One of my favorite farms in the area! The houses are fun to explore and learn about their history. Overall 10/10 (5.0 stars) (my review from Google Map) read more

I'm writing this review after hearing a deeply disturbing story from my younger sister, who was a student in the Stow School District. Over the years, she visited this establishment multiple times through school-organized field trips. Her earlier experiences seemed educational and age-appropriate, but her final visit in 8th grade was traumatizing and completely unacceptable. On her first visit, she was a young child, excited to explore history. She remembers playing with wooden toys and engaging in fun, interactive activities. It was a harmless and enjoyable experience. On her second visit in 4th grade, the experience was still fairly lighthearted--she milked cows, churned butter, and watched glassblowers at work. It seemed like a continued effort to connect children with the past in a safe and engaging way. But her third visit in 8th grade took a shocking and horrifying turn. During this "A Fugitive's Path: Escape on the Underground Railroad" experience, my sister and her classmates were: Placed in shackles and treated like slaves Forced to simulate escaping through the Underground Railroad Exposed to the sound of blank bullets being shot into the air Surrounded by the cracking of whips Yelled at and intimidated by adults playing the roles of slave catchers or owners This wasn't education--it was trauma packaged as a learning experience. As her older sibling, hearing her describe the fear, humiliation, and confusion she felt during this simulation was gut-wrenching. I cannot understand how any school district, let alone an educational institution trusted with children's development, would approve of such a psychologically scarring experience. How could you slowly build a relationship with this place over several years, only to subject children--still minors--to a reenactment of slavery that includes the sounds of gunfire and whips? What kind of message does that send? What makes anyone believe that this is appropriate or effective? Let me be very clear: no child should ever have to go through this. Teaching about the horrors of slavery is important--but traumatizing children in the process is not education. It's irresponsible and deeply damaging. To the school district and the organizers of this program: What made you think this was okay? You crossed a line that should never be crossed. You failed these students. As a sibling, I'm heartbroken. And as a community member, I'm calling for serious accountability and immediate re-evaluation of what is considered "educational." This should never happen again--to any child, in any school, anywhere. This event took place in 2013-2014 school year however her trauma is still valid in 2025!!!!!!!! read more

My first time and what a great experience. The grounds were lovely although did need the grass cut. All of the employees were great with the exception of one who was not age appropriate and came off as mean. read more

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We very much enjoyed our visit to Hale village and farm! The workers there were very dedicated, knowledgeable and genuinely seemed to be happy in their craft/position. We saw glassblowing, pottery making, yarn making and all the period homes preserved neatly. The weather was sunny albeit a little chilly so our deluxe picnic was consumed inside, which was fine! We saw chickens, a few sheep and 2 oxen but not much else in the way of animals. We heard tell there was a barn cat but alas did not glimpse him. I loved that each exhibit had a path so that there was plenty of walking around. Gift shop was way too expensive though and admission prices were a bit steep with no discounts at $15 each. Blacksmith retired so we did not get to see that exhibit. read more

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I am writing this review in response to something my grandson shared with me after his class visit to Hale Farm. The employee who was supposed to be educating them on early farm life decided to begin his program with a game of "guess my gender". This was a group of 3rd graders. And when some of them giggled the guy got really mean. This is so past disgusting, sick & inappropriate. How dare you jerks sexualize these small children. And after reading Kimberly C.'s review about her sister's traumatic experience maybe hale farm should close. read more

Located between Akron and Cleveland, Hale Is a very nice place to take the family. There are a bunch of buildings that have been restored and are used by a group of volunteers who provide a recreation of life on a farm years ago. The setting is beautiful and there are a number of events held throughout the year that are worth checking out. My favorite is the Folk Festival read more

Hale Farm & Village - Museums Near Me - Bath, Ohio

Great place to visit! Lotsa space. Plenty of picnic tables to choose from. Yet the tables are strategically placed for shade & enjoyment. Same for the food trucks. Good event s scheduled for all ages. Lots of folks dressed in period costume s to Mk it fun. Staff is friendly and helpful. The only disappointment was The senior discount rate was not applicable. read more

