info.. I've spread the word and now have a handful of friends all wanting to go!
March 14, 20178 yr Hidden treasures at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park http://wviz.ideastream.org/programs/ideas/hidden-treasures-at-the-cuyahoga-valley-national-park
November 22, 20186 yr Good holiday gift idea -- Cuyahoga Valley National Park poster: https://www.national-park-posters.com/product-category/posters/
January 31, 20196 yr A little throwback to warmer weather, and checking off some more of the parks trails and waterfalls this past summer and fall
July 13, 20195 yr The wife and I hit waterfall #8 today out of the 9 in CVNP. Only one left to go! This one was Greenwood Falls, and was by far the most demanding hike once you're off the towpath, but it was worth it - probably my 2nd favorite in the park after Twin Sister Falls. (My apologies if there's any profanity in the video haha) Video (1).MOV
July 22, 20195 yr I don't know if this is the right thread for this (BM/BW or NEO skiing?), but the owner of Northeast Ohio's three ski resorts (Boston Mills, Brandywine & Alpine Valley) Peak Resorts, has been bought out by Vail Resorts. Vail Resorts is one of the largest operators/owners of ski resorts in the US, owning Vail, Breck, Stowe, Whistler and Park City among other well-known mountains. The conglomeration has acquired a few other eastern resorts within NEOs Alpine Valleys and BM/BW size range, but mostly focuses on larger resorts where they can undertake real estate developments (a major aspect of their business model). The whole ski industry has been heading towards consolidation, worrying many patrons of local mountains about the effects management from an outside entity. Numerous resorts have however received notable capital investments once under the management of these larger corporations, usually in the form of upgraded lifts and snow making capacity. They claim this will be to the tune of $15 million over the next two years at former Peak Resorts. My guess is that most of this will go towards the larger resorts in Peak’s portfolio further East, skipping their four new Ohio resorts. Peak Resorts has done aright job with BM/BW since they’ve been under their control for the past 15+ seasons, however many were upset with Purdue Pharma’s Sackler family (OxyContin patent holders) recently becoming majority owners. This acquisition will however be most beneficial to Northeast Ohio’s most avid skiers as it ropes them into their “Epic Pass” system. In its various forms it essentially serves as a season pass for all resorts under Vail ownership/management, meaning that an Epic pass you buy for Ohio of Pennsylvania skiing can get you into Whistler or Mount Snow. Vail Resorts now essentially funnels Northeast or Midwest skiers from local resorts to their larger mountains. If you ski locally, but also spend over 3 days a season on larger mountains further east or out west, this is great news. TL;DR – Larger ski resort conglomerate (Vail) acquires smaller ski resort conglomerate (Peak), owner of Boston Mills, Brandywine and Alpine Valley. Large local capital investments are unlikely. New passes available for regions skiers who vacation at larger mountains. http://news.vailresorts.com/corporate/peakresorts.htm Edited July 22, 20195 yr by NorthShore647
July 30, 20195 yr ^ great write-up and interesting news -- thanks --- i did not know all three ski areas were owned by the same company.
October 23, 20195 yr Cuyahoga Valley National Park Opening Boston Mill Visitor Center https://wcpn.ideastream.org/news/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-opening-boston-mill-visitor-center “After 10 years and more than $7 million, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park finally has a “front door.” “The new Boston Mill Visitor Center sits along the Cuyahoga River, the Ohio & Erie Canal and Towpath Trail, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Peninsula. It opens to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, with grand opening activities continuing through the weekend.” When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
November 2, 20195 yr Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Stanford Campsites close permanently, effective Nov. 1 Link: https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2019/11/cuyahoga-valley-national-parks-stanford-campsites-close-permanently-effective-nov-1.html "Opened in 2008, the campsites were intended to be temporary until a permanent site could be established. Camping had been permitted through a commercial use authorization, however the park found that the authorization was not in keeping with the National Parks Service policy, and resources had been damaged as a result." These were 5 "primitive" campsites just east of Stanford House along the Stanford trail. There wasn't much more than areas of cut grass in the field, each with a picnic table. These five spots were however the only place you could camp overnight in the national park. When or if the NPS creates new campsites in the park i think something close to Sanford or Boston would be an ideal location (this spot was one of the more remote spots you could get in CVNP). I believe the now closet public primitive campsite to Cleveland is at Punderson.
