According to the Butler County Visitors Bureau, Ohio’s first and only Donut Trail boasts one of the largest per capita donut shops in the Midwest.
The Butler County Donut Trail highlights small, family-owned donut shops and invites visitors to explore the county through donuts. With one donut shop for every 17,000 residents, a visit to the local donut shop is a favorite morning tradition in this southwest Ohio community.
The featured Donut Trail locations represent a combined 372 years of donut making experience. With a loyal fan base, Butler County doughnuts inspire loyalty.
“I would drive nine hours to get a Milton’s pink doughnut, and I would… because I live in Chesterfield, Virginia. There’s nothing better than sitting on my back porch with a couple Milton’s and a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning. I wish they had one in Richmond!” said Mike Bogan of Chesterfield, Virginia.
Capitalizing on the enthusiasm for these sweet donut confections was an easy choice for the Butler County Visitors Bureau.
“With the vast number of independent donut shops, creating the Donut Road was a fun way to highlight some of the unique and off-the-beaten-path businesses that make Butler County a great place to live and visit,” said Mark Hackett, Executive Director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau.
There are 12 donut shops participating along the route: Jupiter Coffee & Donuts, Kelly’s Bakery, Martin’s Donuts, Milton’s Donuts, Mimi’s Donuts & Bakery, Oxford Donut Shoppe, Ross Bakery, Stan the Donut Man, Central Pastry, Holman’s Donuts, The Donut House and The Donut Spot. At last count, more than 10,000 people have completed the route, including visitors from more than a dozen different countries, including Alaska and Hawaii.
“Kelly’s Bakery is thrilled to be a part of the Butler County Donut Trail. We can’t wait to welcome people to our store, our city, and our corner of the Midwest,” said Diane Ramsey, owner of Kelly’s Bakery.
The 80-mile Butler County route takes 4.5 hours to complete. A Donut Trail passport is available for donut lovers to register their journey. Each participating donut shop has a sticker with a code. Visitors who complete the passport with all the correct codes will receive a free Donut Trail T-shirt.