Hale Farm & Village - Lumberjack event - Museums Near Me - Bath, Ohio

If you have never been here, it's a nice way to spend an afternoon. We always come for the Folk Music and Wine Festival and have a wonderful time. On our first visit, years ago, we did the whole tour and it was great to see the re-enactment of the blacksmith, the candle maker, etc. volunteers wear the clothing from that era and try to make it as realistic as possible. There were many kids who seemed to be enjoying themselves. I wish the paths were a little easier to walk on, as you need to keep your eyes on the path so you don't trip and fall. Definitely worth a trip to enjoy this place. read more

Hale Farm & Village - Museums Near Me - Bath, Ohio

I am a former employee as a museum educator. The job itself is a fun job - relaxing, get to have some alone time in each house you're assigned to (if you like that sort of thing). Groups come in, you lecture them for 20 minutes, then they move on. Other employees are lots of fun to know, we had many happy luncheons on the grass together. There are public events and craft shows that come in and have lots of fun merchandise for sale and food trucks to sample from (on those days you don't even bother to put the costume on, you just go and have fun with the rest of the crowd and no one will notice). Management, however, is poor. They are disorganized and either can't or won't communicate with the right sources. There is no room for growth for anyone (unless you want to do cleaning, food service or kitchen work), they seem to have an endless train of people coming in and going out at all times. The one summer I worked there no less than five people quit or were fired. I requested off for a week and had to remind the manager of this and provide the proof. I came into work in the fall and they thought I was going to not work that week and were happy to have someone fill in. When I wrote an email to the manager asking if and when I was to return for the summer, she wrote back saying she hired more people and has no more hours to give me. The pay is also very low, and they request that you give them either a Saturday or Sunday and take away from your weekend. It was one summer, now moving on. read more

Always a favorite, our first outing in Ohio was to Hale Farms Lantern Walk, December 2017. It was also our first Midwest snow.

I came here years ago when I was in grade school. I stopped out for the "Made in Ohio Festival" yesterday. It was great that during the festival they still had the exhibits open. We were able to see someone working on making pottery. Also the blacksmith was making things too. Unfortunately missed the glass blowing exhibit. They had pigs and sheep too from what I saw. The festival as a whole was great. I picked up some awesome handmade items from local businesses. I would definitely like to return to see the farm/village alone. read more

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I have loved Hale Farm and Village since I was a kid, and went often. Although I get out there less often these days, I still love it. There are many structures that you can your to learn about what life was like 200 or so years ago, and lots of interactive things. The blacksmithing and glassblowing demonstrations are especially fascinating. The live animals include pigs, chickens and sheep. There are many events throughout the year held there as well. Northeast Ohio has amazing parks and museums, and this is one of them. You should definitely visit and support it! It's a great time! read more

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Arrived here about opening time! It is hit day and getting hotter! We decided to get their chicken salad sandwiches and a drink! That is the extend of the menu! Ice box cold sandwiches, but fresh and tasty! The gatehouse is the ticket place, store, and cafeteria seating and a guard checking trashcans a nd looking bored! The building can handle hundreds of people! The restrooms were next to the restaurant area, badly layered out and very old plumbing! Well, any port in a pinch! We got a map of the logout of the various buildings and discovered a few building was blank spots on the map because they did not exist yet! There was several outside tables providing kids activities next to the gatehouse! The buildings were spread out to give you a challenge walking with one small bench under one tree! Your hind end will be dragging after two plus hours walking and standing! In mid 80 temperatures only the teens could walk and stand that long! The very young and seniors and handicap would have a challenging day without adequate seating throughout the 30 acres! Some of the buildings had a person in costume presenting facts about the particular activities that would have been done back in the days! Unfortunately, only a few presenters were working on this annual special fall day! I have been told the best and most interesting were not being done this day. We did fine the yarn making, broom making, looms for rugs and such were interesting! The meeting house and rich man home did not have presentations only roped off viewing! The blacksmiths must have been out to lunch! We did get a sense of early life without TV, radio, mobile phones, computers, etc. People learned skills to work for a living a long with farming or running a business! People worked hard and find little time for anything else! Today it is mostly the opposite! I suggest calling and seeing just how much of the buildings have presenters that day! Just because it is a highlight event day does not mean it will be sufficiently staffed. Otherwise, save $10 a piece and watch "little house on the prairie" on tV! LOL If you got stamina then a visit to this prairie may be your gem to visit! Suggest BYOC (bring your own chair)! read more

