On trend: Airbnbs are big business for Coshocton County

COSHOCTON − Airbnbs are trendy and widespread with unique ones drawing people as an attraction in itself, including in Coshocton County.

Mindy Brems, director of the Coshocton Visitors Bureau , said there are many airbnbs in Coshocton County that are far different from just a room in someone's house, that is often the stereotype of an airbnb stay. This includes refurbished homes and buildings, themed locales, scenic views and different experiences, like glamping, or the term for higher-end camping.

Tourism is a major economic driver in Coshocton County , generating about $49 million from 490,000 visitors annually with 752 jobs connected to the tourism industry. People come in from all over for festivals, concerts, weddings and other events. They all need somewhere to stay and there are just so many traditional motels and hotels in the area.

"Airbnb , VRBO and other short-term options are exploding in growth across the world, giving many travelers what they want, which is variety and choice," Brems said. "In Coshocton County, we currently have five traditional hotels with a total of 175 hotel rooms, making sleeping space for about 675 people. Add to that the 165 short-term rentals available in Coshocton County and we can accommodate nearly 1,700 people. These short term options include bed and breakfasts, whole homes, apartment-style accommodations in Roscoe Village and Main Street, cabins, glamping tents, vintage campers, treehouses and more."

The visitors bureau has a list of more than 55 airbnb and other lodging options on its website , which can be booked via airbnb.com. Here's a look at some of the area's offerings and what makes them special.

The Bell Tower

The Bell Tower opened in January and is adjacent to the LeRetilley Event Center that opened last October, at 211 West St., overlooking Roscoe Village.

Co-owner Janae Stevens said while some people coming in for activities at the event center, like weddings, stay in the Bell Tower, it attracts others as well. She said one recent couple found the location on airbnb and just thought it would be a fun place to stay and then they found things to do in the area from there.

The event center was once a church and the Bell Tower was where the church bell was housed. The original bell dating back to 1853 is now at nearby Roscoe United Methodist Church.

The foyer is a bedroom with a spiral staircase leading up to a bathroom and coffee bar. At the very top is a lounge with windows allowing one to see for miles around. Work was done by Janae's husband, Zach.

"My husband had the idea to put a room in there. I think he just had this vision it would be a really cool place, it has a really beautiful view," Janae said. "People have loved it. We've had great response. People just think it's unique and it has that historical element. People have repeatedly said use of the space is very creative."

Hasseman properties

Amy and Kirby Hasseman own several airbnb options in Coshocton. The most prominent are The Renaissance on Main opened in 2020 with 14 rooms and The Roscoe Boutique Motel , the former Roscoe Motor Inn, they took over in September with 18 rooms. The also have a few other small houses that can be rented too, with Grammies House recently remodeled and added to the portfolio.

"We spend a lot of time, work and money on fixing all of our properties up before offering them on Airbnb. The Renaissance building has had almost $500,000 invested in renovating that building. It was an eyesore prior to our ownership. Guests don’t want to stay in a dump. They look for clean, updated rentals in a safe and convenient neighborhood. That is our top priority to provide that. "

Especially with The Renaissance, Amy said they have more long term stays over short term stays. These are people who might be in the area for six months to a year for specific projects or traveling nurses as an example.

"Over time, we have seen a shift in renters.  We still get some weekend travelers, but many of our guests are medical professionals or contractors in the area for projects at our local manufacturing plants. They find these apartments are a little more homey than living in a hotel room for a few weeks," Amy said.

McKenna Lodging

McKenna Lodging has several short to midterm rental options in Roscoe Village, West Lafayette along the Tuscarawas River and Marietta. Maxx McKenna said they started renting units in the Medbery Building in Roscoe Village in 2014 and joined airbnb in 2020.

They have eight short term rental apartments in Roscoe Village and eight units in Marietta. There are fours houses in the east end of the county and Tower Pines Villa in the same area will be opening soon. Units in Roscoe Village are one to three bedrooms with kitchens, outdoor patio and porch seating and other amenities. The houses have fire pits and yards with some having riverfront docks. Some of the Roscoe apartments have antique furniture, including a spinning wheel.

