Making leather footballs at the Wilson factory in Ada, Ohio. - cleveland.com
Who says we don’t make anything in Ohio anymore. While the majority of factories in Ohio keep their doors closed to the public, a handful of manufacturers encourage visitors. We’ve compiled a list here of nine factories in Ohio that offer tours to the public – places that make everything from KitchenAid mixers to high-end campers to baseball bats. Here’s where to go:. For a vehicle with a bed and a bathroom, check out the Airstream factory in Jackson Center (just 40 miles northwest of Marysville). These iconic campers, easily recognized by their aluminum bodies, have been made in northwest Ohio since the early 1950s. “Come see how we really do put every one of those rivets in by hand,” says the Airstream website. Free tours are offered at 2 p. m. Monday through Friday, close-toed shoes required. Before or after touring the factory, visitors can take a cooking class, visit the mixer museum and check out current KitchenAid offerings in the retail store. Factory tours are $5 and are offered at 12:30 Tuesday through Friday, at 1701 KitchenAid Way. The Spangler family has been making sweet treats in far northwestern Ohio for more than a century. Familiar brands include Dum Dums, Spangler Candy Canes and Circus Peanuts. Tours, aboard the Dum Dums Trolley, are offered 10 a. m. -3 p. m. Wednesday through Friday (Monday through Friday during the summer). Cost is $5. Due to FDA regulations, the tour does not go through the main kitchen area. Source: www.cleveland.com