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I haven't been to Hale Farm in over twenty years- I really don't remember anything from my past visits, other than there were animals, and it was a Williamsburg style live action of the past. Being the apocalypse, one can't expect things to be the same as they were. The lacking of animals and the decrease in actors is balanced by the dedication and care of the employees present, as well as the quiet and calm of the site. Lisa with the textiles (I believe she is actually a program director) was friendly and truly was experienced in her field. Pattie, the cow handler, the broom maker, and the young lady at the sandstone house were all very pleasant. The majority of the Farm and Village are open, but there are significantly less animals. Two Oxen (are they just cows when off work so long? Lol), a few sheep, and a flock of chickens- and we saw a wild mink by the stream near the Log Schoolhouse. Staffing seemed very short, but the propertly was extremely clean and well kept. Although the site says there is a limit to 50 visitors each hour, there were no more than 20 people there including my wife and the staff. My only complaints are that the website doesn't seem to have been updated since 2018, still saying admission is $10, when it's $12. Not unreasonable, but I do have to complain that there is a $4.95 processing fee for their ticket broker. It would be nice to be able to reserve a spot and pay in person, rather than pay another website just for doing a transaction for them. Finally, while there please check out the gift shop. A surprising amount of things are actually made on the farm by their staff. read more

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I really had no idea what this place was but it was recommended as it's within CVNP. I had my two dogs with me as everywhere in CVNP is dog friendly. I walked up looking for any indication dogs weren't allowed, but there were no signs. Popped my head in and they said they're not allowed. Also it's a $15 admission fee so I probably wouldn't have gone regardless. When I'm visiting a NP I'm not interested in paying any additional entrance fees. read more

My only regret about visiting hale farm is that we didnt have enough time so seeing everything was a bit rushed. We are from Pennsylvania and weren't necessary looking to visit the farm and village. However, we came across the opportunity as a stop on the cuyahoga train ride. The train brings you to a train station near a lake where a man with a golf cart type vehicle picks you and everyone else up and take you on a 5 minute trail to the farm. (A bit sketchy but nevertheless an experience all by itself) I personally love old fashioned villages and enjoy showing them to my daughter. We visited the farm in October when the leaves were just starting to change, everything looked absolutely beautiful. This village is unique to me because they have log cabins as well as colonial type homes. Each home offered either a tour with historical facts or a live demonstration. My daughter got thr chance to take part in apple butter making. I'm unsure if we will ever be back, due to living so far away. However, every November they hold "dinner with Abe Lincoln" which I would love to attend! All in all, definitely worth a visit! A great family friendly day out! read more

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It was also not very disabled-accessible. They could probably take a lesson from the Country Living Fair and keep walkie talkies on Hand to answer questions that come in from across the vast terrain read more

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What's not to love? I have been coming to Hale Farm & Village since I was a child. Tucked away in the Cuyahoga Valley, this treasure is something that the whole family can enjoy. My favorite time to visit the farm is during the Made in Ohio Festival every summer. It's a great way to experience everything the farm has to offer, while supporting local artists and vendors. A ticket to the festival gives you free reign of the farm. I recall the tickets being $5ish... and definitely worth it. If you haven't been to Hale Farm yet, I'd highly recommend checking it out. read more

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I absolutely love hale farm! ESP in the fall! It is so peaceful and it takes you back in time. read more

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Very disappointed with my experience here. We took the Cuyahoga Valley scenic railroad here from the Rockside station. There was only a few of the buildings open, so there was limited things to do and presenters. Since they didn't warn you though, you end up just walking around aimlessly following a map trying to get to things you can't even see. I felt underwhelmed and annoyed because we paid for the entire experience. In addition, we were starving. The food was limited, frozen and unappetizing. The bags of chips we purchased were well past their expiration date. Too much walking to not have real food options. Only plus was that it wasn't expensive. read more

Great place to take your family. Enjoy the hand made demonstrations like glass blowing. Walk the farm and see the animals.