"We are constantly making improvements to our properties or taking on new projects entirely," McKenna said. "Our guests have had overwhelmingly positive experiences at our properties. Whether they stay with us for one night or several months, they feel like they are at home and settle in comfortably. We have dozens of returning guests each year that love to experience our different and unique properties."

The old motto in real estate is that it's all about location, location, location. McKenna said Coshocton County itself is the draw for people staying with them, especially in Roscoe Village.

"Our properties have the best locations for tourists. Our Roscoe Village properties are within walking distance of all the shops and restaurants and the walking trails of Lake Park. Local wine/brewery trails are a big draw to Coshocton County," McKenna said. "We have a number of guests who stay with us while attending weddings, reunions and other special events. We are also a short drive from Amish Country, so many of our visitors work that into their stay. Our guests also love River Greens and Hickory Flats (golf courses) and the Eagle Ridge disc golf course, sporting events at Kids America or shopping in Downtown Coshocton."

Woodbury Cabin

Shane Bocock is the owner of the Woodbury Cabin, 27167 Township Road 340, Warsaw. It opened in October 2011, but Bocock purchased the land in 2007. He quit his job as a teacher after he and his wife had their son, so he could stay home.

"I was going a little stir crazy being at home with the kids all the time and I told my wife that if we built a cabin, we could rent it out on weekends and use it during the week and I could take the kids with me when I cleaned," Bocock recalled. "When I was a teacher, the kids had taught me how to use CAD and how to build a website, so I was able to design the floor plans of the cabin I wanted and build a website to take reservations. I gave my floor plans to H&H Construction in Loudonville and they had a real architect draw up the plans."

There is an open loft with three queen beds, leather chairs and a toy closet for kids. The main floor features a couch, loveseat and ceiling stone fireplace. The living room opens to a dining room with a table for six and half-log bar that seats three additional guests. There is a full kitchen, full bathroom and a master bedroom with a queen bed and jacuzzi for two. In the basement is a television room with a couch, loveseat and chair with another full bathroom, laundry room and a bedroom with two twin bunkbeds. Outside is a covered porch and covered patio with tables and chairs.

"Most people that stay comment on the quiet. The cabin is located in a valley surrounded by woods and most outside sounds are kept out. When you sit on the porch, you really only hear the birds, the rustle of leaves in the wind and other sounds of nature. This provides a unique privacy that many other airbnbs don’t offer," Bocock said.

CreekSide Cabins

Siblings Rick Conkle and Debbie Dickson opened CreekSide Cabins in June 2023, just off Ohio 60 near River View Local Schools. Dickson owned property adjacent to land owned by her parents.

There are three cabins named Grams and Gramps, The Shanty and The StarGazer. There's a communal shower house. There's access to a dock on the Killbuck Creek with fishing and other water activities available. They're also working on adding primitive camping spaces and an outdoor soaking tub.

"CreekSide Cabins is unique with the location in nature and the serenity of the water of the Kilbuck Creek and is within 4 to 8 miles of grocery stores, shopping and Roscoe Village," Dickson said. "People report coming to CreekSide Cabins to be able to get away from the daily stresses and to just be with nature."

The Spangler Inn

Jared Michael owns and operates The Spangler Inn, 224 N. Fourth St., along with his mother, Janet Michael. It opened in September 2022.

There are four bedroom and two large bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms have king beds, one has a queen bed and on is a full bed.

"We offer the walkability to Main Street surrounding restaurants and downtown activities. We've also provided guided wine tours on the Three Rivers Wine Trail to several groups that have stayed. We also feature a very large parking lot capable of holding huge U-Hauls or even travel trailers.," Jared said. "What makes us unique is the character and charm of the original house that has been kept. And when you stay with us we have everything down to the minor details available."

Jared said the Spangler Inn is named for the family who originally built the house and lived there. Renovations took about two years. This included installing modern electrical, plumbing and HVAC. However, it was important to Jared to keep the original charm and character of the home.

Jared said they are currently renovating another nearby house that will lead to expansion of accommodations.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: On trend: Airbnbs are big business for Coshocton County