A Blank Canvas on a Private Lake in Bath Township
$595,000
Bath Township has one of my favorite founding stories — the story goes an early resident supposedly said 'call it Jerusalem, Jericho, Bath, or anything but Hammondsburgh,' and Bath is what stuck. These days it's a quiet, wooded pocket of the Akron area, tucked right up against Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which tells you a lot about the kind of privacy you're buying into here.
Here's what got me: this isn't a big showy lake, it's a private 5-acre one, right on the property, with the house set back from the road for real quiet. You get 2.2 acres, big windows pulling in light from every direction, and — this is the fun part — total flexibility on what happens next. Keep the 1972 ranch as your retreat, renovate it top to bottom, or clear the lot and build something new. All three are actually on the table here, not just listing-copy suggestion.
The price dropped $100,000 at the end of June to $595,000, which is a serious cut for a private lake this close to Akron — worth asking the agent directly why, especially since the square footage isn't even listed, which usually means there's something to verify in person before you commit. Listing courtesy of Brent Chervenic, Keller Williams Chervenic Realty.
Life at the Water
Water Access & Depth
The lake is yours and it's small enough to actually feel private — no public access, no boat traffic, just water right off the property.
Recreation & Boating
At 5 acres, this isn't a lake for waterskiing — think kayak, canoe, or just sitting at the edge with coffee and watching the light change, which is honestly the whole appeal.
Dock & Waterfront Features
The listing doesn't mention a dock, so if you want one, plan on building it — ask the agent what, if anything, is already in place before you assume.
Flood & Insurance Considerations
A small private lake like this is unlikely to carry major flood risk, but it's still worth pulling the FEMA flood zone status and getting an insurance quote before you close, especially if you're planning to rebuild.
Beyond the Property Line
Local Flavor & Small-Town Character
Here's my favorite thing about Bath Township: you've got Hale Farm & Village practically in your backyard — a living-history museum with more than 30 restored 19th-century buildings, where you can watch someone actually blow glass or make candles the old-fashioned way. And it's not just history — Hale Farm hosts the Made in Ohio Art & Craft Festival every September, and Bath Community Park throws its own Art Festival every June, so there's real artist-market energy here too. On the food side, Howe Meadow inside Cuyahoga Valley National Park runs a proper Saturday farmers market from May through October with 70-plus vendors, and you'll find pottery from Marcie James, cheese from Old Forge Dairy, and pie from Black Sheep Baking Co. — the kind of finds that make you actually look forward to a Saturday morning.
Outdoor Recreation & Natural Surroundings
And when you want to get outside, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is right there waiting. Grab the dog and do the Ledges Trail — a 2.3-mile loop past sandstone cliffs and hemlocks that never gets old — or stretch out on the 20-mile Towpath Trail along the old canal. With over 110 miles of leashed-dog trails in the park, you'll never run out of new ground to cover. The village of Peninsula, tucked right in the middle of the park, is worth the detour too — small, walkable, and full of the kind of local shops that turn an afternoon hike into a whole day out.
Listed on Zillow
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