Sandusky County Historic Jail and Dungeon Experience: Groups Experience Life in an Historic Jail

Groups experience an 1840’s dungeon and an 1890’s-style jail during this EPIC Group Experience located in Fremont, Ohio. The Sandusky County Historic Jail and Dungeon Tour not only gives guests an idea of what life was like as an inmate, but it also shares what it must have been like for supervising sheriffs and their family members. Tours include the historic jail, the dungeon in the basement of the courthouse and the gallows and Exhibition Hall in the attic of the courthouse. This tour is exclusive for groups.

Research on several prisoners who spent time in the jail brings richness to this story, as does the collection of jail memorabilia. Original jail clothing is just one example.  

Sheriffs and their families lived in the same building as the jail. The tour includes tales about family members’ roles in housing and caring for prisoners. Wedding pictures, family Christmas photos and other personal photos remind guests that happy memories were made on the other side of the jail door in a family home.   

Most people have never set foot in a county jail, not to mention walk the catwalk like deputies once did. The dungeon is one of the only ones of its kind in the United States and looks eerily similar to what it did 180 years ago. Elevators are available.   

International Soap Box Derby: Groups Experience the "Thrill of the Hill" and Hands-On Derby Experiences

The “thrill of the hill” awaits group guests with a visit to the International Soap Box Derby in Akron. Since 1935, youth from around the world have competed in Akron with their gravity-free cars. Group buyers can choose activities that immerse clients into a championship soap box derby event, but keep both feet on the ground. Or they can go full throttle and schedule car rides for those seeking a little more excitement! Either way, this EPIC Group Experience is dedicated to making every single group guest has a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

The experience starts immediately. Guests are greeted as they get off of the bus and they’re given a free ticket to the World Championship Race. Name tags are provided so staff can get to know your guests. If available, the International Soap Box Derby CEO can be on-hand to welcome your group.  

Several VIP packages are offered for guests traveling with a group. Packages vary based on a group’s needs, budget and time. Options include a Hall of Fame Museum tour with expert tour guides, mini-car building and racing, trivia, team scavenger hunts, and of course, car rides! For those who may be unable or unwilling to drive or stop their own Soap Box Derby cars, they offer cars for ride-alongs that are controlled by another trained rider. If they have a roster of guests ahead of time, the names of each group guests are featured on the scoreboard above the finish line.  

Tours of the Hall of Fame Museum give guests time to explore and view cars on their own. Staff and volunteers are available to answer individual questions and to spark conversations. Your groups will be asked about their personal connection to the Soap Box Derby and invited to share their own stories. Perhaps they raced, or a family member raced. Maybe they participated in a local race or marched in a parade.

Throughout the experience, staff shares the mission of the Soap Box Derby as a means to develop the knowledge and character of youth through honest and fair competitions. Your guests will learn how the mission has evolved and how the mission is lived with each event and race. Some of your guests may get so motivated they may go home and get involved with Soap Box Derby events in their communities.

To make sure your guests never forget this unique visit, everyone has a chance to get photos at the top of the track, at the starting line, in their cars and while racing. If desired, Soap Box Derby trivia can be shared with the escort for bus ride discussions, with a few prizes for the winners.

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum: Where Groups Feel Like Honored Guests

An EPIC experience starts as soon as guests see the gates of Spiegel Grove, the 25-acre estate of 19th president and first lady of the United States, Rutherford and Lucy Hayes. From the front desk receptionists to the guides in the Hayes home and every staff member a group encounters in between, The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum staff works collaboratively to ensure each individual guest feels warmly welcomed. As guests enter the museum, they are greeted with a cheerful welcome sign featuring the name of their group. General admission guests check in at the museum’s front desk, then walk to the Hayes home on their own. For group tours, a staff member will escort the group to the Hayes home and interact with the guests, getting to know them individually and giving them a few “teaser” pieces of information to foster a sense of excitement and anticipation for their house tour.

Very few of us will ever be president of the United States, therefore it can be hard for the average American to connect with or relate to a president and first lady, especially ones who served so long ago. However, Rutherford was a father, son, brother and soldier. Lucy was a mother, daughter, sister and homemaker. In other words, they were human, just like all of us, and had joys, hopes, concerns and sadness, just like all of us. The stories visitors experience while on tour demonstrate how the Hayes family relied upon each other and their network of friends to celebrate successes and sustain them through the trials of life. The Hayes home is a spectacular setting for these stories because the contents are all original to the Hayes family. It is not furnished by reproductions or period items from other 19th century families, but the actual items that were part of the Hayes family’s everyday lives. Guests leave feeling like they were part of Rutherford and Lucy’s home and life through the stories and collections guides share! The museum partners with local restaurants and businesses to bring local cuisine to share with group guests to give them an understanding of the unique flavors of the area and the century when Rutherford and Lucy lived at Spiegel Grove.

Small group sizes allow for more intimate experiences, so tour planners should ask about how larger groups can be accommodated while maintaining this ability to get close and personal. Group tour operators/coordinators are able to customize their group’s tour with exclusive experiences not available to the general public. These range from themed specialty and behind-the-scenes tours to horse-drawn trolley rides and live music performances on First Lady Lucy Hayes’s piano in the Hayes home parlor. For general admission guests, the museum is self-guided. Exclusively for group tours, we station guides in our most popular exhibit spaces so that group tour members have an opportunity to informally converse with our staff. Guests can ask questions and receive insider information about our exhibits and artifacts. Group tour guests also receive a discount on their Museum Store purchases., so make sure you schedule time for a little shopping.

The museum’s mission is not only to teach history well, but to help people connect what they’ve learned here with today’s happenings. For example, Hayes’ contested election of 1876 has elements in common with the 2020 presidential election. Through exhibits and guided tour content, guests can relate to the successes and failures of the past to modern concerns. By exemplifying the tenacity of our former leaders and ancestors, the museum hopes to remind visitors that we can triumph over divisiveness and modern struggles. On a lighter note, Spiegel Grove itself can impart a feeling of peace to those who pause to enjoy it. People are looking for tranquil travel experiences now more than ever. With nearly 2,000 trees, some dating back to the 1800’s, and nearly a mile of paved walking paths, the history and natural beauty of Spiegel Grove creates a sense of rejuvenation and serenity.

The museum works closely with tour planners to custom design their experience. Time can be built in for group members to meander around Spiegel Grove on their own, or with a guide who is knowledgeable about the unique botanical aspects of the beautiful grounds.

Irish Pennywhistle Experience: Where Groups Play a Happy Tune

Visit Dublin Ohio is just north of Columbus, but group experiences feel like they’re an ocean away. This quaint city celebrates everything Irish, including the lyrical sounds of the pennywhistle. Visit Dublin Ohio offers an Irish Pennywhistle Experience exclusively for groups!

The experience begins with a personal welcome, then guests learn about the history of Dublin and how it got its name. As the saying goes, “You don’t need Irish in your blood, just in your soul.” Every group guest leaves a bit more Irish!

Each group guest receives a pennywhistle. Musical skills aren’t needed, as notes are numbered to indicate which holes to cover. Larger groups are divided into practice “pods,” and then a concert is held at the end. This always leaves folks laughing and sometimes even impressed.

Conversations are facilitated about the impact music may have had in their childhood, and the dedication required to become a proficient musician. Guests get to know each other better as they share memories and stories.

Visit Dublin Ohio can bring this magical, musical group experience to groups at various venues. Upon inquiry, options can be provided.