Historic Route 20 Sign Unveiled in Painesville, Ohio

The first “Historic Route 20” sign in the United States was placed outside Rider's Inn in Painesville, Ohio on May 28, 2014. There is a very interesting article in the local newspaper, The News Herald, with information on the effort to bring more attention to the longest road in the United States.

You can read the article here:
The News Herald: Historic Route 20 sign unveiled in Painesville


Update May 30, 2014: As I live very close to this location I took a drive to Rider’s Inn today for a few pictures of the sign, the street, and the Inn. The picture of the Inn is my version of an old style “postcard” look. Click on any image for a larger view. 

 All photos © Chris A. Zimmer & usroutetwenty.blogspot.com

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US Route 20 Painesville Ohio (Signs)

Here are two photos taken on US Route 20 in Painesville, Ohio. One photo was taken at the intersection of Mentor Avenue/Erie St. (US20) with Washington St., heading eastbound to downtown Painesville. The second photo was taken on US 20 just east of where US 20 crosses over the Grand River. (Click on image for larger view.)

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US20 In Ohio: The (Haunted?) Riders Inn

US Route 20 has been around for a long time, and it passes by some older buildings which have a lot of history. Every now and then, stories float around about some of these buildings being haunted. One famous landmark building in my home town of Mentor, Ohio, that is reportedly haunted is “Lawnfield,” the home of President James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States . Stories vary, some say it’s Garfield himself that roams the halls, and some say it’s his wife Lucretia.

Just a few miles east of the Garfield home on US Route 20 in the neighboring city of Painesville Ohio is the Rider’s Inn, a very quaint restaurant/Bed and Breakfast that seems to also have one or more residents from “the other side” who make their presence known by either making themselves seen and/or heard.

According to About.com, the Rider’s Inn "opened in 1812 as a hospitality stop along the rough stagecoach road between Buffalo and Cleveland. The inn, named for its founder and his wife, Joe and Suzanne Rider, was also a major stop along the underground railroad and a refuge for Union soldiers returning home after the Civil War."
There are many local stories of what guests and visitors have seen and heard at Rider's Inn. But forget the ghosts. The Rider’s Inn is a nice place to stop in for a visit, a meal, or a stay if you’re travelling cross country on US Route 20. Here is the address and web site information:

Rider’s Inn
792 Mentor Ave.
Painesville, OH 44077
440 354-8200



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US 20 in Ohio: The 25th Annual Louie Run

What’s the Louie Run? Any serious biker in the Midwest is probably familiar with this annual motorcycle ride, which serves as the unofficial opening of the motorcycle season in northeast Ohio. It also is an event to benefit charity. Up to 10,000 bikers have participated in this ride, and I believe that to be true because one year I got stopped in traffic by the passing motorcycles, and I think I saw every one of those 10,000 bikers as I sat stuck there almost an hour. It really is a sight to see - and hear.

Here’s some background on the Louie Run, from the official Louie Run web site,

"Just two short decades ago, a handful of local bikers rode together to the cemetery to pay tribute to a lost friend, Louie Ivcovic. Louie was a local businessman who owned the Peppermint Stick Lounge, and he had given the bikers a place where they could meet, relax, and enjoy the company of fellow motorcyclists. At a time when most businesses were turning bikers away, Louie put out the welcome mat and gave them a home.

Louie had welcomed them into his life, and now those bikers felt compelled to nurture his memory and keep Louie alive in their hearts. The group agreed to return the following year and never let the memory, or the man, be forgotten.

As the years went by, more friends joined in the memorial ride, and unfortunately, more friends had been lost. From these humble beginnings, the Louie Run was born. It didn’t take long before the gathering grew into an event, with sheer numbers creating logistical difficulties, but the Peppermint Stick Alumni rose to the challenge by organizing and coordinating what had become one of Northeast Ohio’s premier rides."


This year the Louie Run begins its trek Sunday, May 4, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1301 Mentor Avenue (US Route 20), Painesville, Ohio. Gates will open at 9 am and tickets are available at most area motorcycle businesses, or $10 at the gate. Proceeds from the Louie Run benefit local charities. The Louie Run Foundation has donated over $250,000 to numerous charitable institutions in Northeast Ohio. The event also includes live music, bike games, tattoo competition, and a variety of vendors. For more information, visit the Louie Run web site.


The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.