Lorain County Metro Parks offers FREE park tours to Lorain County residents 65 years and older. Groups of 10‐22 people can take a free bus tour to enjoy nature nearby. Currently, this requested tour program is open to organized groups only. Individuals interested in joining a tour can watch for publicly scheduled Senior Bus Tours through our program catalog.

We are not currently accepting requests for senior bus tours.

Applications will open again soon for the 2024 season.

Our handicapped-accessible bus picks up groups at the location of their choice and takes them on tour through the parks. Seven tour options are available to choose from. Tours are 4 hours, including pick‐up and drop‐off. Due to demand, groups are offered only two tours per calendar year; availability is limited. All groups will need to identify a “tour lead” to serve as a point person throughout the tour to manage time and keep the group on schedule.

All tours stop at a lunch location. However, groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Due to time limitations, groups who wish to have lunch at Lakeview Park’s Sunset Café (open after June 1; Mon.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) and Miller Nature Preserve’s Orchid Café (open after June 14; Tue.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) must pre-order from a boxed lunch menu. Café food orders must be submitted and paid for in full at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled tour. Cancellations or modifications cannot be made once the order and payment are processed. The Columbia Reservation tour includes a stop at the Sundaes in the Park ice cream shop and putt-putt course (open after June 8; Tue.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm). Orders will be placed at the service window on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tour transportation is free, but donations are accepted. Donations go towards bus tour costs and other costs associated with outreach programming. Bus drivers and tour guides are not permitted to accept gratuities or gifts.

Senior Bus Tour Options

Benjamin Bacon House Tour

• TOUR LOCATION: Vermilion River Reservation, 51211 North Ridge Rd., Vermilion, OH 44089 (directions)

• LUNCH LOCATION*: Sunset Café at Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44052 (directions)

  Benjamin Bacon was an early settler to Lorain County and one of its first County Commissioners. He built his home along the Vermilion River in 1845. Vermilion River Reservation is the first park in the district. The donation of the land prompted the creation of the metro parks organization in 1957. Museum tour is on the ground floor only.

  Tours will include a staff-led tour of this historic home. Additionally, the group can elect to do a self-guided tour of the Rose Garden while at Lakeview Park if time allows.

  *Note: Groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Due to time limitations, groups who wish to have lunch at the Sunset Café (open after June 1; Tue.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) must pre-order from a boxed lunch menu. Café food orders must be submitted and paid for in full at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled tour.

Burrell Homestead Tour

• TOUR LOCATION: Burrell Homestead, 2792 East River Rd., Sheffield Village, OH 44054 (directions)

• LUNCH LOCATION*: Sunset Café at Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44052 (directions)

  The Burrell Homestead has stood beside the Black River for more than 200 years. Not far from the shores of Lake Erie, the Burrell family provided refuge for runaway slaves as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

  Tours will include a staff-led tour of this historic home. Additionally, the group can elect to do a self-guided tour of the Rose Garden while at Lakeview Park if time allows.

  *Note: Groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Due to time limitations, groups who wish to have lunch at the Sunset Café (open after June 1; Mon.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) must pre-order from a boxed lunch menu. Café food orders must be submitted and paid for in full at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled tour.

Cascade Park Tour

• TOUR LOCATION: Cascade Park, 387 Furnace St., Elyria, OH 44035 (directions)

• LUNCH LOCATION*: Orchid Café at Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Rd., Avon, OH 44011 (directions)

  Cascade Park is best known for its majestic waterfalls of the east and west branches of the Black River. The park district took over the operations of the park in 2014 and has since seen major upgrades, including the installation of a large bridge spanning the Black River. Visitors can elect to take a self-guided hike over the bridge, to the Elywood side of the park. Waterfall trail is steep and includes uneven terrain.

  The tram is available by request for this tour. Additionally, groups may elect to do a self-guided tour of the Conservatory for $2 or Butterfly House while at Miller Nature Preserve if time allows.

  *Note: Groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Due to time limitations, groups who wish to have lunch at the Orchid Café (open after June 14; Tue.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) must pre-order from a boxed lunch menu. Café food orders must be submitted and paid for in full at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled tour.

