Visitors Guide 

ST. MARYS ATTRACTIONS:

Grand Lake St. Marys - 17,603 acres

State Fish Hatchery - E. Bank Road

Memorial Park - Uptown St. Marys

·    Clock Tower - dedicated January 1989

·    "Belle of St. Marys" Canal Boat - dedicated September 1990

·    Memorial Covered Bridge - dedicated July 1992

·    Veterans Memorial Walkway - along covered bridge and flag poles

·    Grotto - a stone recess in the banks of the St. Marys River

Miami & Erie Canal - walk along the scenic towpath

K.C. Geiger Park - 70 acre multi-recreational complex

Antique and specialty shops in Uptown St. Marys

St. Marys Square Shopping Center - Indiana Avenue

Market Square Shopping Center - Celina Road

Shoppes at St. Marys Shopping Center - Fortman Drive

Grand Lake St. Marys - Ohio's Other Great Lake

For many years, the 17,500 acre reservoir was the largest artificial body of water in the world.  Construction began in 1837 by men with only shovels and axes, and was completed in 1845 as a reservoir to supply water for the Miami & Erie Canal.

In 1949 Grand Lake St. Marys was dedicated as an Ohio State Park and is a recreational area for residents and visitors for swimming, fishing, boating, and camping.

Boating - The lake is open zoned for skiing and has unlimited horsepower for power boating.  A 300' "no wake" zone provides for safety and shoreline protection.  There are five state operated launch ramps for access to the lake as well as private ramps at marinas around the lake.  Sailing and jet skiing are very popular on this lake and rentals are available at area marinas.

Swimming - The park offers four public swimming beaches located around the lake as well as other swimming areas provided for boaters. 

Fishing - A year round activity on Grand Lake St. Marys.  There are several professional and organized fishing tournaments each year.  Located along SR 364 is the State Fish Hatchery (1 of only 3 in Ohio).  This hatchery is the only state hatchery that raises largemouth bass.  Other species raised at the facility, including saugeye, walleye, channel catfish, and pike are raised to stock northern lakes. 

Camping - Several camp sites are located around Grand Lake St. Marys.  The State Park Camping site is located on Edgewater Dr., St. Marys, 419-394-2774.  The camp grounds currently provide 216 campsites (135 with electric).  A "campers only" swimming beach and boat tie-ups are available.  Horseshoe pits, sand volleyball, basketball, tennis court, bicycle rentals, 9 hole putter golf course, outside movie theater, and camp store are available.

Miami & Erie Canal

The historic canal completed in 1845 still flows through Auglaize County and provides scenic views and recreation for our area.  SR 66 allows visitors opportunities to explore the old canal.  Bloody Bridge, Forty Acre Pond, Deep Cut, Six Mile Spillway, and a number of remaining locks are areas of great interest to history buffs.  Each October the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Marys Kiwanis Club sponsor the "Walk With Nature", a 3.5 mile walk along the towpath beginning in Memorial Park to Forty Acre Pond just North of St. Marys.

Resting in the canal along Memorial Park is the "Belle of St. Marys" canal boat.  A replica of a full-scale canal boat that used to travel along the canal.  The first "Belle of St. Marys" was constructed in 1990 by volunteers and donations from the community.  Though the canal boat is stationary, visitors can board the vessel to have a closer look.

Auglaize County Historical Society - Mooney Museum

223 S. Main St., St. Marys, Ohio  419-394-7069

This newly remodeled historical museum once belonged to Daniel Mooney, a former ambassador to Paraguay.  Early Auglaize history is represented here with many artifacts and photos.  Open the first and third Sundays of each month, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Marys Memorial Park

Chestnut St. and E. South St., St. Marys, Ohio

Dedicated to the WWI veterans, the park is located in Uptown St. Marys and rests beside the Miami & Erie Canal on the north side and the St. Marys River on the west side. 

