Few destinations do history, culture and fun like Ohio. Any state that celebrates the Rolling Stones and the Wright Brothers knows how to throw an amazing party.
What’s unforgettable about most Ohio venues is that visitors will learn a little something, too, whether they admire the 19th century stained glass in a Columbus concert venue or listen to the experiences of a veteran as they dine under the wings of historic airplanes in Canton.
From Cleveland’s rock and roll to the quiet soul of a secluded retreat in Sandusky County, the state has unforgettable off-site venues loaded to the brim with character.
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM, CLEVELAND
www.rockhall.com
Rock and roll not only livens up our lives, it can jumpstart a meeting, too. It’s no wonder that one of the top off-site venues in the state is this one-of-a-kind tribute to making some noise. The complex just finished a $6.9 million redesign and renovation in time for the 2012 induction ceremony in mid-April, bringing new interactive exhibits to the facility.
Planners can turn attendees into awestruck groupies by renting the entire venue, which can accommodate up to 2,500. Need something smaller? Try a breakfast meeting in the Foster Theater, which holds up to 164, or the cafe level for up to 100 people. The Rock Hall also offers the best in audiovisual, along with service staff, catering and extended hours for the on-site store upon request.
CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER/NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER, CINCINNATI
www.cincymuseum.org/www.freedomcenter.org
The Cincinnati Museum Center and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center recently merged, giving planners an amazing selection of venues from a single organization.
Housed at Union Terminal are the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science and the OMNIMAX Theater. All are available for group events. The Grand Rotunda of the terminal building is an elegant backdrop for a large formal dinner, and the 300-seat theater is perfect for meetings. For a light-hearted reception setting, choose the Children’s Museum or the Museum of Natural History & Science; both are connected to the rotunda. On-site caterers and ticket packages are available as well.
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center also offers a variety of spaces, plus three preferred caterers. The Harriet Tubman Theater and Grand Hall can accommodate 300 to 400 guests, while the Hall of Everyday Freedom Heroes is more intimate for groups of up to 125. The entire facility can be rented out for larger groups as well.PageBreak
CARILLON HISTORICAL PARK, DAYTON
www.daytonhistory.org
There must be something in the water in Dayton, because creativity and innovation are long-standing traditions.
Carillon Historical Park encapsulates the city’s accomplishments with exhibits like the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the Wright Brothers plane and a National Historic Landmark, and the 1805 BEO steam locomotive. There’s also a carousel in the park, but instead of horses, visitors can ride Dayton inventions like the cash register and airplane.
The park offers 65 acres of natural beauty for outdoor events, including receptions at Deeds Carillon, the largest carillon in the state. The Event Lawn is used to host festivals, and has enough room for 6,000 guests. The Kettering Center is also on-site and can accommodate up to 150 guests. Hawthorn Hill, former home to Orville Wright, is also available for group events. Although the property isn’t located at the park itself, it is part of the Dayton History organization and transportation can be arranged to and from the park during a day of meetings and activities.
kalahari resort, SANDUSKY
www.kalahariresorts.com/oh
Want to see the little kid in every attendee? Combine a morning of meetings with an afternoon at Kalahari’s wildly popular waterparks. The indoor venue, measuring 173,000 square feet, is America’s largest indoor waterpark, while the outdoor waterpark measures 77,000 square feet.
Highlights include a wave pool, flumes, rafting slides and FlowRider, an indoor surfing attraction.
The resort’s Adventure Park also gets the adrenaline pumping with a ropes course, a zip line and climbing walls.
Kalahari Resort unveiled an expanded convention center last December, marking the completion of a $22 million renovation. The 120,000-square-foot addition more than doubled the size of the previous center, bringing the total square footage to 215,000. The new center accommodates 5,200 attendees.PageBreak
TOLEDO ART MUSEUM
www.toledomuseum.org
From the world-renowned collection of 30,000 artworks by masters like Picasso, Reubens and van Gogh to the award-winning Glass Pavilion, the Toledo Art Museum is a breathtaking space sure to leave an impression on attendees.
The museum offers just over a dozen spaces for groups. The Red Room and Yellow Room are perfect for small meetings of approximately 50, the Little Theater can accommodate 160, and the medieval-style courtyard known as the Cloister is a dramatic spot for receptions and presentations for up to 180. The spaces that really show off the beauty of the museum are the Classic Court, a stunning area featuring treasures from Egypt, Greece and Rome, and the Glass Pavilion, a curved, airy space with floor-to-ceiling glass. The Glass Pavilion houses two event spaces: The Crystal Corridor, decorated with a Dale Chihuly chandelier, accommodates 250, and the Glas Salon hosts up to 300.