We had our wedding here and they killed it. We would recommend to anyone. We had a great time and the staff was very helpful!

We took a visit to Hale Farms while vacationing in Ohio in October. It exceeded my expectations. I brought my eight year old daughter and she was fascinated by the exhibits, the houses, the glass blowing demonstration and her favorite part, Johnny Appleseed! He was so entertaining and informative. I was remembering history pieces I had not thought about in 30 years. And he had new information to share too. We spent over an hour watching the glass blowing. The pieces were beautiful. My daughter even used her "spending" money on a piece for her room. Her treasure. She was able to participate in stirring the apple butter and creating candles, also. We spent 6 hours and did everything there was to do. read more

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Hale Farm is a local favorite field trip spot. It is a historic village. Young kids like it because they have a lot of displays that you can touch. There's a play weaving set and a spinning wheel. The kids can work on working with wool. There's many craft people around: the spinner, the broom maker, a glass blower, the potter, the blacksmith and a candle maker. The staff is helpful and well informed. They can answer many questions. Bring your local NARM or Time Traveler passes. The Western Reserve Historical Society participates in both. My advice is that if you are taking K-3rd grade kids to Akron, you can make a super fun trip out of Hale Farm, the Jr ranger program at the national recreation area, the Akron Zoo, Stan Hywet, the fabulous parks in Stow and Hudson, Ohio and the Hudson Library. Bring your swim suits and go to Waterworks in Cuyahoga Falls. Check the Cinemark and the Regal Theater for summer $1 movie specials. Check out the fantastic local ice cream choices like Stoddard's, Strickland's and Handel's. Eat like the locals at Swenson's, Parason's or take out chicken and Joe-Joe potatoes from Pony Express. There's terrific biking available as well! And, if you are really adventurous, head to Wooster, Ohio for the day for the Barn, great playgrounds (bring tricycles or bikes and swim suits), cute downtown, fun Arboretum, blueberry picking and ice cream. read more

Hale Farm & Village - From the flower garden - Museums Near Me - Bath, Ohio

My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Hale Farm, and I just loved it! I'd never experienced anything like it, and was blown away. We went during the Harvest Festival and got to see what it was like to live "back in the day." I felt liked I'd literally stepped back in time because everything was so authentic! Even the actors were spot on. It was such a fun time and very informative. read more

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I haven't been to Hale Farm since I was in the first grade (trust me, it's been a while!). I have been there now 3 times since this summer. Most recently, I attended the All Hale's Eve Halloween bash at the farm with some friends. We had a great time following the map along the candlelit trails, listening to stories, historical facts and info, and even some readings of Edgar Allen Poe works. We stopped at various stations to enjoy food and drink pairings and for to go inside some of the buildings to see what they look like in candlelight. I hope they bring this event back next year. It's also a great place to take the kids on a nice summer or fall day. We've gone to the Made in OH fest and the Fall Festival this year. Highly recommend going and supporting a local historical gem. read more

