7 Reasons to Love Living in Lancaster, Ohio
Plenty of articles will point you to the best coffee or the best patio when you’re looking for a place to live. But, before you sign a lease, it helps to know what ordinary days feel like, like the walk to the mailbox and the view out your window.
Lancaster sits about 30 minutes southeast of Columbus, close enough for a workday commute and far enough to keep its own pace. Here are seven things that shape everyday life here.
The Views Sneak Up on You
Rising Park sits right in town, and its centerpiece is Mount Pleasant, a sandstone outcrop locals have been climbing for generations. Walk the path to the top and the whole city opens up below you, the fairgrounds, the rooftops and the wooded hills rolling out toward Hocking County.
The Fairfield Heritage Trail runs 9.5 paved miles through the middle of Lancaster, linking neighborhoods, schools, parks and a pair of restored covered bridges. A short stretch of it can turn a regular walk into something memorable.
History is Part of the Backdrop
Lancaster wears its history in plain sight. The Sherman House Museum on Main Street is the birthplace of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman and his brother Senator John Sherman – author of the Sherman Antitrust Act – and the home has been preserved to reflect the period when the family lived there. A few blocks away, the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio fills an 1835 mansion with rotating exhibits and free classes.
The city also built a good part of its name on glass. Anchor Hocking has produced glassware here for more than a century, and the Ohio Glass Museum tells that story with displays and live glassblowing you can watch up close.
Twice a Year, the Whole Town Turns Out
In late July, the Lancaster Festival takes over for about 10 days with orchestra concerts, downtown art walks and free performances that spill into the streets and parks. It’s been running for more than four decades, and much of it is free or close to it. For more of the season, see our roundup of summer festivals around Columbus.
Then in October comes the Fairfield County Fair, known around Ohio as the last and best of the season. It’s the final fair on the state calendar, so when the livestock barns and grandstands fill up here, it’s a fitting way to close out the warm months.
You Can Walk to Things That Matter
Downtown Lancaster is built for wandering. The historic district packs shops, cafes and the farmers market into a few walkable blocks, so a quick errand often turns into a conversation with someone you know. Part of downtown is a designated DORA, which means you can carry a drink from one spot to the next while live music plays from the bandstand.
The Open Air Art Trail scatters murals and sculptures around the district, giving you a reason to take the long way and look up.
Seeing Nature Doesn’t Require a Road Trip
You don’t have to load up the car for a weekend to get into real woods. A short drive southwest of town, Clear Creek Metro Park protects more than 5,000 acres of woods, cliffs and creeks, with trails for both short walks and longer hikes. It holds the largest state nature preserve in Ohio, and most weekends you can find a quiet stretch to yourself.
Closer in, the Sensory Trail Park off College Avenue is the only trail of its kind in Ohio, a short paved loop built to be fully accessible, with a treehouse, nature stations and outdoor instruments along the way. It’s an easy place to bring kids without the strenuous hike.
The Change of Seasons is Worth Seeing
Sitting at the edge of the Appalachian foothills, Lancaster gets a front-row seat to the change of seasons. In autumn, the wooded hills around Mount Pleasant turn gold and rust, visible from a porch or a trail. Fall comes with festivals, the fair and cider-weather walks downtown.
Winter has its own draw. When snow settles on the hills, kids head out with sleds, and a snow day still comes with somewhere to go, a warm cafe downtown or a museum a few minutes away. Spring and summer fill the parks back up. Watching the town come alive throughout the year is one of the quieter pleasures of living here.
Columbus is Half an Hour Away
Columbus is 30 minutes northwest up Route 33, so a concert downtown or a Blue Jackets game stays within reach. You get the jobs, the airport and the wider options of central Ohio while coming home each night to a quieter street and a lower cost of living. That balance is a big part of why people land here and stay.
Come Home to Ardent Communities in Lancaster
When you are ready to settle into Lancaster, Ardent Communities has two places you can call home. Fairfield Park and Victory Commons offer one-, two- and three-bedroom suites with full-size washer and dryer connections and generous closet space. Amenities include a resort-style pool with a fire pit and outdoor kitchen, a 24-hour fitness center and a billiards room.
Both communities put you minutes from downtown Lancaster. If you would like to see a suite in person, schedule a tour and our team will show you around.
