Explore Lakeside History and Small-Town Charm in Ohio’s Grand Lake Region

Local lore says the Irish and German immigrants who hand dug Grand Lake St. Marys between 1837 and 1845 were paid 30 cents and a jigger of whiskey a day. Originally created to supply water to the Miami & Erie Canal, Grand Lake St. Marys only fulfilled that purpose until 1915 when it was designated for public recreational use.  

Today, the 13,500-acre inland lake serves as a hub for boaters, but it is just one of the reasons to visit this part of northwestern Ohio, which also offers opportunities to bike and hike along the route of the Miami & Erie Canal and experience a slice of quintessential small-town America in astronaut Neil Armstrong’s hometown of Wapakoneta.

Lakeside Eats 
Restaurants and watering holes that offer opportunities to jump from boats to bars and back without missing a beat can be found along the shore of Ohio’s largest inland lake. Some have even built docks just outside their doors to make boater visits all the easier. 

Lakeside Hideout Bar & Grill on the southern side of the lake along state Route 219 invites guests to grab an outside patio table and order from a menu of American cuisine that includes options like the Machine Gun Mushroom Burger or Street Corn Pizza.

“Most of our employees, a lot of them, are family,” says Ryan Payne, head chef at Lakeside Hideout. “And even if they’re not family, they become family. So, I think that kind of rubs off on our customers and that keeps people coming back.”

A little over 2 miles away, the Shingle Shack calls to boaters and their crew with its subs, cheeseburgers and pizzas. On the northwestern corner of the lake, along West Bank Road, Boardwalk Grill invites visitors to try its signature crispy fish tacos or grilled shrimp tacos, both of which have been staples since the restaurant opened in 2020. (A pizza kitchen that uses fresh ingredients and house-made sauces is a recent addition.) Although Boardwalk Grill is open year-round, the summer season is the best time to visit for the place’s tropical vibe and options to dine with waterfront views either outside or indoors with the roll-top doors open.  

“Summertime is our time to shine,” says Brianna Obringer, marketing coordinator for Bruns Construction, which oversees Boardwalk Grill. “We also have boat docks right on-site, so people can bring their boats and dock right up to the restaurant.”



Small-Town Shopping
Many of the two- and three-story buildings that line downtown Wapakoneta are the same ones that stood here when horse-drawn carriages and Model Ts were the most up-to-date forms of transportation. The intricate stonework and hand-carved embellishments that add character to each storefront continue to be cherished features that current business owners work hard to maintain in order to provide a unique experience for visitors. 

“We do have a bustling downtown, which is unique because not all small towns get to have a really robust downtown,” says Lindsey Young, executive director of the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce. “We have a lot of store owners that just really care about this area and this town.”

Among the restaurants on Auglaize Street that capture the attention of locals and visitors is J. Marie’s Wood-Fired Kitchen & Drinks. Owned by John-William Davis and named for his daughter, Jessalyn Marie, the restaurant uses wood-fired ovens to turn out everything from its pork entrée to its spinach dip appetizer to its margherita pizza. 

For fashion finds, Frost Impressions stocks trendy women’s clothing, accessories and gifts in a boutique that appeals to 12-year-old girls and 80-year-old women alike. Owner Annie Frost also creates custom graphic tees for the whole family on-site. 

For a touch of nostalgia, stop at Relics to see how store owner Michele Shicora repurposes old cassette tapes and vinyl records and revisit childhood favorites like Cabbage Patch Kids and Smurfs. Dad’s Toy Shop stocks a selection of model trains and remote-controlled airplanes, boats and cars. If gardening is more your speed, Modern Plantsman carries plants, pots, books, garden markers and more. 

Although it has a bounty of small businesses, Wapakoneta is best known as the hometown of astronaut Neil Armstrong, and you can learn all about his life at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in town. 

Canal History 
In its heyday, the Miami & Erie Canal played a vital role in transporting goods and services from Toledo to Cincinnati and various points in between. A towpath that ran alongside the canal provided a place for the mules that pulled the canal boats to walk, and today a 40-mile stretch of that pathway offers visitors the opportunity to hike, bike, walk and run along this historic route that is dotted with reminders of the canal era. 

“The canal never died,” says Sam Bonifas, chairman of the Miami & Erie Canal chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association, which oversees a more than 1,400-mile route that touches all four corners of Ohio. “It’s just being repurposed for recreation and history of the area.” 

From Lake Loramie to Delphos, trail users can still see pieces of the locks that carried boats through the intricate canal system, as well as buildings and noteworthy landmarks that supported it. 

Located in New Bremen on the corner of state Routes 66 and 274, the Lockkeeper’s House Visitor’s Center stands as a replica of the original building that occupied the site for more than a century, according to local historian Genevieve Conradi. It allows a glimpse into history with photos, exhibits and artifacts, and visitors can even operate a restored lock gate that raises and lowers the water in the lock chamber. Also in New Bremen, which serves as the halfway point of the original canal route, Komminsk Legacy Park on South Main Street abuts the historic Lock One Park. 

Just a short pedal away on West Monroe Street, The Bicycle Museum of America takes visitors on a ride through history. From high wheels to e-bikes, the more than 200 bicycles on display pay tribute to the vehicle’s significance and its evolution throughout history, says museum coordinator Ryan Long.

WHEN YOU GO
For more information about these and other destinations in the Grand Lake region, visit seemore.org. 

Food + Drink
J. Marie’s Wood-Fired Kitchen & Drinks
facebook.com/woodfiredwapak

Lakeside Hideout Bar & Grill
lakesidehideoutbarandgrill.com

Shingle Shack
facebook.com/shingleshackbar

Boardwalk Grill
theboardwalkgrill.com

Shopping
Dad’s Toy Shop 
419/738-2007

Frost Impressions
frostimpressions.com

Modern Plantsman
modern-plantsman.square.site

Relics
419/649-7588

History
Armstrong Air & Space Museum 
armstrongmuseum.org

The Bicycle Museum of America
bicyclemuseum.com

Lockkeeper’s House Visitors Center
419/629-0313

Miami & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
jampd.com

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