I usually don't write bad reviews on places, but I couldn't believe this happened to us. My mother, little brother, my puppy and I were enjoying a hike along the towpath and stumbled upon Hale Farm. We're not too familiar with the area and decided we just look around real quick because there was a lot of people walking around. The first thing we go up to was a fenced in area with sheep in there. The older guy that was in there walked up to us and immediately was one of the most disrespectful people I've ever encountered. He said we needed wrist bands to get in, and we immediately apologized and said we didn't know we just came off the trail. He kept telling us to GET OUT over and over again as we already turned around leaving. Then he says (as we're already walking away) "DONT MAKE ME KILL YOUR DOG"..... I couldn't believe it, we're not the type of people to cause issues, and it almost doesn't seem believable that he would say something like that without us provoking him to that extent. I understand a dog scarring the sheep, and my dog wasn't barking or jumping at them, however I understand not wanting dogs around there. You don't say you're gonna kill my dog, the whole interaction should of been "you gotta pay to get in here and no dogs aloud". I called to put in a complaint and the girl I talk to on the phone sounded like she couldn't care less, and she'll "put in a report" but I doubt that. This experience doesn't reflect the whole staff of Hale Farms, but the guy with the sheep is a lunatic. read more

Enjoyed a HOT summer day here! The only problem is that we were here on OCTOBER 7th!!! We stopped at their Marketplace Cafe in the Visitors Center for a quick bite. We had a chicken salad croissant, which had been pre-made, wrapped and refrigerated, but was still quite tasty! It had apples and grapes in it; I quite enjoyed it. A map was supplied but the layout is simple, generally a large oval. It listed times for special events. Enjoyed Johnny Appleseed's story, the weaver's job was exceptional. She must be a master Weaver with all her experience. Also liked the glass blowing demo and broom makers story. I have only one suggestion to make this tour more enjoyable. Place a few more benches along the paths. Not all of us are in the best of shape. We took advantage of one bench on the Village Green but the other one we saw was in the middle of a mushy puddle! Edit, after talking to my daughter about her visit here: Daughter mentioned sitting in the meeting house having the "preacher's wife" tell about helping with the Underground RR, the blacksmith in his barn telling about his work and the Doctor/ Dentist, telling about his tools of the trade! We didn't miss this stuff, it just wasn't going on while we were there! We missed out on a lot! Didn't have as much fun as we should have! read more

I have been to Hale Farm, infact, I went today and learned the most beautiful things and I learned more than I did in school!!! It's really amazing.... My friends and played this game and we pretended we lived in the houses..... I had a HUGE house. I would like go give Hale Farm and Village a 5 STAR RATING!!!!! Thank you Hale Farm and Village for such a great trip! read more

Hale Farm & Village - Here's one of the bedrooms inside one of the houses - Museums Near Me - Bath, Ohio

I went to this place with a thirteen year old kid who looked ten which seems to make sense since kids are the ones who might be interested in places like this. I was told by the money-grabber ticket lady that a thirteen year old was 'an adult' and had to pay the adult rate to get into the place. So, a thirteen year old kid costs double what a twelve year old kid costs. 19th century bastards. Back in the day, they'd hang somebody for shit like that. I paid. So I go in and we walk up to this house which is part of the museum and some lady I recognize from the Acme in Fairlawn dressed like dinner theater Dorian Gray gets mad that this 'child' entered her house without an invitation. I told her that the thirteen year old girl was a full paid woman in these parts and that she was in fact 'my woman' which threw this part-time school marm into a tizzy... so we fled this lady's home even though it looked cool inside and might have been fun to sniff around. The next house housed a bitty who carried on because we entered her 'parlor' and I got beligerent and told her that her house was old anyway. She lectured me like this was a fun little exercise but it wasn't and I was suddenly unsure if I was allowed to even look at any of this stuff. Me and my full-grown middle school compatriot dared to go into a print shop and the guy asked me what he could do for me. I tried to break through the historical interpretation bullshit and I said, ''Dude. we just want to see what this looks like." He wanted to know if I needed anything printed. Sigh. What was I supposed to do, place an order for some runaway slave poster or something? Huh? Back out in the relative peace of the courtyard some woman told us what a treat it was that we could see the wedding today between ol' Buck Tanner and the young Hopperstrap girl and I said, "We can't look at any of this museum but we can go to some strangers' wedding? How does that make sense?" She told me it was joyous day. Of course she got in for free. And, she told us, there's free cake too. Free cake. I figured they'd hit me and the kid up for a gift of a skinned weasel or a cattle which I plum forgot to brang with me to the wedding so we skipped it but followed some people out back of the church we dared not enter and scored some cake anyway. It was like Irish soda bread and had currants in it or some kind of double-dried raisins and we coughed through it without water or buttermilk or whatever damned drink we should have known to ask for. I got my ten dollars worth out of it even though it was for shit. In the end we dodged into the glass-making exhibit and nobody jammed us or expected us to know what the hell is going on and it was cool to watch. Glass making, it turns out, is worth paying twenty to see up close. Hale Farm is awesome for somebody but not me. There's a lot of cool stuff to see but you may or may not be allowed to see it. What a pisser. read more

