From donuts to toy trains, it’s the real deal butler county
Psst…wanna a hot tip for an easy-to-get-to location near two major metro areas, where groups can be hosted in affordable, first-class space complemented by historical gems, a vibrant arts scene, family-friendly charm, outdoor adventures and one-of-a-kind, even quirky attractions? Put Butler County, in southwestern Ohio, on your radar.
Located between Cincinnati and Dayton, its communities—chiefly, Hamilton, Fairfield, West Chester Township, Oxford, Middletown, Monroe and Liberty Township—each offer a distinct welcome mat for meetings and events. Urban to rural, The BC has a mood and metier for any group.
Arrive
It’s within a day’s drive of 65 percent of the U.S. population and served by two international airports (CVG and DAY) within a 45-minute drive. Interstate access off I-75 (and near I-70 and I-71) makes getting in and out super convenient.
Meet and Stay
In the repurposed buildings of a former paper factory, $165 million Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill opens soon with over 1.2 million sq. ft. of combined, flexible indoor space, including the second-largest convention space in the region. It will also have an on-site, 235-room hotel, restaurants, a craft brewery and enormous athletic facilities. The venue is just a five-minute walk from downtown Hamilton and looks out over Great Miami River.
The county’s star meetings hotel, Cincinnati Marriott North, is a 302-room property in West Chester with a recently completed renovation of its 12,905 sq. ft. of event space (West Chester Ballroom offers 7,480 sq. ft.), as well as its guest rooms and common areas. Custom catering is available. The 130-room AC Hotel Cincinnati at Liberty Center, in Liberty Township, has 2,134 sq. ft. of modern meeting space.
Want to get more creative with your venue? The original Jungle Jim’s International Market (there’s another one in Cincinnati) is a 6.5-acre indoor experience that features over 180,000 different items for sale, its own monorail, animatronics, 2,500 hot sauces, thousands of beers and so much more. It’s also a big hit for group events, with on-site meeting space and a cooking school for team building. The JXC (Jungle Experience Center) is a multimedia portal with four-panel 110-inch screens.
Eat and Drink
Butler County Donut Trail tracks down a baker’s dozen mom-and-pop donut shops where groups can satisfy their donut cravings and earn a sweet T-shirt after filling up a trail passport. Planners like to select a custom donut as a check-in amenity, for which Butler County Visitors Bureau is happy to coordinate.
Popular dining options at Liberty Center include Agave & Rye, a tequila and bourbon hall; and Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, with a Napa-style tasting room for its own wines and American fare with international flair.
Do
The world’s largest indoor train display at EnterTrainment Junction, in West Chester, makes for a crowd-wowing offsite. Model trains chug along 2 miles of exquisitely detailed indoor track; there’s a 1930s streetscape for socializing and an interactive American Railroad Museum. It also has five meeting rooms and a 4,000-square-foot Expo Center.
In Hamilton, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum has more than 80 monumental sculptures amid the rolling hills, meadows, lakes and hiking trails of a 300-acre park. An Ancient Sculpture Museum displays Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Syrian and Egyptian antiquities. Beautiful and serene, Pyramid Hill offers group tours for up to 24 attendees, and you can reserve spaces for up to 350 guests for meetings, retreats and receptions.
Need to Know
- 470 sq. mi. in area
- 7 Indigenous earthworks in county
- 10th Oldest public university in U.S., Miami U.
