Lived there for 30 yrs. Not the best, not the worst. For a gated community in the middle of nowhere, we've experienced more crime than you would expect. Get less benefits now than we did 30 yrs ago. In addition to association fees, utility fees per lot. Even lots ur not tapping into. Now paying for passes for the pool (have had multiple additional assessments to fix pool and multiple yrs pool wasn't open) Additional Road assessments (multiple times in 30 yrs) However, they've been working hard on improvements. First, the activity committee is working hard to hold activities for everyone, to bring the community together. They are fixing the road. We will see how they hold up this winter. But for now they are nice. The beach area is better than it's been, ever. They are really trying to make improvements. But it gets expensive for people on very small fixed disability incomes. read more

We have owned property here for over 25 years and just recently bought a house on the lake and completely remodeled it about a year a half ago. Its our second home. I really enjoy this community. Most of the people live in this community full time. I love that it's in the middle of "nowhere" in Amish country. It's actually located in West Salem where a majority of my husband's family is which is why we live here during the summer months. The HOA recently fixed the roads which makes the community so much better. Driving down the roads with large potholes made it seem incredibly trashy. In the beginning I felt like we got picked on personally by the HOA when they found out our home was our second residence. We would get cited for our shed door swinging open (came open during a storm) with the threat of a fine, or a threat of a fine when our grass was an inch taller. But I would drive around and see other people have much higher grass or stacks of trash, wood, and other items in the front of their yards and wonder why we were getting cited for things in our backyard. Since we pay our dues a whole year in advance, I have noticed that we haven't been cited and we also hired someone to cut the grass every other week (to make sure there are no complaints with the grass). Personally, I don't think anyone living in the community should pay extra to have a pool pass if you are a member to go to the pool. Just raise the HOA fee's and let people use things for free. I wish we had more options like a sailing club for the kids, or swim club for the kids, or a summer camp for the kids. We drive to the Mohican sailing club which is only an additional $300 a year to use their club house for FREE anytime and their boats for free. I wish cinnamon lake followed this business practice as well for their community members. There should be more summer perks involving the lake and if it costs money get to it. We could even involve the West Salem kids in summer camps to help balance the HOA fee's - Cinnamon Lake could really be amazing and has so much potential. I do like all the extras that they are doing with community with the club house. I wish they did more kids dances. HOWEVER they have done a really great Easter, Christmas and summer festivals which had wonderful turnout. That has been so big and made a big difference in the community as well. So overall I do love it. It's a really great community. The people who live here are incredibly nice. If you are looking to live here full or part time, I would definitely recommend it even with my complaints. You won't find lake living at such a reasonable cost. West Salem is such a wonderful community. If you are thinking of taking the plunge, dive right into Cinnamon Lake. read more

I've been living here for about 17 years its a very beautiful place to live at. Its a good place to raise your kids. If you like country life relaxation and beauty this is the place for it,we have swimming,tennis courts,basketball,boating you can rent the lodge for parties and it's very quiet you don't hear sirens and ambulances and cars. This place is very nice, you never ever have to leave to go swimming or camping it's all here,and it's a very good place to live when you retire. For those that like the outdoors and like to fish this is the place to be you always are catching fish many people have pontoon boats little fishing boats they like to cruise around and swim there's a beach there's a kids pool and many things to do here you can camp here or you can tent here bring your friends and have a bonfire. read more

The people there are so friendly, we bought a small lot and those who had used a builder even let us tour their house! Anytime I have a question, the hoa reaponds so quickly it's great. Can't wait to finally have a house there. read more

I've never lived here but know several people who have. I'm not sure if they got the drinking water issue fixed but they said it used to cause cancer and often times when my friend would run her daughters bath water it would be grey. On many occasions they came over to fill drinking containers out of my city water so they could have clean water. Aside from that the few times I've been in the neighborhood a lot of people seem very rude and stuck up. People at the gate aren't much better. Honestly you'd be better off and happier in a trailer or small house on your own land. Oh and association fees are ridiculous. read more

Whitley H. Discouraging Review isn't up-to-date on the many lovely homes in Cinnamon Lake. For those who love country living with lake and pool access this is a not well known great place to live. Electric, gas, propane, water, sewer, Tv, Internet services, clubhouse. What more could one want. HOA fee low. Our roads are in great need of new surface and that is under consideration in 2022. read more

Private Lake with some public access if you know someone...I know someone so I got to see it, yup water and sand and a bunch of fish and stuff like that... Who knew? Oh yeah it was created by the Army Corp. or Engineers in like 1971... read more

This place is the biggest joke ever...it's a private community with by-laws they can't or won't enforce...unless it comes to money. The roads are a total disaster, they never mow the grass, they destroy natural wild-life areas, neighbors set off "bombs" illegal fireworks, the girls in the office are rude and can't answer even a basic question, other neighbors hang banners that are prohibited and they do NOTHING..."we sent out letters" but do not follow up. The lake is getting dirtier every year, fish are dying, algae blooms...it goes on & on. If you're thinking of moving here...think twice. They "act" really pleasant while your looking at homes...don't let that fool you...BEWARE!! read more