This December my friends and I decided to attend Hale Farm and Village's Lantern Tours. We were not disappointed!!! Groups were given lanterns to guide them from house to house hearing a unique, interactive and dare I say, feminist story! All of the actors were fabulous, entertaining and made the environment warm and inviting! At the end of the tour live music, hot cocoa and cookies were given to all of the guests!!! They can expect to see us back again next year! I would give this tour 5/5 huzzahs!!! read more

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Despite a decade of budget cut-backs and some rather narrow-minded planning, Hale Farm remains among Ohio's best living history museums. The center of the expanding "village" is the Hale Homestead, one of the first brick homes in what was then Portage County (now Summit County) built in 1825 on 500 acres. While not a huge fan of "historical interpreters dressed in period costume" it can be fun for those unfamiliar with history or children with short attention spans. The period they've chosen to "preserve" is 1850 or so, in strict adherence with the adjacent CVNP. The visitor's center is incongruously housed in a mash-up building, an attempt I suppose at blending modern and period. Fail. That is the only slip, though; the rest of the buildings and grounds is wonderfully thought-out and maintained. It won't take more than an hour or so to see the entire Village, although you could easily spend the better part of a day there and learn much more. I love the glass-blowing, the blacksmith shop, the church, and the way the "village" sits in the gentle valley. Take a walk above the pasture and sit. You just may be transported back to the canal era. An especially nice way to visit Hale Farm is to take the train, getting off at Indigo Lake, then hiking two very easy miles over the ridge to the Village. That keeps a car out of the Village, gets you some exercise and helps immerse you in the wonders of this beautiful land. (Hey, Western Reserve Historical Society? Howzabout you include that on your directions list on the website? Huh?) read more

Despite the amount of rain recently making the ground very wet and mushy, Hale Farm was a refreshing experience! We went to an Ox Talk led by some interns who were clearly passionate about what they did there, as well as visited the other animals located throughout the farm. All the interpreters that were running craft stations in the barns and houses - candle-making, spinning yarn, making brooms - were very helpful in answering the questions of adults and children alike. For those of you who haven't visited since you were schoolchildren, I would highly recommend revisiting someday soon! (Also, there are dozens of tiny, tiny frogs roaming around in the gravel. They are smaller than crickets and fun to attempt to catch!) read more

We love visiting here. I homeschool 4 kids and we always enjoy coming to hale farm. Learning about what life was like over a century ago is fascinating when you can see it in real life. Hands on is a huge help in things we usually can only read about. The people are all so helpful and kind. They really want the kids to experience life back then. Always impressed every year we come back. read more

Cute place to take the family. Each house and/or building had employees providing stories and even showing little examples of how things were years pass. There was a blacksmith, a broom maker, pottery, etc.... Plenty of places where you could have a little picnic or you can also eat in their café. They also have animals throughout the farm. read more

This is a beautiful piece of Ohio history hidden in a quiet valley between Akron and Cleveland that shouldn't be missed. I enjoyed watching what appeared to be a group of school children watching and listening to the interpreters in period costume. I'm sure some sparks for learning have been set off from this place over the years - very nice indeed! read more

Was here for a wedding recenty and its absolutely beautiful!! Feels a bit in the middle of no where but it's completely worth it for the privacy and intimacy of nature surroundings. Would definitely like to come back for a nature tour or wine tasting. read more