November 4, 20195 yr On 11/2/2019 at 5:10 PM, NorthShore647 said: Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Stanford Campsites close permanently, effective Nov. 1 Link: https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2019/11/cuyahoga-valley-national-parks-stanford-campsites-close-permanently-effective-nov-1.html "Opened in 2008, the campsites were intended to be temporary until a permanent site could be established. Camping had been permitted through a commercial use authorization, however the park found that the authorization was not in keeping with the National Parks Service policy, and resources had been damaged as a result." These were 5 "primitive" campsites just east of Stanford House along the Stanford trail. There wasn't much more than areas of cut grass in the field, each with a picnic table. These five spots were however the only place you could camp overnight in the national park. When or if the NPS creates new campsites in the park i think something close to Sanford or Boston would be an ideal location (this spot was one of the more remote spots you could get in CVNP). I believe the now closet public primitive campsite to Cleveland is at Punderson. The Towpath is a great way to get scouts and other youth out on foot or on their bikes in the national park, but it is very difficult to find campsites anywhere nearby (even outside of the park). I would really like to see that change!
February 10, 20205 yr Cuyahoga Valley National Park closes section of Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga County through Feb. 21 (between Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville and Frazee House in Valley View) https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/02/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-closes-section-of-towpath-trail-in-cuyahoga-county-through-feb-21.html BRECKSVILLE, Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Monday temporarily closed a section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, between Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville and Frazee House in Valley View, for canal dredging. The three-mile section of trail will be closed through Feb. 21, and no detour is available, the National Park Service said in a news release. [Caption: A section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail (turquoise line), between Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville and Frazee House in Valley View, will be closed through Feb. 21 for canal dredging. (National Park Service)] When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 14, 20205 yr On 2/10/2020 at 9:18 AM, Boomerang_Brian said: Cuyahoga Valley National Park closes section of Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga County through Feb. 21 (between Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville and Frazee House in Valley View) https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/02/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-closes-section-of-towpath-trail-in-cuyahoga-county-through-feb-21.html BRECKSVILLE, Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Monday temporarily closed a section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, between Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville and Frazee House in Valley View, for canal dredging. The three-mile section of trail will be closed through Feb. 21, and no detour is available, the National Park Service said in a news release. [Caption: A section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail (turquoise line), between Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville and Frazee House in Valley View, will be closed through Feb. 21 for canal dredging. (National Park Service)] Pardon my lack of hydrology expertise, but is why is dredging necessary if the canal is no longer used?
February 14, 20205 yr 5 hours ago, Cleburger said: Pardon my lack of hydrology expertise, but is why is dredging necessary if the canal is no longer used? Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. The article says it is to clean up sediment and prepare for the removal of the Brecksville dam. I don’t know why the latter would require the former, but it’ll certainly be nice if the canal is cleaner. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 14, 20205 yr 7 hours ago, Cleburger said: Pardon my lack of hydrology expertise, but is why is dredging necessary if the canal is no longer used? Im not an expert either, but I frequent the park. Last year a ranger told me stagnant water in the canal is an issue they have to address, so I wonder if dredging will promote water flow?
February 14, 20205 yr That would make sense. The purpose of the Bville dam was diversion of the river to the canal. My understanding is they will be adding a pump to move water to the canal. Since that flow isn’t all that great at the moment they probably felt a need, with the likely lower amount of water going into the canal, that it probably is a good time to address that as well.
February 14, 20205 yr The dam was only built in the 1950s to divert water into the canal which was being used to feed into the steel plants downstream. I'm interested in why that was done at that point versus further downstream in Cleveland itself.
