Category: Mohican

PERRYSVILLE – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) invites Ohioans to welcome 2026 with adventure, inspiration, and a breath of fresh air during its annual First Day Hikes program.

This New Year’s Day tradition provides a healthy, energizing way to begin the year, with guided hikes offered across the state.

“First Day hikes are a simple but meaningful way to begin the year with clarity, connection, and purpose,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Whether you’re stepping onto a trail for the first time or returning to a favorite path, Ohio’s state parks and nature preserves offer a place to reset and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.”

Mohican trails

Several hiking trails traverse Mohican State Park.

• Clear Fork Gorge NP Trail – .04 mile – easy
• Clear Fork Gorge Trail – .06 mile – moderate
• Gorge Overlook Trail – 2 miles – extreme
• Grist Mill Overlook Trail – 0.7 mile – extreme
• Hemlock Gorge Trail – 2.4 miles – moderate – leads to the Swinging Bridge and Covered Bridge
• Hog Hollow Trail – 2.1 miles – moderate
• Lyons Falls Trail – 2 miles – moderate – follows Clear Fork Gorge and features two waterfalls
• North Rim Trail – 1 mile – moderate
• Pleasant Hill Trail – 0.8 mile – easy – follows the river to the Pleasant Hill Dam
• State Coach Trail (cut off on Lyons Falls) – .02 mile – moderate
• Shelter House Trail – 1.2 miles – moderate

Big Lyons Falls stairway constructed in 2012 by the Mohican Trails Club. This is a view from the top of the falls. Credit: Mohican Trails Club.

Named “Trail of the Month” by Runners World Magazine, Mohican State Park is the home to one of the oldest ultra marathons in the U.S., The…

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With a thriving art and culture scene, beautiful outdoor landscapes, and trademark Midwestern hospitality, Ohio ranks high among the most charismatic destinations in the central United States. Although bustling metropolises like Cleveland and Columbus are the most popular, the Buckeye State offers multiple small-town enclaves with unrivaled charm. Nestled amongst rolling farmland, scenic rivers, and lush forests, these under-the-radar locales cultivate true community spirit through lively downtowns, local flavor, and pastoral serenity.

While most visitors to Ohio stick to top attractions in major cities, those venturing to the state’s idyllic fringes will discover its most picturesque towns. Overlooking quintessential landscapes, these hidden gems peppering the Buckeye countryside guarantee the absolute best that small towns in Ohio offer.

Chagrin Falls

The historic town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Editorial credit: Lynne Neuman / Shutterstock.com

The Cleveland suburb boasts one of the most beautiful downtowns in Cuyahoga County. Strolling through the Chagrin Falls Triangle Park Commercial Historic District is a surreal experience. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the neighborhood stands out for the beautiful cascades, which serve as the perfect focal point. Exquisite nature spaces complement the town’s quaint downtown, providing an escape for tourists who appreciate the company of Mother Nature. You can relax at Beartown Lakes Reservation, which features quiet trails along Spring Creek.

Chagrin Falls harbors a respectable arts community well-represented by the Chagrin Valley Little Theater. This institution has entertained the public for decades by staging concerts, musicals, plays, and other theatrical performances. It is also one of the country’s oldest community theaters.

Loudonville

City Hall and Opera House (1909), The Ohio Theatre in Loudonville,…

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Filed 11:00 a.m. EST

12.18.2025

Ohio investigates Mohican Young Star Academy.

By The Marshall Project – Cleveland

This is The Marshall Project – Cleveland’s newsletter, a digest of criminal justice news from around Ohio gathered by our staff of local journalists. Want this delivered to your inbox? Sign up for future newsletters.

State suspends admissions at Mohican Young Star Academy

Weeks after The Marshall Project – Cleveland found escalating violence at Mohican Young Star Academy, Ohio officials have suspended admissions to the embattled youth treatment center.

The move leaves juvenile court judges and local children’s services agencies that rely on the facility — including in Cuyahoga, Summit, Hamilton and Lucas counties — reassessing contracts or preparing to relocate youth, many of whom have complex behavioral and mental health needs.

Mohican Young Star Academy, a youth residential treatment facility an hour northeast of Columbus, Ohio, is surrounded by a state forest. Nate Smallwood for The Marshall Project

The youth treatment facility “has demonstrated a pattern of serious noncompliance and/or committed violations that pose a substantial risk to the health and safety of residents in its care,” Eric Wandersleben, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health wrote in an emailed statement to The Marshall Project – Cleveland.

The pause on admissions will remain in place until the violations are corrected, Wandersleben said.

Read the story here.

If you have information about a child living in an Ohio youth treatment center, contact Brittany Hailer at bhailer@themarshallproject.org.

– Brittany Hailer

Why a public record cost Cuyahoga…

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ASHLAND — The Mohican Young Star Academy has a storied past — some of it good, and some of it not-so-good — but has always dealt in providing correctional and rehabilitation services to Ohio’s youth.

Here’s a detailed look into the facility’s presence in the Loudonville area as the state investigates “serious non-compliance” issues.

On Nov. 20, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health suspended admissions to Mohican Young Star Academy following The Marshall Project’s Nov. 6 article that documented violence, staff injuries and fights since an ownership change in November 2024. 

Ohio DBH personnel have since “performed regular visits to monitor operations and ensure resident safety,” said Eric Wandersleben, a department spokesman.

The Suspension of Admissions Order will remain in effect “until it has been determined the violations that formed the basis for the order have been corrected,” he said.

