WELCOME TO CLEAR SKIES, OPEN SPACES AND FRESH IDEAS
Village of Ada
Ohio Northern University is set in the rural village of Ada. It’s a small town, but we still do plenty of big things. And ONU is at the center of it all. Without the distractions of a big city, we hone in on exploring what excites us, solving what puzzles us and building strong relationships with our community.
GETTING HERE
Ada is a short road trip away from many prime destinations. Check out the distance from Ada to four big “c” cities: Columbus is 1.5 hours, Cleveland and Cincinnati are 2.5 hours, and Chicago is 4.5 hours. Bluffton, located about 15 minutes away, offers main street shops. Findlay and Lima, both mid-sized cities, are 20 to 30 minutes down the road from Ada and offer expanded opportunities for shopping, culture and dining.SEE FOR YOURSELF
The best way to get a feel for the friendly atmosphere of Ada is to come experience it for yourself. The Inn at Ohio Northern University is our beautiful full-service hotel located right on campus. (Use the promo code "ONUBEST" to get a great rate.) When you visit, don’t forget to come hungry. Some of our favorite local restaurants are Padrone’s Pizza, El Campo and The Tavern.
ARTS AND CULTURE
The arts come alive at the Freed Center for the Performing Arts on ONU’s campus. Every year, the Freed Center showcases the talents of ONU students with music ensemble concerts and theatre productions. Two art galleries – the Elzay Gallery of Art on Gilbert Street and the Stambaugh Studio Theatre Gallery adjacent to the Freed Center – give local, regional and national artists the chance to showcase their work.
ON-CAMPUS DINING
The Inn at Ohio Northern University on campus is perfect for a date night or special evening out. The dining hall in McIntosh Center is open seven days a week for all-you-can-eat meals. Here, food stations serve up home-cooked style dishes, fresh deli sandwiches, vegan and vegetarian options, pizza, desserts, and more. Also within McIntosh Center is WOW Café, which features wings, wraps, sandwiches and snacks – or enjoy a cup of Starbucks coffee at Polar Espresso. You can enjoy Starbucks coffee, bottled beverages, baked goods and frozen all-natural smoothies at the Northern Lights Café in Heterick Library.
OFF-CAMPUS DINING
Perhaps during an all-night study session, you need a Big Mac or Dorito Locos Taco. We’ve got you covered with McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Subway right near campus. Ada also has two pizza shops – Padrone’s Pizza and East of Chicago Pizza. Craving Mexican or Chinese cuisine? El Campo, Jalapeno's Mexican Grille and New China cater to your whims just minutes from campus. Tavern 101 and John and Toni's features some of your grill favorites, including burgers and breakfast specials. The Cask Room serves craft beverages. Viva Maria serves delicious Italian dishes, while No Limit Nutrition is a one-stop shop for nutritious shakes and herbal teas. Also enjoy specialty coffee drinks at Buckeye East.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Inn at Ohio Northern features an elegant design, comfortable accommodations, a pub and a dining room. Located on the ONU campus, only steps away from its vibrant campus life, The Inn is the preferred hotel for business, leisure, faculty, sports, alumni and family guests.
EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Ada embraces every season with fun for all ages. In September, the Harvest and Herb Festival draws people from throughout the region for a parade, homemade food, handcrafted items, fresh herbs and produce, music, and activities. During the holidays, Ada is bedecked with lights and decorations. Live music events at Depot Park are often paired with chicken barbeques or ice cream socials. The summer months feature the Farmers & Merchants Picnic, and the Lima Symphony Orchestra celebrates the Fourth of July with a free “Patriotic Pops” concert on ONU's campus.
RECREATION
If you like to bike, jog or walk, check out the infamous Green Monster, an emerald paved trail that offers spectacular views of nature, the changing seasons, and American western art on the Remington Walk. You’ll also find a great disc golf course on campus. For entertainment, the Ada Theatre runs the latest blockbuster films with ticket and popcorn prices that won’t break your piggybank. Bowling enthusiasts can knock down pins at Norada Lanes. The War Memorial Park features a swimming pool, playground equipment, picnic shelters, ball fields and more. You’ll find several golf courses – Colonial Golfers Club, Hidden Creek Golf and Bluffton Golf Club – in the area. YMCA Camp Wilson in Bellefontaine offers a variety of equestrian activities and camps.
SHOPPING
If you like to shop, there are boutique shops like the Gallery of the Arts, Mercantile on Main, and Ruthie's Boarding Room. Whatever Cards & Games is a hobby-based games retailer. The ONU Bookstore offers all your favorite Polar Bear gear. The Inn’s Gift Shop is the perfect choice when you need to buy something special and unique. Several financial and banking options are available in the community as well – Middlefield Bank, Quest Federal Credit Union and U.S. Bank.
WILSON FOOTBALL IS ADA'S CLAIM TO FAME
Every football used in every Super Bowl has been made here. Production is all done by hand. Every football is cut, sewn, steamed and laced by a local worker. The Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival in late summer celebrates Ada’s remarkable contribution to the sport of football. Event goers can watch footballs being made during the "Wilson Experience" and participate throughout the day in events for football fans of all ages and interests.
SERVICE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The village of Ada offers a number of service-oriented groups such as Ada Kiwanis Club, Ada Rotary Club and Ada Lions Club.HARDIN COUNTY AND SURROUNDING REGION
Once part of the Great Black Swamp and then American Indian territory, Hardin County was organized in 1833 and named after John Hardin, a Revolutionary War officer. Kenton is the county’s largest town and the county seat. With rich farmland and abundant timber, the county’s main industry is agriculture. But the county also boasts many successful small and large businesses powered by a hardworking and resilient workforce. The county also is home to an Old Order Amish community. These private and plain people travel by horse and buggy and do not have electricity or telephones in their homes. Visitors can traverse scenic roadways past Amish farms and stop to purchase fresh produce, honey, baskets, quilts, soaps and more.