Columbia Reservation Tour

• TOUR/LUNCH LOCATION*: Columbia Reservation/Sundaes in the Park, 25145 Royalton Rd., Columbia Station, OH 44028 (directions)

  This 405-acre wetland reservation hosts several ponds built around waterways near the west branch of the Rocky River. Columbia Reservation features a replica of the original Blockhouse, which was originally erected on the east side of the river, directly across from the present blockhouse location. The original iteration was built as a safe haven by American soldiers during the War of 1812 in the event of an attack by the British or their Native American allies. It sits along the walking trail only about 0.1 mile from the parking lot.

  Columbia Reservation is also home to Sundaes in the Park, an 18-hole dino-themed mini-golf course and cream shop serving hard-scoop ice cream, sundaes, floats, and other treats, as well as hot dogs and other delicious snacks.

  Groups may elect to do a self-guided tour of the historic Blockhouse or pay $5 per person to play a round of putt-putt golf.

  *Note: Groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Groups who wish to eat at Sundaes in the Park (open after June 8; Tue.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) will place their orders at the service window on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-order for items will not be required.

Miller Nature Preserve Tour

• TOUR/LUNCH LOCATION*: Miller Nature Preserve/Orchid Café, 2739 Center Rd., Avon, OH 44011 (directions)

  Miller Nature Preserve is a unique hidden gem with 145 acres of woodlands in the heart of Avon. However, the star of this park is the 5,000 sq. foot conservatory featuring plant specimens from all over the world. Self-guided conservatory tours have a fee of $2 per person. Visitors can tour the free Butterfly House from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., from Father’s Day through Labor Day (Butterfly House will remain open to the public during the tour and will not be scheduled or exclusive to the group).

  *Note: Groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Due to time limitations, groups who wish to have lunch at the Orchid Café (open after June 14; Tue.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) must pre-order from a boxed lunch menu. Café food orders must be submitted and paid for in full at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled tour.

Sandy Ridge Reservation Tour

• TOUR LOCATION: Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Rd., North Ridgeville, OH 44039 (directions)

• LUNCH LOCATION*: Orchid Café at Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Rd., Avon, OH 44011 (directions)

  Sandy Ridge Reservation is one of the county’s birding hotspots situated on a migratory bird route. This park includes a 526-acre wetland and wildlife preserve. Visitors can elect to do a self-guided hike on a 0.7-mile loop trail.

  The tram is available by request for this tour. Additionally, groups may elect to do a self-guided tour of the Conservatory for $2 or Butterfly House while at Miller Nature Preserve if time allows.

  *Note: Groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Due to time limitations, groups who wish to have lunch at the Orchid Café (open after June 14; Tue.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) must pre-order from a boxed lunch menu. Café food orders must be submitted and paid for in full at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled tour.

Schoepfle Home and Garden Tour

• TOUR LOCATION: Schoepfle Garden, 11106 Market St., Birmingham, OH 44816 (directions)

  LUNCH LOCATION*: Sunset Café at Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44052 (directions)

  Schoepfle Garden is 77 acres of botanical gardens and natural woodland bordered by the Vermilion River. This park is the only location located just outside of the Lorain County line. Otto Schoepfle was a successful businessman, but his true passion lay in the soil of his grandparents’ Birmingham farm. His home is a moment captured in time of the “garden that grew.” The tour includes a staff-guided tour of Otto Schoepfle’s home, located on the park grounds. The tour remains on the ground floor only.

  The tram is available by request for this tour. Additionally, the group can elect to do a self-guided tour of the Rose Garden while at Lakeview Park if time allows.

  *Note: Groups are not required to purchase from Lorain County Metro Park’s food service. Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Due to time limitations, groups who wish to have lunch at the Sunset Café (open after June 1; Mon.-Fri. from 11 am-2 pm) must pre-order from a boxed lunch menu. Café food orders must be submitted and paid for in full at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled tour.

Senior bus tours are currently unavailable.

Due to overwhelming response, we are working through a backlog of requests from the previous year. At this time, we are not accepting new requests; however, you can submit your contact information to be added to a waiting list. We will communicate throughout the season if additional opportunities become available.

Wait List Contact Information

If you are interested in being added to a wait list for the Senior Bus Trip program, please fill out the form below.