The 1950’s are alive again at Geneva-on-the-Lake, a village located on the Lake Erie shoreline in Northeast Ohio. About an hour east of Cleveland, the village is about six miles north of Interstate 90, just west of Ashtabula. The main strip with all the excitement is Ohio Route 531, about a mile stretch of food, shopping and entertainment.
The area is most popular in summer and some of the establishments do close for the winter months. On a warm July and August weekend, the noise and fun are non-stop.
Dining
There are a lot of places to eat on the strip. Eddie’s Grill is a local institution, offering fun food in a 1950.s atmosphere. Capo’s Old World Pizza has been around since 1965, so they must be doing something right. If you just want to walk while you nibble, the choices are endless. Grab an authentic gyro from Mike’s, or sushi at the Coconut Hut. Bob’s Place has a food court with many selections, and Time Square has the fryer and grill ready for your favorites.
The aroma of Madsen Donuts will pull you in as you stroll down the strip. They have been delighting locals since 1938. Not all of the establishments last as long as that, however. There are always some vacant sites that are just waiting for the next opportunity, so names and ownership are subject to change quickly.
The Old Mill Winery is the closest winery to the lake, and you can sway to the beat of live music as you sip your wine on the strip. Other taverns offer live hard rock and karaoke.
The strip has a number of bars, and the area is known for rowdy fun on weekends. Motorcycles and their riders are welcome in at most places in Geneva-on-the-Lake, and the daytime family atmosphere becomes a little wilder on summer evenings.
Entertainment
There are a number of arcades and gaming rooms packed into the strip, including Woody’s World, where you can buy tickets to the waterslides at Wild Water Works, which overlook the lake. Casino gambling is still illegal in Ohio, but the always popular Fascination game is still alive at Geneva-on-the-Lake.
Just down Ohio 531 is Adventure Zone Family Fun Center, with miniature golf. Full size golf is also available in the village. Of course, Lake Erie is nearby, for swimming and perch fishing charters. .
As you wander the main drag, you will find the usual souvenir stands, as well as shops for collectables and crafts.
Lodging
The new Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva State Park is nearby, with 109 rooms overlooking Lake Erie. The village is packed with motel rooms and cottages, which can be rented by the day, week or month. There is a campground at the State Park, and private campgrounds are close to the village.
For day trips, free parking is available on the strip and in some parking lots nearby, but spaces are hard to come by on weekends. So come early, and enjoy Geneva-on-the-Lake.
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