Richfield Heritage Preserve =

The Camp Crowell Hilaka Historic District

      ​336 acres of winding streams, lakes, and forests that had been closed off from the public for over 75 years. It had been farmed by the pioneer Oviatt family and then became the estate of inventor Jim Kirby.  During the 1920s Kirby constructed a patented lake, a mill to generate electric power, a house air-conditioned with spring water, and a dance hall built on springs. Upstream, the Neal family built their fairy tale houses and operated a thriving fruit farm. The land was purchased by the Cleveland Girl Scouts in 1937 and enclosed for the protection of the girls. In 2015, the property was purchased by the citizens of Richfield. It is governed by the Richfield Joint Recreation District (RJRD).

Richfield Heritage Preserve is open to the public every day, dawn to dusk.
No admission charge.
​The main entrance is at 4374 Broadview Rd, just south of the Richfield Giant Eagle. 
The Oviatt Gate (aka the South Entrance)  is located at 3771 Oviatt Road, just off of State Route 303
​The Horse Gate (aka the Summer Barn Entrance) is located at 4225 Oviatt Road, just at the top of the long curving hill.  
​Call the park office 330-888-0511 to inquire about the current Horse Gate access code.  

                                                                        Features 
Features marked with an asterisk have been removed or are not available to the public. They are on the list for historical reference.

​Main Historic Structures

• Amity House
• Coach House
• Garfield Hall
• Kirby House
• Kirby's Mill
• North House
• Oviatt House 

Recreational

• Boathouse

• Gund Hall
• Lake Jinelle   (lower lake)  
• Lake Linnea   (upper lake)  ​ ​
• Swimming Pool*
• Summer Barn
• ​The Buckeye Trail
• Spif's Garden

                     Cabins and Shelters

• The Adirondaks
• Beechcliff *
• Betty Robinson Shelter
• Chagrin Valley Cabin
• Cook's Cabin
• Cricket's Corner*
• ​Far Away Pines
• Fernwood
• Gemini Cabin
• Glencairn*
• ​Green Trees*
• ​Hickory Hill*
• Innisfree*
• High Lea Shelter
• Hilltop House
• ​Last Chance*
• Mable Smith Shelter
• ​Nature Hut
• Orchard Way*
• Seely Cabin*
• ​Wayside
• ​Waterfront
• Wonken Tonken
• Windy Hill

                                   Misc

• Streams and Watershed
• ​Gas Cut 
• Kirby Garage/ ice house
• Forest of the Lost GREEN CATHEDRAL
• Innisfree Falls / aka  The Secret Waterfall 
• perimeter fence
• ​The Oxbow
• ​The Oak Tree
• Scarlett Spring
• ​The Sundials 
•  ​Ruins​
• Trails (vintage)

"We do not want to destroy unnecessarily what men spent so much time and care and skill in making... for these examples of craftsmanship tell us so much about our ancestors... If these things are lost or broken or destroyed, we lose a valuable part of our knowledge about our forefathers. No age lives entirely alone; every civilization is formed not merely by its own achievements but by what it has inherited from the past. If these things are destroyed, we have lost a part of our past, and we shall be the poorer for it.”
― Ronald Balfour, British Monuments Man