Historic Lebanon and Environs

The Host Location for ‘The Great American Miniature Donkey Sale’

Lebanon, Ohio and Warren County are destinations in, and of themselves. We thought you might like to know what’s here, should you wish to linger longer.

Lebanon

Older than the State of Ohio (1803), the town of Lebanon was settled in 1796. When you walk down the carefully preserved main street with it’s brick sidewalks and wide street, you can almost imagine the horses, mules, and oh yes, donkeys pulling wagons and hauling loads 100 or more years ago. On the hill, you can see several of the ‘7 sisters’, the elegant mansions, one of which is a museum, overlooking the town. Today Lebanon, along with Waynesville, Ohio, 8 miles North on Route 42, are designated as the “Antiques Capital of the Midwest”.

The Golden Lamb, Ohio’s oldest inn, and eyewitness to almost 2 centuries of US history, still stands and offers travelers (you) food, drink and lodging. You can walk through the halls, and even stay, in the rooms where novelists Samuel Clemmons (Mark Twain) and Charles Dickens stayed. Or if you’re partial to US Presidents, Ulysses S Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, William McKinley, James Garfield, Martin Van Buren, William Harding, William Howard Taft and John Quincy Adams all slept there. Even if you don’t stay there, you can still visit, eat reasonably priced good Ohio country food, and look into the rooms which are not rented out. There is also an excellent gift shop.

The Warren County Historical Museum in downtown Lebanon houses one the finest Shaker collections in the US. The Federal style building houses a reconstructed village green, artifacts from Union Village, a Shaker Community previously located outside Lebanon, and items of agricultural interest. It has received awards on being one of the finest County museums in the US and has a genealogical record and library which attracts scholars from all over. It stands less than 150 feet from the Golden Lamb and adjacent to the Public Library designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Hours are 9-4 – Tuesday thru Saturday and 12-4 Sundays, admissions charge. (105 S. Broadway, 513-932-1817)

One of the ‘Seven Sisters’, and the only one open to the public, Glendower is an 1836-1840 Greek Revival home with excellent displays of early 19^th century furniture. Glendower is open Tuesday through Sunday (admission charge). (513-932-1817)

Lebanon, together with Waynesville, form an major antiques mecca, home to well over 125 antique, craft, and specialty shops. It is not hard to find something to accent your home somewhere in these two small towns. Dealers from across the US come to Ohio and purchase antiques, and then transport them home where they typically fetch higher prices. There are a number of excellent cabinet makers offering top quality reproductions. If you are interested in something specific, we may be able to aim you in the proper direction. (www.lebanonantiques.com)

The Turtle Creek & Lebanon Railway, operating over a former narrow gauge line, departs on weekends for a roughly 20 mile roundtrip ride from downtown Lebanon. A restored 1950’s era diesel-electric locomotive pulls 1930 vintage, open window commuter coach cars and an open air gondola. The train departs and returns from the historic Lebanon station, 1 block south of the Golden Lamb. Departures Saturday 11,1 & 3 and Sunday 1 & 3.

The Elms Farm

Here is the most interesting attraction for donkey lovers. Stop by and visit our Farm, Sunday after the Sale. We’re about 8 miles South of Lebanon – See us or our web site, www.donkeys.net, for a map or pick one up at the Sale on Saturday.

Other interesting attractions in the area:

Paramount’s Kings Island Amusement Park – A top notch amusement park located about 10 miles away, sports 12 world class roller coasters, including the longest wooden coaster in the World (The Beast) and the tallest, fastest and only looping wooden roller coaster in the World (Son of Beast) . Kings Island, the largest amusement park in the Midwest, with more than 40 state of the art rides and a 15 acre water park, draws people from at least 8 states. Admission charge commensurate with large amusement parks.

Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village – A living museum consisting of over 20 cabins, homes and buildings restored in a village setting to recreate pioneer life in Ohio in the 18^th century. Approximately 25 miles north up I-71.

Fort Ancient – North America’s largest, prehistoric Indian hilltop enclosure – earthen walls constructed over 2000 years ago by Ohio’s Hopewell Mound building Indians (800 BC - 400 AD). A museum provides interpretive information on Indian discovery and occupation from 13000 BC through European colonization (after AD 1650). 10-5 daily. Fort Ancient is about 15 miles (North of Lebanon up I-71 then Ohio Route 123 to Rte 350). (If interested, the amazing Serpent mound is about 80 miles distant)

Caesar’ Creek & Turtle Creek Flea Markets – Two huge Flea Markets, some of the largest in Ohio are found near Lebanon.. Turtle Creek is about 10 miles West of Lebanon along I-75 and Caesar’s Creek is about 20 miles from Lebanon, North along I-71. Open Saturday & Sunday.

Outlet Malls – Ohio is outlet mall country. There are 2 up I-71, about 40 miles North of Lebanon. All the famous name brand stores are up there.

Little Miami Scenic Trail – 60 plus miles of scenic biking / hiking trail along The Little Miami, a designated National Scenic River. Bikes can be rented in Loveland Ohio, approximately 20 miles away, near Waynesville (~8 miles) and near Fort Ancient (~15 miles).

Little Miami Canoeing – Canoe liveries are located along the river where you can rent canoes, life jackets, etc for a leisurely glide down The Little Miami river. Canoe liveries are located in Loveland, Waynesville, and near Fort Ancient, anywhere from about 10 to 20 miles distant.

La Comedia Dinner Theatre – Located in Springboro Ohio, about 15 miles North of Lebanon. This group provides a dinner buffet followed by Broadway style entertainment. The musical show playing this year during the Sale period is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. (1-800-677-9505 or www.lacomedia.com)

The Beach Water Park – The Beach Water Park is ranked as one of the top water parks in the US. The 35 acre complex has a huge wave pool, a large water-glide coaster, float area and tropical leisure pool. Approximately 8 miles South of Lebanon along I-71, Rte 741 exit.

Golf – The small city of Mason, about 8 miles South of Lebanon has golf courses galore, designed by everyone you can think of, including Jack Nicolaus. Lest you long too much for donkeys while you play golf, play Crooked Tree, and you’ll hear those distinctive donkey brays at Tee 6, which borders our farm.

Cincinnati – World Famous Zoo, Museum of Natural History with Indoor Cave & IMAX, an excellent Art Museum, Newport (KY) Aquarium.

Dayton – Air & Space Museum – one of the most outstanding in the country (Dayton Air Force Base) – Huge.