February 14, 20205 yr ^My understanding is that it was to insure that there was plenty of water going through the summer and droughts. The canal is also getting water from various sources and tributaries. There are overflows out of the canal to the river when those points fill with too much water. I imagine it was engineers that decided ‘we always need x amount of water so lets go ahead and divert x amount of water’
May 23, 20205 yr CVNP Facebook post: “When the idea of removing the Brecksville Dam was proposed in 1989, it seemed like a farfetched dream. Canal engineers first dammed the Cuyahoga at the Pinery Narrows in 1827. For nearly 200 years the river has not flowed freely below Akron. Today decades of planning by many partners was realized. An excavator reached its long mechanical arm into the tumbling waters and, over several hours, jackhammered a notch into the concrete dam. By tomorrow the water level will drop and our national heritage river will begin a new chapter.” When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 21, 20204 yr A nice article from Ideastream on the Brecksville dam removal. Pinery Dam In Cuyahoga River Reveals History Of Canal Use https://wcpn.ideastream.org/news/pinery-dam-in-cuyahoga-river-reveals-history-of-canal-use “.... Restoring that flow is improving water quality and providing new opportunities for wildlife and recreation on the river. The latest project — removing the Brecksville Dam — has revealed a bit of history that dates back almost 200 years. Crews have been working for almost a month to drill out the Brecksville Dam in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). The dam was built in the 1950s below the Route 82 bridge, at one of the narrowest points of the Cuyahoga.” When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 25, 20204 yr And it's gone! Pinery Dam removed from Cuyahoga River after standing 193 years (This article has LOTS of great pictures, a few embedded below) https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/06/pinery-dam-removed-from-cuyahoga-river-after-standing-193-years.html BRECKSVILLE, OHIO-- Perched in the middle of the Cuyahoga River in his 80,000-pound excavator, Andy Bennett, a machinery operator with Kokosing Construction, plucks pieces of the Pinery Dam from the river with surgical precision. The large timbers that made up the dam have been submerged under the swirling waters of the Cuyahoga River for 193 years, and he takes care to preserve as many as possible for purposes of historical documentation. He can’t really see what he’s picking up, as the water flows all around him impeding his view, so he must feel the river through the giant arm and bucket of the excavator. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 25, 20204 yr That is like multiple childhood dreams rolled into one--destroying a dam while driving a giant power shovel around in a river! 5 year old me would be fulfilled! ?
October 7, 20204 yr Cuyahoga River to be preserved by making it more crooked, federal authorities say Sabrina Eaton - Oct. 7, 2020 "The river ... will have between 3/4 of a mile and 1 1/2 miles of curves added to its length under a new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. ... Two of the projects will be done at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. One in the Boston Mills area is scheduled to start in fiscal 2021 and will cost approximately $7 million, said Brandenburg. The other project, near Station Road, will be done in fiscal 2022 and will cost around $8 million, said Brandenburg." https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/10/cuyahoga-river-to-be-preserved-by-making-it-more-crooked-federal-authorities-say.html
December 31, 20204 yr Nice addition in Penisula CVNP: Former Brandywine Country Club to become part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park The former Brandywine Country Club in Peninsula is officially becoming part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. As part of the Great American Outdoors Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump this summer, $3.8 million will be used to acquire the property. The 215-acre former golf course at 5555 Akron-Peninsula Road has been closed since 2018 and was on the market for several months afterward, leading to speculation that the land might be sold for development. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2020/11/23/former-brandywine-country-club-golf-course-become-part-cuyahoga-valley-national-park/6393356002/
December 31, 20204 yr That's right smack in the middle of the heart of the CVNP, so I'm super glad it didn't turn into vinyl sided McMansions!
December 31, 20204 yr The old Brandywine golf course would be a great spot for CVNP to finally build a campground. The landscape is already somewhat disturbed, and you could work camp sites in amongst the evergreen trees.
December 31, 20204 yr 11 minutes ago, ink said: The old Brandywine golf course would be a great spot for CVNP to finally build a campground. The landscape is already somewhat disturbed, and you could work camp sites in amongst the evergreen trees. Great suggestion! And just a 3/4 mile hike from the Peninsula CVSR station. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
December 31, 20204 yr I always thought a lodge in CVNP would be awesome. This could be a nice location since is less than a mile from CSVR. Having right at a rail station and by skiing would be even better.
