Troy

Aviation is intertwined with Troy's history. The Weaver Aircraft Company, known as WACO, began in 1919. The company was the largest manufacturer of civil aircraft, used by explorers, salesmen, and the postal service, in the late 1920s and 1930s.

The Hobart Manufacturing Company, which eventually became one of the world’s foremost commercial food equipment companies, and Hobart Brothers Company, a world leader in welding, both were founded in the early 1900s.

The Buckeye Trail travels exclusively on the Great Miami Recreational Trail as it passes thru Troy.

The Great Miami Recreation Trail is part of the Great Miami River Trail, which is the backbone of one of the nation’s largest paved trail networks, spanning 340 miles throughout Ohio’s Miami Valley. The route connects beautiful natural areas, small towns and large cities across four counties in southwestern Ohio. The 93-mile trail hugs the Great Miami River nearly the entire route. The route winds its way near museums, charming and historic downtowns, picnic facilities, and acres of parkland. The trail also connects with other trails: Wolf Creek Trail, Mad River Trail, Stillwater Trail, Ohio-to-Indiana, and the Dayton-Kettering Connector.

Travelling north towards Troy, the WACO (Weaver Air Craft Company) Air Museum and Aviation Learning Center is accessible by leaving the trail. The trail will follow fields and the edge of the local compost facility. As you near Troy, you will spot the Con Agra Plant. There is a trailhead at the Con Agra Plant, with parking, a picnic table, Port-o-Potty, and a bike repair station. The BT stays to the right as it travels east to the Great Miami River. The trail crosses over the river and the BT takes a left-hand turn down to the river bottom, traveling on the west side of the river. You will see the Miami Shores Golf Club, a public course owned by the city of Troy.

As you get closer to the downtown area there will be the North Market Street Ballfields, Troy Memorial Stadium, and Hobart Area on your right.

The City of Troy has designated and has signage for a High-Water By-Pass route through their beautiful historic downtown for use when high water inundates sections of the Great Miami River Trail which are inside the flood levees.

The Great Miami Riverway has created a trail conditions map to display when recent rains and flood gauge readings indicate a likelihood that the trail is flooded.

 At Adams Street the Buckeye Trail passes over the Great Miami River via the North Adams Street Bridge. To visit the downtown area, about 0.2 miles away, continue forward. To stay on the BT, turn right and follow the bike path. The trail user will pass by a small concert venue, Treasure Island Park, The Boat House Restaurant and the Monarch Butterfly Habitat.

 As you exit the river bottom, crossing North Elm Street, there is a bike shop, J&D Bicycles, located on the trail for your convenience. The trail is now passing through wooded neighborhoods by several schools. You pass by the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.

 You may get hungry as you wander your way out of town. The restaurant El Sombrero is located right on the trail if you need a snack or a meal. A trailside church offers free snacks and water.

The trail winds through many county buildings in this area, Job and Family Services, the Miami County Jail, Miami County Engineer, Miami County Transfer Station and Recycling Center.

The Troy Baseball Complex will be on your left with ample Port-o-Potties to use.

The trail has now returned to the banks of the Miami River. Pause and visit the Eldean Covered Bridge as you leave the ballpark area. This covered bridge is one of only two covered bridges remaining in the county. The bridge, built in 1860, was once the second longest of its kind in Ohio and is still the longest “Long Truss” covered bridge in the nation. This bridge was given National Historic Landmark designation in 2017.

After passing the bridge and entering a wooded area, trail users will pass a set of ponds that are popular for fishing (and beavers) before coming to the restored Miami & Erie Canal Twin Arches. The bridge was built in 1837 and is one of only two structures of this type in Ohio.

You have now left the Trail Town of Troy, and are headed north to the Buckeye Trail Town of Piqua.

Plan Your Visit

The story of Troy’s past is kept alive in a number of places. First on the list are the historic buildings in Troy’s downtown area, including the Miami County Courthouse, Troy-Hayner Cultural Center and the various buildings in Troy’s historic public square. The public square is on the National Register of Historic Places. A community focal point is the Beaux Arts-style Miami County Courthouse, designed by Columbus architect J.W. Yost and completed in 1888. It is topped by a statue of Lady Justice, the highest point on the building at 185 feet. Four clock faces can be seen from all directions of the dome at the top of the building.

 The Overfield Tavern Museum, located in Troy’s first permanent structure, was built in 1807 and houses several early 19th century items.

 The Museum of Troy History is located in a Civil War era home and features household items from the 1850s to the 1950s as well as rotating historic displays.

 The WACO Museum and Aviation Learning Center pay tribute to early aviation. It also hosts fly-ins at its airfield that attracts aviation enthusiasts from around the country.

The Troy Hall of Fame, with displays in Hobart Arena, honors Troy’s most famous residents.

Numerous chain department stores and restaurants are located in the area around Interstate 77.

Annual Festivals

Troy Strawberry Festival

The Troy Strawberry Festival is held annually the first weekend in June. The festival attracts over 200,000 visitors to the Troy area.

Tour De Donut

The Tour De Donut, held in August, is a unique bicycle event held in Troy along the Great Miami River Bike trail, where your ability to eat donuts is just as important as your ability to ride your bicycle fast. A unique event where you eat donuts to reduce your finish time. Join 3000 riders and 16000 donuts on a ride of 10,20,40, or 60 miles in rural Miami County. For each donut a participant eats their finish time is reduced by five minutes.

Accommodations

Lodging

There are both homes and apartments available via Airbnb in Troy. There are numerous chain hotels available in Troy.

Camping

One unique campsite in Troy is the opportunity to camp on the Maumee River. Known as Float Troy, you can sleep in a tent on the river located at Treasure Island Park. A first of its kind, the Shoal tent is an inflatable, floating raft with a tent topper that allows you to sleep out on the water. These tents are manufactured right here in Troy by local manufacturer Smithfly. Rentals are through Troy Recreation Department 937-339-5145. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

There are three primitive campsites open to the public operated by Dayton Metroparks. Hikers and backpackers can register for these campsites  at https://www.metroparks.org/things-to-do/camping/. Once on this page, scroll down and look on the right side of the website and you will find trailside camping with links to Eastwood, Island and Taylorsville MetroParks. The campsites are open all year round with a small fee. The sites are first come first serve with only one person/group allowed to camp each day. All the information you need to register is on the website.