This park is home to many community funded projects such as the "Belle of St. Marys" Canal Boat, Memorial Covered Bridge, Veterans Walkway, Clock Tower, and Grotto.  Memorial Park is also where our SummerFest celebration is held annually the 2nd full weekend of August.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Americas Best Value Inn

1321 Celina Road

St. Marys, Ohio  45885

Telephone:     419-394-2341

Fax:               419-394-7592

Reservations:  1-888-356-4966

E-mail:           contact@bvistmarys.com

Web site:       www.bvistmarys.com

60 rooms, 16 suites,28 apartments, 1 meeting room

Suites have fully equipped kitchens, 3 rooms, 2 TV's, balcony and pull-out sofa.

Motel provides:   free fax, deluxe continental breakfast, meeting room for 25-30 individuals, fitness center, outdoor pool, 27" TV's, free hi-speed internet access, TV Japan in all rooms, voice mail, YMCA guest passes available.   Weekly rates are available as well as long term stays.

Country Hearth Inn

1410 Commerce Dr.

St. Marys, Ohio  45885

Telephone:      419-394-2710

Fax:                419-394-5710

Reservations:  1-888-443-2784

Web site:   www.countryhearth.com

61 rooms, 5 suites, 1 meeting room

Suites include microwave, refrigerator, in-room whirlpool, iron/boards, hair dryer, king size bed.

Hotel has indoor heated pool, whirlpool, exercise facilities, expanded deluxe continental breakfast, 25" color TV with HBO, in-room coffee makers, dataports for computers, interior hallway access, electronic door locks, and in-room safes.  Fax and copy service available.  A meeting room is available for 25 individuals with overhead projector, VCR with TV, whiteboard, and flip charts.

Grand Lake St. Marys State Park

Edgewater Drive

St. Marys, Ohio  45885

Telephone:     419-394-3611

Fax:               419-394-8173

Campsites = 316, w/electric = 135

Rent-A-Camp Site = 2

Rent-A-Tepee Site = 2

Cedar Cabins = 2

DINING:

SHOPPING:

St. Marys, Ohio, offers four commercial districts which provide great retail and services in our community.

Uptown Historic Area - The Uptown commercial district offers a variety of shopping and service needs including clothing, hobbies, collectibles, restaurants, banks, etc.  Several business offices are located in this area as well such as realtors, attorneys, dentists, newspaper, office suppliers, etc. Our Memorial Park is also located in the Uptown district between the Miami & Erie Canal and St. Marys River.  This park adds great beauty to Uptown St. Marys.  There are also two large, well-lighted, off-street parking lots accommodating almost 500 cars for your shopping convenience.

Celina Road/Grand Lake St. Marys Commercial District - This area also provides convenient retail and needed services for local residents as well as visitors enjoying recreation at the lake.    Visitors to St. Marys will find easy access to motels, restaurants, groceries, fuel, laundry facilities, as well as other services to meet their needs.

St. Marys Square Shopping Center - This shopping center is a 180,000 sq. ft. strip mall located at the SR 29/US 33 interchange.  The shopping center opened November 19, 1990, and was a welcomed addition to our community.  There are 23 stores occupying space in this mall.  Several restaurants, a car dealership, gas station, motel and bank

have also constructed new facilities in this location.

Shoppes at St. Marys - St. Marys' newest shopping district located off the intersection of SR 66 and US 33 on Fortman Drive.  The area includes a 69,000 sq. ft. Kroger

Grocery Store and an additional 12,000 sq. ft. strip  mall.

For a complete listing of accommodations, dining, shopping, and events  in St. Marys

and the Auglaize/Mercer County area, contact:

Auglaize/Mercer Counties Convention and Visitors Bureau

P.O. Box 693

900 Edgewater Drive

St. Marys, Ohio  45885

Telephone:      800-860-4726

Fax:     419-394-1642

Web site:     www.seemore.org

OR

St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce

301 E. Spring Street

St. Marys, Ohio  45885

Telephone:     419-300-4611

Fax:     419-300-6202

Web site:  www.stmarysohio.org