Wandersleben did not address the specific violations and did not speak to what will happen to the juveniles already placed there. He also did not say how many juveniles are currently housed at the facility.

Terry Jones, the facility’s CEO and executive director, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

1935-2009

Mohican Young Star Academy is not a youth correctional facility. But it used to be.

Under the Ohio Department of Youth Services, Mohican used to be part of the state’s nine youth correctional facilities scattered throughout the state. DYS used to operate four high-security, four medium-security and one low-security facility.

Today, that number is three, and they all house boys between the ages of 12 and 21. DYS no longer has a dedicated facility for adjudicated girls. The state has departed from operating large youth prisons in favor of smaller facilities.

Mohican was part of the state’s downsizing between 2009 and 2011….

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A single-family home in Bethlehem that sold for $927,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Northampton County over the past week.

The county saw a total of 89 residential real estate sales during the past week, averaging $377,135. The average price per square foot was $221.

The prices in the list below include real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Dec. 8 even if the property sold earlier.

10. $613K, single-family home at 4940 Matts Drive

The sale of the single-family house at 4940 Matts Drive in Bethlehem has been finalized. The price was $612,500. The home was built in 1997 and has a living area of 2,160 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $284. The home features 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The transaction was completed on Nov. 14.

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9. $640K, four-bedroom home at 851 Mohican Drive

A sale has been finalized for the single-family home at 851 Mohican Drive in Easton. The price was $640,000. The house was built in 2007 and the living area totals 2,800 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $229. The home features 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The deal was closed on Nov. 25.

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8. $666K, three-bedroom home at 118 4th Street

A 2,368-square-foot single-family residence at 118 4th Street in Easton has been sold. The total purchase price was $666,000, $281 per square foot. The home was built in 1886. The home features 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The deal was finalized on Nov. 14.

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7. $679K, single-family home at 4204 Maria Lane

The single-family house at 4204 Maria Lane in Bethlehem has new owners. The price was $679,000. The home was built in 1998 and has a living area of 3,888 square feet. The price per square foot ended…

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LOUDONVILLE — Landoll’s Mohican Castle looks like Christmas out of a storybook in December, adorned with over 150,000 Christmas lights.

Guests start to feel the Christmas joy as they drive up the winding and hilly road while noticing every structure on the property glowing and decorated.

Visitors are welcome to walk the grounds every evening from 3:30 to 9 p.m. until Dec. 27 — excluding Dec. 24 and 25 when the property is closed. The lights come on at dusk.

The event is free Sunday through Thursday, and $10 for parking on Fridays and Saturdays.

Beyond the lights, the outside of the castle features decorated Christmas trees, an old car hauling a Christmas tree, photo opportunities and more.

Even Santa drops down the chimney to greet visitors at the pavilion on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 8 p.m. until Dec. 20.

The Christmas festivities are not only on the outside of the castle. Guests who book a stay at 12-William the Loin, one of the hotel’s 31 suites, see a scene gleam with Christmas decor.

For children staying at the hotel, parents can request Santa’s elves to stop by the room to read a bedtime story and tuck in the kids for the night.

The Christmas lights began in 2018 as an idea by castle owner Jimmy Landoll. Every year since, the event has expanded to include more lights, more decorations and more visitors.

“It’s turned into a holiday tradition for families,” general manager Joe Cummins said.

The event helps bring business to the hotel and restaurant during December, Cummins said, which can be slower than the warmer months. It takes two months for staff to put up all the lights and decor every year, but the labor is worth it for the business the lights bring to…

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Winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Kingsway Christian). They took their game on Friday with ease, bagging a 72-16 win over the Mohican Young Star Academy Gladiators. The victory continues a trend for the Eagles in their matchups with the Gladiators: they’ve now won four in a row.

Kingsway Christian was led to victory by RJ Fry and Noah Hilty. Fry posted 14 points, while Hilty scored 12 points. Another player making a difference was Mattew Oesch, who put up nine points.

Kingsway Christian’s win bumped their record up to 6-2. As for Mohican Young Star Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-2.

Coming up, Kingsway Christian will look to defend their home court on Friday against Wooster Christian at 7:30 p.m. As for Mohican Young Star Academy, they will head out on the road to square off against Foxfire at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps

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Mohican Young Star Academy, a youth residential treatment facility an hour northeast of Columbus, Ohio. [Nate Smallwood for The Marshall Project]

This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project – Cleveland, a nonprofit news team covering Ohio’s criminal justice systems. Sign up for their Cleveland newsletter and Facebook Group, and follow The Marshall Project on Instagram, Reddit and YouTube.

State officials have suspended admissions to Mohican Young Star Academy while it once again investigates the embattled youth treatment facility, which has struggled to contain escalating violence in the past year. 

The move leaves juvenile court judges and local children’s services agencies that rely on Mohican — including in Cuyahoga, Summit, Hamilton and Lucas counties — reassessing contracts or preparing to relocate youth, many of whom have complex behavioral and mental health needs.

The action comes several weeks after The Marshall Project – Cleveland documented escalating violence, staff injuries and campus-wide fights at the state’s largest youth residential treatment facility following an ownership change in November 2024. 

Mohican “has demonstrated a pattern of serious noncompliance and/or committed violations that pose a substantial risk to the health and safety of residents in its care,” Eric Wandersleben, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health told The Marshall Project – Cleveland.

State officials will monitor operations at Mohican, and the pause on admissions will remain in place until the violations are corrected, Wandersleben said.

The state order was issued Nov. 20. It is unclear which violations sparked the decision to suspend new admissions, or what will happen to the children already in the facility. State agencies…

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