Lorain County Metro Parks offers FREE park tours to Lorain County residents 65 years and older. Groups of 10‐22 people can take a free bus tour to enjoy nature nearby. Currently, this requested tour program is open to organized groups only. Individuals interested in joining a tour can watch for publicly scheduled Senior Bus Tours through our program catalog.

We are not currently accepting requests for senior bus tours.

Applications will open again soon for the 2024 season.

Our handicapped-accessible bus picks up groups at the location of their choice and takes them on tour through the parks. Nine tour options are available to choose from. Tours are 4 hours, including pick‐up and drop‐off. Due to demand, groups are offered only two tours per calendar year; availability is limited.

Groups are welcome to bring a packed lunch to be enjoyed at a park shelter/facility where available. Lunch breaks must be included in the 4‐hour tour duration. Tour transportation is free, but donations are accepted. Donations go towards bus tour costs and other costs associated with outreach programming. Bus drivers and tour guides are not permitted to accept gratuities or gifts.

Senior Bus Tour Options

Benjamin Bacon House Tour

• LOCATION: Vermilion River Reservation, 51211 North Ridge Rd., Vermilion, OH 44089 (directions)

  Benjamin Bacon was an early settler to Lorain County and one of its first County Commissioners. He built his home along the Vermilion River in 1845. Vermilion River Reservation is the first park in the district. The donation of the land prompted the creation of the metro parks organization in 1957. Museum tour is on the ground floor only.

  *Note: Option to add a stop at the Carriage Barn, located directly beside the Benjamin Bacon Museum, to eat packed lunch.

Carlisle Visitor Center Tour

• LOCATION: Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange, OH 44050 (directions)

  Carlisle Reservation and the Visitor Center serve as the park’s headquarters. This location opened in 1981, but the addition of the facilities Raptor Center did not come until 1998. The Raptor Center is home to various non-releasable raptors who serve as wildlife ambassadors through educational programming.

  *Note: Option to add a stop in one of the Visitor Center’s meeting rooms to eat packed lunch.

Cascade Park Tour

• LOCATION: Cascade Park, 387 Furnace St., Elyria, OH 44035 (directions)

  Cascade Park is best known for its majestic waterfalls of the east and west branches of the Black River. The park district took over the operations of the park in 2014 and has since seen major upgrades, including the installation of a large bridge spanning the Black River. Visitors can elect to take a self-guided hike over the bridge, to the Elywood side of the park. Waterfall trail is steep and includes uneven terrain.

  *Note: Tram is available by request for this tour. Group may optionally use Cascade Nature Center for packed lunch.

French Creek Nature Center Tour

• LOCATIONS:

• French Creek Nature Center, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village, OH 44054 (directions)

• (Optional) Burrell Homestead, 2792 East River Rd., Sheffield Village, OH 44054 (directions)

  French Creek Nature Center, built in 1987, is home to the French Creek Theatre, as well as a classroom featuring various aquatic and reptile animal displays. The park also features more than 4.5 miles of trails along three separate creeks. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the facility but may schedule a guided sneak-peak backstage, of the French Creek Theatre.

  The Burrell Homestead has stood beside the Black River for more than 200 years. Not far from the shores of Lake Erie, the Burrell family provided refuge for runaway slaves as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

  *Note: Option to add a stop at the historic Burrell Homestead. Separate location from the Nature Center. This is the only 2-stop tour that LCMP offers. House has 2 floors, but tour can be contained to the first floor as mobility allows. Groups may optionally use the French Creek Nature Center Classroom for a packed lunch.

Lakeview Park Tour

• LOCATION: Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44052 (directions)

  Lakeview Park has a history that dates back more than 100 years, long before the park district took it on in 2006. This lakefront beach allows hundreds of thousands of visitors access to Lake Erie each year and features a historical 1936 fountain, as well as the park’s renowned rose garden. Visitors can elect to do a self-guided tour of the grounds and enjoy lunch on the terrace overlooking Lake Erie.

  *Note: Optionally, tour group may opt to pre-purchase lunch from the Sunset Café (closed on Fridays) instead of eating a packed lunch.

Miller Nature Preserve Tour

• LOCATION: Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Rd., Avon, OH 44011 (directions)

  Lakeview Park has a history that dates back more than 100 years, long before the park district took it on in 2006. This lakefront beach allows hundreds of thousands of visitors access to Lake Erie each year and features a historical 1936 fountain, as well as the park’s renowned rose garden. Visitors can elect to do a self-guided tour of the grounds and enjoy lunch on the terrace overlooking Lake Erie.

  *Note: Optionally, tour group may opt to pre-purchase lunch from the Sunset Café (closed on Fridays) instead of eating a packed lunch.

Sandy Ridge Reservation Tour

• LOCATION: Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Rd., North Ridgeville, OH 44039 (directions)

  Sandy Ridge Reservation is one of the county’s birding hotspots situated on a migratory bird route. This park includes a 526-acre wetland and wildlife preserve. Visitors can elect to do a self-guided hike on a 0.7 mile loop trail.

  *Note: Tram is available by request for this tour. Groups may optionally use the Johnson Wetland Center Room for a packed lunch.

Schoepfle Home and Garden Tour

• LOCATION: Schoepfle Garden, 11106 Market St., Birmingham, OH 44816 (directions)

  Schoepfle Garden is 77 acres of botanical gardens and natural woodland bordered by the Vermilion River. This park is the only location located just outside of the Lorain County line. Otto Schoepfle was a successful businessman, but his true passion lay in the soil of his grandparents’ Birmingham farm. His home is a moment captured in time of the “garden that grew.” Tour includes a guided view of Otto Schoepfle’s home, located on the park grounds. Tour remains on the ground floor only.

  *Note: Tram is available by request for this tour. Groups may optionally use the Schoepfle Garden Meeting Room for a packed lunch.

Wellington Reservation Tour

• LOCATION: Wellington Reservation, 535 Jones Rd., Wellington, OH 44090 (directions)

  The Wellington Reservation is a 541-acre park that was developed in 2005 through a collaboration with the Village of Wellington. This location includes the Wellington South Reservoir with seasonal paddleboat and kayak rentals.

  *Note: Tram is available by request for this tour. Groups may optionally use the Wellington Reservation Meeting Room for a packed lunch.

Senior bus tours are currently unavailable.

Due to overwhelming response, we are working through a backlog of requests from the previous year. At this time, we are not accepting new requests; however, you can submit your contact information to be added to a waiting list. We will communicate throughout the season if additional opportunities become available.

Wait List Contact Information

If you are interested in being added to a wait list for the Senior Bus Trip program, please fill out the form below.