MAPS AIR MUSEUM, NORTH CANTON
www.mapsairmuseum.org
Ohio has a rich aviation history, from the Wright Brothers to Neil Armstrong. The Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS) Air Museum celebrates those who sacrificed much in the service of this country with exhibits of memorabilia and artifacts, including a piece of the USS Arizona from Pearl Harbor.
While the small pieces of history are fascinating, it’s the big ones that get visitors’ attention; the museum is also home to several aircraft, from a Sopwith Triplane to a Cobra Helicopter. Twenty-eight planes are on display at the museum, including several undergoing restoration. The collection features aircraft from throughout military history, including a C-47 from World War II and an F-14 Navy Tomcat. Stepping into the hangar is a stunning experience, but hosting a dinner there is even better.
The museum’s capacity is 500 guests banquet-style, and it recommends several off-site caterers. For the complete experience, museum volunteers can assist in locating speakers for an event. Their stories and experiences bring the hangar to life and allow attendees to see the planes around them in a vivid new way.
THE BLUESTONE, COLUMBUS
www.liveatthebluestone.com
Built in 1898, this venue started out as a Baptist church and received new life as a nightclub in 2006 after a $5 million renovation. Today, the Bluestone is a musical and special event facility, complete with original, turn-of-the-century stained glass and cutting-edge technology.
There are several spaces available within the building, but the largest is the Sanctuary, which features 60-foot ceilings, professional sound, video and lighting, a stage and a built-in DJ booth. The space can accommodate between 900 and 1,800 people. Smaller spaces include the Great Room, an elegant event area featuring two bars with a capacity for a 150-person reception; the Underground, which boasts an intimate, trendy club atmosphere for up to 100 with a bar, programmable lighting and a DJ booth; and the Patio, an outdoor area tailor-made for a prefunction gathering of up to 300. The facility also offers an extensive catering menu.PageBreak
SCHULTZ MANSION, ZANESVILLE
www.theschultzmansion.com
Once a bride’s wedding gift, this mansion is a regal reminder of glories past, with 26 rooms, five baths and eight fireplaces. It was built in 1900 by William D. Schultz, who made his wealth from soap. His small company was sold to Proctor & Gamble at the turn of the century.
After the Schultzes passed on, it was used as a church rectory, then sold in the 1980s and renovated back to historical accuracy.
Groups of up to 100 can be accommodated in the Carriage House, and larger groups can rent the mansion. Even the grounds can be used for group functions, providing a lovely backdrop for a reception. Guided tours can also be arranged as part of the event.
GREYSTONE HALL, AKRON
www.greystonehall.org
Another grand historic building repurposed for the 21st century, Greystone Hall was originally built in 1917 by the Freemasons and served as their hall for many years. The seven-story stone building now houses the Actors’ Summit, Akron’s local theater, on the top two floors, while the second through fourth floors are available for rental. The facility is run by the staff of the John S. Knight Center and boasts its own chef and waitstaff.
A diverse and architecturally impressive array of spaces are available, from the tony Barrister’s Lounge, which still contains the original Billiards Room, to the two-story ballroom, a lovely, open space that can comfortably accommodate 200. Planners can also request the Egyptian Room or the Doric Room, a columned venue evoking the building’s origins, as it still features Latin phrases along the top of the walls.
OUR LADY OF THE PINES RETREAT CENTER, SANDUSKY COUNTY
www.pinesretreat.org
Sometimes the best feature of an off-site venue is a quiet, serene location so attendees can completely focus on the topics at hand. This retreat center, part of the Ministry of the Sister of Mercy of the Americas, is an excellent choice for board meetings and small groups of up to 80 people.
Three conference rooms are equipped with monitors and Wi-Fi, and the Mercy Room includes a wireless computer system for webcasting with other locations. The neatly kept grounds are open to the public and feature a labyrinth, grotto and walking paths to help visitors with quiet contemplation. While religious-themed groups are certainly welcome, any corporate or business meeting may rent the conference rooms and enjoy the peaceful solitude of the grounds.
Freelancer Beth Bartlett wants to ride the cash register on the Carillon Historical Park carousel in Dayton.