My husband and I haven't been there since elementary school. We took our boys this past Saturday and had such an awesome time! All of the curators working each site were informative and really easy to talk to. Especially the black smith and the log cabin curator. I would recommend this tour to anyone with elementary aged kids or older. We had way more fun than I expected. read more

This place needs work on their offerings as a wedding reception venue. We were there on a hot summer day - 87 degrees - half of the reception area had A/C and the other half did not! The very small restrooms had 1 of 3 stalls out of order. It was impossible to for 3/4's of the guests to hear announcements and toasts due to a terribly inadequate sound system. The pastoral view outside the venue is fabulous - the place has real potential, but some issues need to be addressed before it is a reasonable venue. frustrated attendee read more

A few years ago I went to Hale Farm Village because I had heard about it, and thought it would be great to visit and snap a few pictures. I arrived around noon, and saw the farm was located in a very picturesque area, but not what I had expected. I decided I wasn't interested in going onsite, so instead drove up the street to check out what other buildings there were. I found a couple of possible compositions and began to set up my camera. I am advanced amateur photographer who although familiar with digital, prefers the use of film to capture what I seek. I set up my wood tripod and 4x5 inch large format field camera not 4 feet from the side of the road and was busy composing an image of a flower on a vine attached to a wood fence, when I noticed someone in period garb was walking toward me. He identified himself as a Hale Farm Docent and demanded to know what I was doing? I stated I was taking a picture, but before I got further, he cut me off to demand for whom I was working for and what the pictures were to be used for? I was shocked to say the least. I have been an avid photographer since age 12, and never have I had someone speak to me in this manner! And it got worse. I was told by this volunteer that all of Hale Farm's buildings were copyrighted, and that if I took pictures and published them without a formal written consent, that I would be sued. He then added, that I was not an amateur photographer, but a professional because I was using a tripod, and if I wanted to continue shooting pictures I needed to sign a formal release and pay the $20 admittance fee. I assured him I was not a professional, despite the size and complexity of my manual camera, and that the tripod was absolutely necessary because it is impossible to hand hold a 7 pound camera and lens. He could have cared less, and repeated himself at lest 4 times. In fact, at one point he walked between my camera and the subject matter, and I was afraid he would touch and physically move my camera. I finally got tired of his insistent harassment, so packed-up and left, saying I would go and pay the entrance fee. You know, that guy watched me as I drove down the road to make sure I pulled into the parking lot, but when he left, so did I. In retrospect, I understand Western Reserve's need to protect their property, but they were wrong in their approach with me. This situation upset me so much, I called the local police department and did a bit of research about my rights. This is what I discovered: First, "the general rule in the USA is that anyone may take photographs of whatever they want when they are in a public space or places where they have permission to take photographs. Absent a specific legal prohibition such as a statute or ordinance, you are legally entitled to take photographs."1 Second, "property owners may legally prohibit photography ON their premises, but have NO right to prohibit others from photographing their property from other locations."2 Third, "20 feet on either side of the center of 2686 Oak Hill Road in Bath, OH is in the public domain, including the earth that extends beyond the edge of the road, by an estimated 5 feet."3 So, I was within my legal right to not only set up my tripod, attach my camera, lens and film back, but also be allowed to engage in my hobby. I did nothing wrong, and yet I was made to feel the opposite. I don't believe I will ever go back to Hale Farm Village, without having a bad taste in my mouth from this horrible experience. In fact, I spoke to another photographer who had a similar experience, so mine is definitely not the exception. If I ever do go back, I will be sure I have a friend with me as a witness. You should too. 1. The Photographer's Right, Your Rights and Remedies When Stopped or Confronted for Photography, by Bert P. Krages, II, Attorney at Law, November 2006. 2. The Photographer's Right, Your Rights and Remedies When Stopped or Confronted for Photography, by Bert P. Krages, II, Attorney at Law, November 2006. 3. Bath Zoning Inspector, Bath, Ohio. read more