Rossford is back in the conversation for the site of a Topgolf-like facility.
“Rossford got back in the discussion because I’ve never stopped paying attention,” Mayor Neil MacKinnon III said Monday. “I’ve stayed in contact with Bob and his group.”
Robert Sherwood has been interested in bringing the facility, which is similar to a Topgolf, to northwest Ohio. He declined comment on Monday.
The primary pick for the facility had reportedly been a Perrysburg property that underwent a controversial zoning change last fall.
“Not only do I feel we have the best site, we’re shovel-ready, we’re the path of least resistance, and that gets you speed to market,” Mayor MacKinnon said. “We can offer the same incentives — if not more — to come to Rossford.”
He believes the conversation restart was well received.
“They’re coming in the middle of next week, and my team and I will meet with them and take them out to the site,” Mayor MacKinnon said.
If the site, which is by Bass Pro, is not selected and the facility is built in Perrysburg, the mayor said he will be at peace with that decision.
“If it doesn’t come to Rossford, we’ll be fine. I just want to see it come to the region because it makes our area more attractive,” Mayor MacKinnon said.
The facility is “basically a clone of Topgolf,” with many other amenities, such as a miniature golf course, simulators, and food and beverages, he said.
“It’s a place where you can go with some friends, or on a date, or take clients, or do a corporate retreat. It checks all the boxes,” Mayor MacKinnon said.
The 42,000-square-foot facility is expected to have 58 golf bays and an 18-hole putt-putt course. It would be the first in the country.
In November, Perrysburg City Council voted unanimously to rezone 24 acres near Costco off Eckel Junction Road, near State Rt. 25. The zoning change is from R2 (medium-density residential) to C4 (commercial district).
The vote came after weeks of debate about the rezoning, with concerns over traffic, lighting, noise, residential neighborhood incompatibility, and a negative impact on property values.
Proponents in Perrysburg, though, said economic development is needed in the city, mainly to help the school district, which has had three levies fail since November, 2023.
The Eckel Junction Road property is owned by Bethel Assembly of God.
Brody Walters, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, said he was unaware that Rossford was being considered for the facility.
“We’ve just been under the assumption that things are moving along,” he said. “We’ve rezoned the property, and are putting our best foot forward.”
The developer did submit a high-level site plan for “conversation purposes, not for official review,” Mr. Walters added. The next step was a survey of the property, which he believes was recently completed.
First Published March 10, 2025, 7:29 p.m.