December 31, 20204 yr There are various boy scout and girl scout camps all along the ridge line above Peninsula. There is the happy days lodge as well that is not used for lodging any more. There are some hidden primitive campsites on a ridge at the Big bend trailhead of sand run in the summit county metroparks which also has a stop on the cvsr. There is a lot of golf course redevelopment happening in the cuyahoga valley. Summit County metroparks is trasitioning Valley View golf course in the cascade valley. Final plans should be coming out soon. Cleveland metroparks is repurposing Astorhurst. No idea what the plans are there.
December 31, 20204 yr 46 minutes ago, audidave said: There are various boy scout and girl scout camps all along the ridge line above Peninsula. There is the happy days lodge as well that is not used for lodging any more. There are some hidden primitive campsites on a ridge at the Big bend trailhead of sand run in the summit county metroparks which also has a stop on the cvsr. There is a lot of golf course redevelopment happening in the cuyahoga valley. Summit County metroparks is trasitioning Valley View golf course in the cascade valley. Final plans should be coming out soon. Cleveland metroparks is repurposing Astorhurst. No idea what the plans are there. Happy Days is where Conservancy for CVNP has its annual fundraiser (I'd highly recommend participating - it's an awesome cause and even better event). Campgrounds isn't a bad idea - but for me, I'd love to an effort to re-forest the land and incorporate a new trail. The Kendall Lake trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the state, but it's particularly isolated - with the exception of its connection to Salt Run, and a connection to Pine Lane, and then the trails North of Peninsula would be wonderful. I mean look at how dense the forest could be with a concerted effort https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2318387,-81.5315182,2257m/data=!3m1!1e3
February 18, 20214 yr Wtf is the deal with Boston, OH / Helltown? I saw a documentary about it with all this footage from the '70s. All these people were kicked out of their homes without proper compensation and they brought the military in to ensure that everyone was evacuated, just so President Ford could turn it into a pristine National Park? Yet the CVNP has ski resorts and a new visitor center? I don't buy it at all. I wonder what the real reason was behind the forced evacuation in Boston Township.
February 18, 20214 yr Hmm, Ohio has so few areas with houses more than 1/2 mile apart that you have to wonder if any area bigger than that in a park didn't have houses torn down. Like Slate Run Metro Park. No way was there only that one house for 1,700 acres in northern Pickaway County in the '70s when it opened up. Or how people thought what is now Chestnut Ridge Metro Park near Lancaster was super creepy until it became a Metro Park in the 2000s even though it was just one guy that died and had his house torn down. We thought the whole thing was super old, like 1840s old and haunted until they put up an interpretive sign showing a picture of the house in the 1980s. The house was clearly built after 1930 and probably had an automatic garage door opener by the looks of it! Or when I'm near Rickenbacker and I remember all the 1960s ranches and split levels that got torn down next to it on Pontius and Hayes Roads in the '90s with nothing to replace them for "crash zones".
February 18, 20214 yr On 5/22/2020 at 8:12 PM, Boomerang_Brian said: CVNP Facebook post: “When the idea of removing the Brecksville Dam was proposed in 1989, it seemed like a farfetched dream. Canal engineers first dammed the Cuyahoga at the Pinery Narrows in 1827. For nearly 200 years the river has not flowed freely below Akron. Today decades of planning by many partners was realized. An excavator reached its long mechanical arm into the tumbling waters and, over several hours, jackhammered a notch into the concrete dam. By tomorrow the water level will drop and our national heritage river will begin a new chapter.” Wow! This is great news! Somehow I hadn't realized it. Edited February 18, 20214 yr by YABO713
February 18, 20214 yr 47 minutes ago, YABO713 said: Wow! This is great news! Somehow I hadn't realized it. Hopefully work continues on removing the Gorge Dam! I can’t wait for that one to come down.
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