CAUTION, If you value your sanity, DO NOT move here or at least do a ton of research before you do. Yes, it looks beautiful and yes, the majority of the people who live there are amazing. I lived there for many years. It is run more like a business and not an HOA. All that matters is how they can nickel and dime you to death. The board is a joke and a front. They don't actually call the shots in Cinnamon Lake. They don't maintain much of anything, they pass that off on the Committees. The money that is being wasted on unnecessary things is mind blowing. The biggest waste of money goes to the office manager, who actually makes the majority of the decisions for the residents although she does not even live there. The board pays her close to $100,000 a year (if your counting her stacked 401k) to do the judiciary duties they themselves should be doing. The bylaws are useless because they pick and choose what rules to enforce and who to enforce them with. It is a buddy buddy system. It is a shame because this could be a wonderful place to live if they had a board that would take charge and do their duties as posted in the bylaws. If your looking for a HOA, I would advise looking for one that is run properly, not run by an overpaid secretary on a power trip. I have never seen an HOA pay out the money that Cinnamon Lake pays out on employees just to keep from doing the duties the board should be doing. Yes, you might pay more but it would be worth it. read more

Hands down one of the worst places to visit and/ or live in the state of Ohio, possibly the Mid-West. Why, you ask? Buckle up! Time for some real talk. Let's begin with the infrastructure. The roads are unkempt for the amount of money that they are bringing in from the HOA fees. There are huge pot holes throughout the community, the roads are not well salted during the winter, and if a board member doesn't live on a side street- it's gravel and definitely not treated during winter months. It must be hard to keep up the roads when they're too busy using that money for lining the board members pockets and purchasing stupid decorations and rocks, rather than for betterment of the community. The board members are all friends and literally have no concern for the actual "community." Rather, they waste community money on things such as, but not limited to: rocks, Christmas lights/decorations (heads up~ not everyone celebrates Christmas; way to be exclusive and unwelcoming during the holiday season), an unnecessary fence by the front gate, having a call box to cut back employee costs yet still keeping someone in the truck throughout the night despite the gate house being closed, 2 changeable flexible letter signs at the back gate, and the list goes on. The lack of financial control in this community is disgusting, and if looked into enough by the right person, could probably blow a big scandal out in the open air of Amish country. In addition to the mishandling of finances in the community, most of the employees and board members (especially Anna Gibson) are cantankerous, boorish, patronizing, judgemental, and overall a bad representation of what could be a great place and community. There are a few good apples mixed in there, but they are few an far between. Better hope you never have to go to the office for anything. There you'll encounter Anna Gibson for yourself; get ready for the one of the rudest people you have literally ever met. She, and the rest of the board, is 100% unwilling to work with you if you have any sort of financial issues. On that note, they will come to your home, harass you, and verbally threaten you if you cannot pay all your dues in full. If you ask to set up any sort of payment plan, they refuse. They will ensure that your gate card is disconnected so you cannot get access to your own home if you cannot pay the HOA fees in full, yet they still won't accept partial payments so that you can still get to your OWN house. Yes, you read that right, they will deny you access to your own home, that you paid for, that you OWN- totally messed up... Now, let's talk about "community events." They have a few sprinkled throughout the year that are mostly centered around Christian holidays. Hope you're not Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or have any other religious beliefs/affiliations, because your beliefs/religious followings are obviously not respected or acknowledged by Cinnamon Lake Associate. So much so, that they have a Christmas light decorating contest in December, and the winner has their HOA fees waived for some duration of time (gee, wonder who the winner of that was? Board member or friend of a member?). Real inclusive of *all* members of the community, huh? Now, there are some sporting related community events, and if you're not into that, there is the chance of playing some Euchre or Bridge. However, if you're not into those either, there essentially nothing to participate in. In the situation that you do attend an event, brace yourself for the same clique-like scenarios from middle and high school (side eye, nose snubbing, and under the breath gossiping included!). Onto environmental standards~ if you love nature, animals, and country living, you won't find any of that inside the gates, unless your looking out wishfully at the Amish on the other side of the CLA barrier. Sure it may look pleasant, but in actuality there is no sense of actual sustainability or environmental friendliness. They have lights on at all hours of the day and night at mail houses, the front gate, the back gate, etc. Not to mention, that they completely demolished a bunch of wild flowers, berry bushes, trees that the buzzards use to roost in during the spring and summer, and other plant life throughout the community for the sake of.. grass and "the aesthetic flow of the community." Because more grass is what everyone loves looking at and totally helps with the lowering of CO2 in the environment (heavy sarcasm intended). As a heads up, while on the topic of grass, they will fine you if you don't have your grass cut down to their standards, despite multiple articles and studies showing that short grass and not raking fallen leaves is better for the environment and local ecosystems. Granted, they do plant flowers, but the flowers are not indigenous to the area (or state for that matter) and are considered invasive species. Pick anywhere to move/visit but inside the gates of Hell, erm, Cinnamon Lake. read more

Great off the grid little place for awesome spring rolls. Seriously worth the country drive for the rolls. All homemade by a great authentic chef read more