CHARDON, Ohio — March is here and that means the March Maple Madness Driving Tour is ready to roll.
The Ohio Maple Producers Association, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the Ohio maple industry, sponsors the tour.
The free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 13-14, and 20-21.
Sugarhouses across Ohio will be open for the free, drive-it-yourself tour. Experienced sugar makers will be on hand to answer questions and conduct tours.
Several stops are Amish sugarhouses, which are only available for tours on Saturday.
Dress for the weather
Visitors are reminded to dress for the weather with coats and boots. A complete listing of all the stops will be available at each stop or can be printed off at www.ohiomapleproducers.com.
Three hub stops
This year there are three hub stops that are set up with statewide maps and directions. The hub stops are Richards Maple Products, 545 Water Street, Chardon; Burton Log Cabin, Burton Park; and Camp Whitewood, Wiswell Road, Windsor.
Tradition continues
Maple syrup production in northeast Ohio dates back to Native Americans who tapped the maple tree each spring to make sweet sugar.
The tradition continued, beginning with early settlers and has survived to today. Some of the stops will be small ventures where enough sweet, golden syrup is made for the family’s annual needs to large commercial operations.
For more information on the tour or maple production, contact Terese L. Volkmann, tour chair, 440-834-1415 or volkmann@simcon.net
March Maple Madness Tour
Open to the public 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 13-14 and March 20-21 unless noted.
Chardon area hub stop:
—- Richards Maple Products; 545 Water St., Rt. 6, Chardon City.
—- Geauga County Maple Festival Sugarhouse; south end of Historic Chardon Square; March 14 & 21.
—- Tappin’ Sunday at the Geauga County Maple Festival Sugarhouse; March 14 only.
—- Grossman Maple Products; 12147 Claridon-Troy Rd; Claridon, north of Rt. 322.
—- Geauga Maple Company; 12100 Claridon Troy Road; Claridon, north of Rt. 322.
Burton area hub stop
—- Burton Sugar Camp; on the south end of Burton Square.
—- Pancake Town USA; Burton; March 14 and 21 only. For locations and costs visit www.burtonchamberofcommerce.org
—- Sugar Valley Maple; James Miller Family; 15771 Chipmunk Lane; Middlefield (south of Rt. 87 between White Road. and Lake Street.) Saturdays only.
—- Maple Hill Farm; Daniel Byler Family; 15658 Burton Windsor Road; Middlefield (east of Old State Road, Route 608, Middlefield.) 1000 taps on buckets. Saturdays only.
—- Valley View Sugarhouse; Billy Yoder Family; 15920 Burton Windsor; Middlefield. Saturdays only.
—- Creekside Maple; Bob Welder Family; 16767 Swine Creek Road; Middlefield (east of intersection of state Route 608 and 528.) Saturday; pancake breakfast 9 a.m. to 1 p.m..
—- Geauga Park District Swine Creek Reservation; 16004 Hayes Road; Middlefield (1.5 miles south of Route 87)
—- Sugarbush Creek Farm; Jim Cermak Family; 13034 Route 528; Middlefield (south of Route 322 )
—- Messenger Century Farm; Belew Family; 17098 Messenger Road; Auburn Township
—- Olde Tyme Sugarhouse Dinner; First United Methodist Church; 14999 S. State Avenue; Middlefield (Route 608 south of Route 87) Saturday March 20 only; maple dinner 4:30 to 7 p.m..; adults $9, ages 6 – 12 $5.
Ashtabula County hub stop
—- Camp Whitewood; 7983 S. Wiswell Road; Windsor ( south of Route 322.)
—- Hopewell Sugarhouse, 9488 Rt. 534, Mesopotamia, north of Rt. 87; Saturday only.
—- Deer Run Sugarbush, Ray Gingerich; 1537 Easton Rd, Colebrook; 1.5 miles east of Rt. 46 (south of Rt. 322.); Saturday only.
—- Evans Maple Products; Karl and Amber Evans; 10238 Dennison Ashtabula Road; Colebrook (east of state Route 46 and north of state Route 87); Saturday March 13 and 20.
—- Bissell Sugarhouse; 3741 Higley Road; Trumbull Township.
Mahoning County
—- Misty Maple Sugarhouse; Hively Family; 10644 Middletown Road; Salem; Saturday March 13 and 20 only, noon to 5 p.m.
Monroe County
—- Misty Mountain Estate; 32600 Christman Ridge Road; Malaga Township.
Medina County
—- Maple Valley Farm; 8701 Hubbard Valley Road; Guilford Township.
Seneca County
—- Ziegler Farms; 8240 S. Township Road 171; Eden Township.
—- Seneca County Maple Fest; Snavely’s Sugar Shack; 9409 E. Township. Road 138; Republic. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. March 14 only.
Wyandot County
—- Herring Farms; 16303 Twp. Hwy. 124; Harpster.
Licking County
—- Dawes Arboretum; 7770 Jacksontown Road; Newark.
Richland County
—- Malabar Farm; 4050 Bromfield Road; Lucas; noon- 4 p.m. March 13 and 14 only.
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