What makes Saint Paris sights so special is the unique mix of historical stubbornness and rural serenity that you can hardly find anywhere else in Ohio. I remember how I strolled over the old main road for the first time and immediately got the feeling that since the 1820s every stone has to tell a story – not only those standing in tourist brochures. The city was founded in 1828, named after the French saint, and has survived more than a few barns and a few old churches that still dominate the cityscape.
When you come from Chicago, the journey by car via the I‐70 is a short trip, and the “easy-to-find” sign at the County Rand is almost a joke – I almost missed it because I thought it was an art project. In Johnson Township, which surrounds the whole, you can feel the same calm pulse you hear in the fields of Champaign County when the wind blows over the corn field.
I don't always understand the hype about the small, seemingly insane places, but here every rusty barn and every rusty wooden house has its own charm, which enthuses me a bit more every time – no joke, that's really great for everyone who wants to escape the big city.
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The first stop I put to every new man's heart is that Kiser Lake State Park – a small piece of nature hidden just a cat jump south of Saint Paris. The lake is not huge, but the clear water reflects the surrounding oaks so well that you almost feel like standing in a postcard motif. I once tried to start a kayaking there, just to see that the paddle in the shallow edge was constantly hanging on the stones – a real test for patience and balance. Parking is usually a Klack, as long as you don't arrive at the weekend with the whole family, then the car park chaos becomes almost an attraction.
A few miles further, towards the east, this is Ohio Caverns in West Liberty, which is probably the only real cave system in Ohio open to visitors. I don't understand the hype about the glittering crystal formations – I'm not a geologist – but the light play in the “Crystal Cave” is actually impressive, especially when the sunlight breaks through the artificial spots and the stalactites dip into an almost surreal blue. The entrance is not cheap, but the staff is friendly enough that you almost forget the money while you stumble through the 2 miles-long tour. A little hint: The shoes should sit tight, otherwise you slide faster than a squirrel from the tree when you leave.
If you have enough of underground wonders, the path leads back to the northwest National Road (U.S. 40)which still sprays its historical splendour here. Along the road there are several old signposts and small museums that tell of the time when travelers with horse-drawn carriages crossed the country. I once stopped at one of these signs on a rainy afternoon to shoot a photo, and suddenly a tractor came by, whose driver won me with a wide grin as if I was a lost 19th century tourist. This is the real Ohio – rough, honest and a little nostalgic.
A short trip to Urbana brings you to Champaign County Historical Museumhoused in an old government building. The exhibition is not exactly spectacular, but the collection of old land machines and the handwritten diaries of the pioneers give you the feeling that there is really something story here. I tried an old typewriter there that was still working – that was a short moment when I felt like a reporter from the 1920s, before I realized that I had no more ink and that the device was only silent in front of it.
Another highlight I always mention is that Urbana Downtown Historic District. The cobblestone streets and the restored façades of the old shops have something romantic that is in vain in most small towns in Ohio. I discovered a café there that supposedly serves the best apple cake in the region – no joke, the cake was so good that I almost swallowed the whole piece at once before I realized that I had planned another walk to Kiser Lake. The parking spaces are close here, but a short walk through the alleys the whole is more than wet.
Last but not least, Champaign County Fairgrounds do not forget that every year in August becomes a true spectacle. I spent the first time in the summer of 2019 when a local farmers' association held a competition for the largest pumpkin size. The winner was an oversized, bright orange gigant that was almost as big as a small car. The atmosphere is loud, a bit chaotic, but that's what makes the charm – here you meet real people, not tourists who only make selfies.
Whether you are looking for nature, history or a bit of local nature, the surroundings of Saint Paris have more to offer than you would suspect at first glance. From the quiet waters of Kiser Lake to the sparkling caves of Ohio Caverns to the historic streets of National Road – each station has its own distinctive character. And if you summarize all this, you can quickly conclude that the Saint Paris Attractions offer a small but fine kaleidoscope of Ohio experience that gives every traveler a smile (and maybe a bit of dust in the hair).
This guide invites you to stroll with me through the sleepy jewel of Saint Paris, which almost seems a bit too quiet between endless corn fields and the occasional tractor to be honest.
I always start with Water tower an – this rusty Monstrum from 1905, which watches over the main road like a Moravian guard. One could think he was just a relic from the era when the city still believed that a 120-meter tower was the nonplusultra in progress. But when the sun falls behind the fields and the light falls over the bricks, it seems almost romantic. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole village flows to the market.
A short detour to Saint Paris Historical Society Museum – the old school house that now houses more dust than students – is a must for me. I found a yellowed yearbook extract there, showing that the class of 1912 once invented a field game called “Kick the Haystack”. The museum is small, but the stories that creep out of the old boxes are bigger than the whole village. If you're lucky, the curator, an older gentleman named Earl, tells you why the old barn wheel was never repaired – a real earworm for history freaks.
Then there are City library, a converted bank building that houses more books than bank notes. I spent my lunch break there several times because the café next door offers a cake that tastes almost better than what you find in most big cities. The library is not only a place to read, but also a meeting place for the weekly Bingo round, where senior citizens discuss more about the latest TikTok trends than about the lottery numbers.
A short walk leads you to Saint Paris Community Park. There is a playground, a baseball field and a pavilion that is used for barbecue evenings in summer. I remember a spontaneous picnic where a local musician unpacked his guitar and played some old country songs – that was so authentic that I almost forgot that I had actually been looking for a place to relax.
If you look for something truly unique, look at this Fire museum in the old fire station. There are old extinguishing bags, a rusty car from the 30s and a sign that proudly announces: “We extinguish more than just fire.” I found an old fire helmet there, which was supposed to be worn by a man who never saw a fire because he was always too busy saving the village. Ironic, right?
Another highlight I don't want to hide is the weekly Saint Paris Farmers Market. Every Saturday the main road turns into a colorful collection of fresh vegetables, homemade jams and a stand where an older couple sells its famous apple cakes. I ate the best piece of apple cake of my life there – no joke, that was almost too good to be true.
And yes, if you’re looking for a compact summary, simply tap “Saint Paris Sights” into your search engine – you’ll notice that most lists mention the same places because they’re the heart of this little place.
At the end I have to historical Main Street mentioning that with its old brick buildings and the small café “The Corner” almost looks like a film set. I often drank a coffee there and watched the passing tractors passing by me like an endless train from nostalgia. So, next time you ask about Ohio and ask yourself if you should make a detour, remember that Saint Paris may be small, but his peculiarities are great enough to surprise you – and that's exactly what I love about this place.
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