Shelters
The shelters in the Lorain County Metro Parks are roofed, open-sided structures with concrete floors. Enclosed shelters are located at Carlisle Equestrian Center and Vermilion River Reservation. Shelters are numbered.
Grills are located adjacent to the shelters. You must provide your own charcoal. It is against Park District rules to gather wood from the park to use in the grills. Accessible picnic tables and grills are available.
The basic Park District rules apply to the shelters: No alcoholic beverages; fires may only be built in a grill; no liquid fuels; no loud, amplified music, etc. A permit is issued for shelter rental and the rules are printed on the back.
If a group is planning to have their event catered, special arrangements might have to be made for a set-up location and use of grills and other facilities. Please call the office to approve your set-up plans.
A copy of the permit is posted on the shelter being rented. If a permit has not been issued, shelter use is on a first come, first - served basis.
Rental fee is $20 per time period. The time periods are: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 5 p.m. to closing. You may rent a shelter for one, two, or all three time periods, depending on your needs and what is available. Shelter fees are not refundable.
Reservations for shelters are taken beginning the first weekday in November for the following year. Summer weekends are reserved quickly, so please call early. Shelters are available on a first-come, first -served basis to the general public. They are reservable on holidays as well, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's day.
For more information, or to reserve a shelter, please call the park office at: (440) 458-5121 or (800) LCM-PARK (Cleveland & Lorain County area only) or reserve a shelter online.
- Amherst Beaver Creek Reservation
- Black River Reservation
- Carlisle Reservation
- Columbia Reservation
- French Creek Reservation
- Indian Hollow Reservation
- Sandy Ridge Reservation
- Vermilion River Reservation
| Amherst Beaver Creek Resevation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Beaver Creek North Lake Street, Amherst |
1 | 24 | No | Yes* | Yes | No |  |
| *A drinking fountain is near the shelter. Water is also available near the restrooms. More about Amherst Beaver Creek Reservation Reserve a shelter online |
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| Black River Reservation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Bur Oak Ford Rd., Elyria |
1 | 100 | No | Yes* | No | No | |
| Bur Oak Ford Rd., Elyria |
2 | 100 | No | Yes* | No | No | |
| Day's Dam E. 31st Street, Lorain |
1 | 100 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| High Meadows Ford Rd., Elyria |
1 | 100 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| High Meadows Ford Rd., Elyria |
2 | 100 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| High Meadows Ford Rd., Elyria |
3 | 100 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| *Water is available near the restrooms. Reserve a shelter online |
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| Carlisle Reservation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Duck Pond Picnic Area Diagonal Rd., LaGrange |
1 | 100 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| Equestrian Center Diagonal Rd., LaGrange |
1 | 24 | Yes | Yes* | No | No | |
| Equestrian Center Diagonal Rd., LaGrange |
2 | 24 | Yes | Yes* | No | Yes | |
| *Water is available near the restrooms. Reserve a shelter online |
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| Columbia Reservation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Columbia Reservation Rt 82, Columbia Station |
1 | 35 | No | No | Yes | No | |
Reserve a shelter online |
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| French Creek Reservation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Pine Tree Picnic Area French Creek Rd, Sheffield Village |
1 | 100 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| Pine Tree Picnic Area French Creek Rd, Sheffield Village |
2 | 24 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| *Water is available near the restrooms. Reserve a shelter online |
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| Indian Hollow Reservation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Sheldon Woods Parsons Rd, Grafton |
1 | 50 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| Sheldon Woods Parsons Rd, Grafton |
2 | 95 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| *Water is available near the restrooms. Reserve a shelter online |
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| Sandy Ridge Reservation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Sandy Ridge Reservation | 1 | 24 | No | No | Yes | No | |
Reserve a shelter online |
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| Vermilion River Reservation | |||||||
| Picnic Area | Shelter No. | Capacity | Electricity | Water | Playground | Enclosed | Photo |
| Mill Hollow North Ridge Rd, Vermilion |
1 | 125 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| Bacon Woods North Ridge Rd, Vermilion |
2 | 75 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Mill Hollow North Ridge Rd, Vermilion |
3 | 100 | No | Yes** | No | No | |
| Bacon Woods North Ridge Rd, Vermilion |
4 | 100 | No | Yes* | Yes | No | |
| *Water is available at the drinking fountain **Water is available near the Carriage Barn Reserve a shelter online |
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