Orchard Hills Park is a 237-acre parcel in Chester Township, located behind Patterson Fruit Farm's Farm Market. The property had formerly been managed as a golf course.

Driven by research of the Natural Resource Management and Planning departments, Geauga Park District has proceeded with the reclamation and reforestation of this beautiful landscape. Phase I ended in the fall of 2010 and included the planting of hundreds of trees and the addition of a parking lot, restrooms, indoor/outdoor lodge and sledding hill. Phase II will prohibit access to certain trails in 2011 as reforestation and trail construction continues. The public will be kept informed as plans take shape.

The restoration of Orchard Hills Park was funded in part through a grant from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the provisions of Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.

It is Geauga Park District's intent to protect this natural area in perpetuity.

Orchard Hills' new combination shelter provides indoor/outdoor gathering areas with an outdoor fireplace.

Orchard Hills Lodge is available by reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no running water inside the lodge. Click here to reserve the lodge.

Orchard Hills Lodge

Formerly operated as Orchard Hills Golf Course, this property has paved sections of trail that were once used as cart paths. Walkers, joggers, and bicyclists may travel existing trails to traverse the hills, valleys and woodlands. The vantage from the parking area affords a rare view of Lake Erie from Geauga County. Download the trail map here.

Pedestrians always have the right of way. Bicyclists must yield to all others. Announce that you are passing so as not to startle others. Pets must be on a leash. Please lean up after your pets.

When Orchard Hills Golf Course ceased operations in January 2007, it was the intent of the Patterson Family to permanently preserve that portion of their family’s land for the public to enjoy.

Working with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Geauga Park District, the Pattersons accomplished that goal. A conservation easement was placed upon that property specifying that the land be used as a “passive use public park,” the two conservation agencies worked together to fund the purchase of the land, and Geauga Park District took over management.

To restore what was once there - a mature beech-maple forest ecosystem with clean headwater streams and wetlands for the Chagrin River - the Park District will "jump start" natural recuperative ecosystems that support a vast array of native flora and fauna for the Chagrin River corridor.

Conservation projects include the restoration of 1,500 linear feet of stream, three acres of wetlands, 50 acres of forest and 22 acres of meadow. The restoration will help protect and preserve stream corridors and reestablish more natural and healthy functioning streams. The project will also improve the water quality and overall health of the surrounding habitats.

Reforesting one former fairway per year began in 2010 will take at least 10 years to complete; making sure each year is a success will also be crucial.

Click below for a map, courtesy of Mapquest®.

From Cleveland and points east: Take I-90 E until Exit 189 into OH-91. Turn left onto SOM Center Road/OH-91. Turn left onto Chardon Road/US-6. Turn right onto Tibbetts Road, which becomes Caves Road. Continue 0.6 miles. Park is on the right.

From Erie and points north: Take I-90 until Exit 178B toward Cleveland (crossing into Ohio). Take Exit 193 onto OH-306. Turn left onto OH-306/Broadmoor Road and follow OH-306. Turn right onto Chardon Road/US-6. Turn left onto Tibbetts Road, which becomes Caves Road. Continue 0.6 miles. Park is on the right.

From Warren and points west: Take I-422 W and stay straight to go onto Main Market Road/US-422, then follow Main Market Road. Turn right onto Madison Road/Main Street/OH-528/OH-88. Turn left onto High Street/OH-168 and follow OH-168 N, which becomes East Park Street/OH-87 E. Turn right onto North Cheshire Street, which becomes Claridon Troy Road/CR-3. Turn slight left onto Taylor Wells Road/CR-28. Turn left onto Mayfield Road/US-322. Turn right onto Chillicothe Road/OH-306. Turn left onto Wilson Mills Road/CR-8. Turn right onto Caves Road and continue 1.2 miles. Park is on the left.