Sandusky has lakeside charm, amusement parks and community events
Life in Sandusky mixes relaxed lakeside living, occasional amusement park excitement and a community that enjoys the small-town vibe by the water. Home to Cedar Point amusement park, beaches, water parks and hotels, millions of visitors flock to Sandusky during the peak season of May through November. The tourist hubs of Put-In-Bay, Kelleys Island and Canada's Pelee Island also draw visitors. But the city’s 25,000 permanent residents stay for community events, a vibrant downtown and plenty of things to do. Peyton Zamarelli Minich, executive project manager at Greater Sandusky Partnership, first came to Sandusky in 2020 as an intern at Cedar Point. "It was just a summer internship, but when I went back to college, I felt homesick. I came back summer after summer until I graduated, and they offered me a full-time position," she says. “When I took my new role (at Great Sandusky Partnership), Sandusky was at the top of our list. A lot of the things we do outside of work or home, we call our third places — restaurants, bars, community events, parks and recreation — a lot of that is based in Sandusky and downtown Sandusky, so we wanted to be closer to all the action."
In addition to tourism, Sandusky's major industries include manufacturing, health care and education. Seasonal work is also prominent in this region.
The city has cold, snowy winters and hot summers. Crime data for Sandusky is not immediately available.
Lake Erie provides a range of recreational activities to Sandusky locals such as boating, fishing, and swimming.
Downtown Sandusky features a wide selection of boutique shops and locally owned restaurants.
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Cedar Point, city parks and island tourism
Sandusky offers a blend of parks and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. "Obviously, when most people think of Sandusky, they think of Cedar Point, which brings more than 3 million visits a year," Zamarelli Minich says. Indoor water parks like Kalahari Water Park and Convention Center offer entertainment year-round.
The city oversees almost 30 parks and recreational facilities. The Sandusky City Parks offer baseball fields, tennis courts, and basketball courts for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Boating, fishing and water sports are popular on Lake Erie. For the arts, the 100-year-old Sandusky State Theater will soon reopen in a restored and expanded building after intense renovations due to storm damage in 2020.
Ferry terminals offer transportation to nearby islands like Kelleys Island and Put-In-Bay, which are hubs for tourism. There's also a ferry service to Canada's Pelee Island.
Sandusky's Cedar Point features 68 rides—including 17 roller coasters— as well as a waterpark.
Sandusky's Shoreline Park features a playground and offers scenic views of Lake Erie.
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Condos, single-family homes and waterfront properties
There’s a variety of housing, from suburban homes in subdivisions to gated waterfront communities. "I think we struggle with a housing shortage not just because of short-term rentals but because a lot of people move here to retire, so there's a need for more housing for the workforce and people wanting to move here and start a family," Zamarelli Minich says. "We're working on a plan to make housing more accessible for everybody." The Ohio Veterans Home, a 427-bed assisted living facility, is also in Sandusky.
The median price is $180,000, much lower than the national median. Ranch-style, new traditional and Craftsman-inspired homes are typical. The city has its fair share of fixer-uppers, and the City of Sandusky Housing Program offers grant funding for home improvements. Larger homes can cost between $500,000 and $750,000, while renovated estates and houses near the water can cost up to $2.5 million.
Apartments, condos and townhouses are prominent downtown and near the shore. The median townhouse price is about $83,000, but prices typically range from about $250,000 to more than $500,000.
Some gated communities in Sandusky have private waterfront access.
Townhomes and condos are popping up all around downtown Sandusky.
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Waterfront restaurants and national retailers are nearby
Sandusky has a mix of local shops and national retailers, featuring small boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and specialty stores downtown. The city has casual dining options, including seafood restaurants and family-owned eateries. Waterfront restaurants line the shore, and there are several spots where boaters can dock and dine. U.S. Route 250, or Milan Road, has big-box retailers and grocery stores. The Sandusky Farmer's Market is open on Saturdays between June and October. "I really love the farmer's market," Zamarelli Minich says. "It's part of our Saturday morning tradition, getting a cup of coffee at a shop nearby and grabbing some produce and flowers for our dining table."
Locals are able to walk to dozens of businesses, several parks, and many attractions in downtown Sandusky.
Sandusky locals have easy access to many big box and grocery stores.
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Sandusky City School District offers college credit
There are four school districts in the area. Sandusky City School District is the largest, with an enrollment of about 3,200 students. The district receives a B-minus from Niche and was awarded a 5-star rating from the Ohio Department of Education for its preschool program. Sandusky High School has Blue Streak University, the district's College Credit Plus (CPP) program. Students can earn college credit for free at nearby colleges and universities. "Our education is investing in vocational skills to keep kids in the area," Zamarelli Minich says. "We have a satellite campus of BGSU, which is Bowling Green University."
Several faith-based private schools are in and around Sandusky. Firelands Montessori Academy is in Huron, which is unrated by Niche.
Sandusky Intermediate School earned a C+ from Niche.
Students can participate in a variety of athletic programs at Sandusky High School.
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Expanding and improving transportation options in Sandusky
Many residents drive, but Sandusky Transit operates five fixed route lines throughout Sandusky, Perkins Township, and Huron Township. The city's population increases from May to November, leading to more traffic and higher public transportation use. Interstate 90 connects to Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport 60 miles east, and Toledo 60 miles west. Firelands Regional Medical Center is in town. An Amtrak rail line offers more travel options, but trains typically arrive and depart late at night.
State Route 2 and U.S. Route 6 connect the coastal cities, but officials hope a planned 100-mile bike trail will make it easier to reach the waterfront communities. So far, 6 miles have been constructed downtown. "Downtown Sandusky is currently under construction for a new streetscape along Columbus Avenue. They're widening the sidewalks and adding parallel parking so people can have outdoor patios; they're improving the infrastructure underground and making it more ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible for pedestrians," Zamarelli Minich says. "It's a collaborative effort … and it's supposed to be completed this May."
Community events at Jackson Street Pier
There are events year-round, and many take place at Jackson Street Pier, a four-acre site that was originally a parking lot. “We host concerts there every Thursday in the summer and we had over 17,000 people visit our concert series last year,” Zamarelli Minich says. “There’s been a lot more events now that there’s the pier and improvements to the sidewalks and roadways. I believe last year we hosted over 130 events.” More than 3,000 witches descend upon the city for the Sandusky Witches Walk, an annual bar crawl in October. The city also hosts the Ironman Triathlon and Ohio Bike Week, one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country.
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