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The arts thrive in the local region. The Lima Symphony Orchestra has been around since the 1950s and every year provides a top-notch season of music. Ohio Northern hosts the symphony’s Fourth of July concert on campus grounds.
The Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center in Lima, the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts in Findlay and the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in VanWert feature a variety of national and international performance groups throughout the year. They both offer reduced ticket prices for students for many shows.
ArtSpace/Lima supports the visual arts with gallery shows and special events throughout the year. And the Encore Theatre in Lima and Fort Findlay Playhouse put on outstanding plays with local talent several times a year.
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You’ll find several great dining options throughout Hardin County and the surrounding area. Enjoy Kira’s Flipside Grill (formerly Luke’s Bar & Grill), Lulu's Diner and Campito Lindo in Bluffton. Michael Angelo’s Pizza, Henry’s Restaurant, Midway Restaurant, Salsa’s and Jitterz Coffee Company can be found in Kenton. The Plaza Inn family restaurant in Mt. Victory has graciously served its patrons since 1959.
What’s your favorite national chain restaurant? Olive Garden? Texas Roadhouse? Five Guys Burgers and Fries? Panera Bread? You’ll find these – and more – in both Lima and Findlay. Findlay boasts a vibrant downtown with one-of-a-kind local restaurants. Eat at the Mancy's Steakhouse, Bistro on Main, Logan’s Irish Pub, Rossilli’s or The Gathering for delicious food and a trendy ambience. Japan West offers a unique dining experience with show chefs who cook at your table.
Must-visits in Findlay include two local favorites that have been around since the 1930s. Grab a burger and fries at Wilson’s Sandwich Shop and top it off with ice cream at Dietsch Brothers, which was voted the No. 3 Best Ice Cream Shop in America on TripAdvisor. Dietsch Brothers also features homemade fine chocolates and candies.
Lima offers hometown specialties such as Old City Prime. Check out Thai Jasmine for Thai cuisine and the Old Barn Out Back for comfort food served in, yes, a recently renovated big barn. The Met is a chic downtown dining establishment, and The Beer Barrel (there’s also one in Findlay) is a great place to grab a pizza and watch the big game. Always a big draw are Kewpee Hamburgers and Happy Daz which are old-fashioned diners.
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Three indicators of a region’s vitality are its businesses and industries, its health care systems, and its educational institutions. The Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance is one of the largest, member-driven and business-focused organizations in Hardin County. With more than 300 local and regional members, the alliance serves the community to promote, cultivate and advocate for a prosperous business, educational and agricultural climate; strengthen the local economy; and improve the quality of life.
Robinson Fin Machines Inc., Sekisui Plastics, Graphics Packaging International and McCullough Industries are top business and economic leaders in the Kenton area. Marathon Petroleum (Findlay), Cooper Tire and Rubber (Findlay), Honda of America Manufacturing (Marysville), Whirlpool (Findlay) and Crown Equipment Corporation (Lima) are just a few of area's thriving large corporations that hire ONU interns and graduates.
The region also boasts many entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses. Citizens enjoy excellent health care provided by four health care systems: OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital (Kenton), Blanchard Valley Health System (Findlay and Bluffton), Mercy Health Partners (Lima) and Lima Memorial Health System (Lima). And just a few hours from Ada are some of the nation’s most highly rated hospitals – The Cleveland Clinic and the James Cancer Center at Ohio State University.
Ohio Northern is joined in the region by several institutions of higher education: Bluffton University, the University of Findlay, Rhodes State College, Ohio State University at Lima, University of Northwestern Ohio and Owens Community College. The close proximity of these institutions enables collaborative efforts and additional cultural opportunities for citizens.
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Hardin County also is home to an Old Order Amish community. These private people travel by horse and buggy and do not have electricity or telephones in their homes. Visitors can traverse scenic roadways past Amish farms and stop to purchase fresh produce, honey, baskets, quilts, soaps and more.
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There’s always something to see or do in the region. Ada is surrounded by communities awash with civic pride and tradition. These communities sponsor numerous events and festivals catered to a variety of tastes and interests. And the best part? Many are free or low cost!
The annual Christmas Around the Square Craft Fair, held in the Hardin County Courthouse in Kenton, features home decor, jewelry, arts and craft vendors and artisans. In June, Eats On The Streets showcases live music, specialty food trucks, a classic car show, vintage motorcycles and more. Enjoy locally grown produce each Saturday at the Kenton Farmers Market.
Every Saturday morning from the first of May to the end of October, Bluffton hosts a Farmers Market with vendors selling everything from fresh produce to homemade baked goods to crafts. With a Swiss Mennonite heritage, Bluffton has a quaint downtown with several interesting restaurants and shops. The village also is known for a spectacular lights display at Christmas, which kicks off with a Blaze of Lights parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Findlay’s highlights include the Flag City Balloon Fest, featuring hundreds of hot-air balloons; the Hancock Horizontal 100 (bike 100 miles in one day – all flat terrain); and a Halloween parade through downtown. In Lima, you'll discover a thriving downtown area with upscale as well as casual dining, and a wide variety of music, art, and entertainment offerings.
The Hardin County Fair, Hancock County Fair and Allen County Fair – with carnival rides, animals, fair food, musical entertainment and more – always draw a crowd.
Living in Ada
It’s comforting to live in a place with few distractions to interrupt your studies. The low cost of living in Ada is an added benefit to what is an extremely safe campus and community.