CincyWhimsy: Incline

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MT. AUBURN INCLINE CLIMB

East of Christ Hospital resides remote park, perhaps the most inaccessible piece of pubic space in the city. Surrounded by the twists and turns of dead end streets, Jackson Park once hosted the beginnings of suburban public transit in Cincinnati. In addition to its electric street railway, Mt. Auburn was home to the Queen City's very first incline.

Mt. Auburn Incline construction via CincinnatiViews.net

Mount Auburn Street Railway rain from Fifth and Main Streets Downtown to Auburn Avenue on top of the hill. The difficulties of mounting Jackson Hill, particularly in the winter, led the electric street to adapt an incline system, inspired by Pittsburgh's Monongahela Incline which was erected in 1870. Two years later, Cincinnati opened Mt. Auburn Incline.

via CincinnatiViews.net

Like other inclines, Mt. Auburn built an entertainment establishment at the top of the hill: Lookout House. Six hundred passengers a day and a million persons each year rode the incline and likely patronized the resort. Sunday became their busiest day, as the Lookout House boldly ignored liquor laws and served beer and wine on the Sabbath.

Lookout House via CincinnatiViews.net

A series of untimely events led to Mt. Auburn Incline's demise. In October 1889, eight passengers were aboard the car when a mechanical error launched it full speed from the bottom of the hill, sending it crashing into the top station. After a moment of dangling, the car broke loose and plummeted back to the bottom where it collided with a grocery store and sent the roof cascading 100 feet down Main Street. Three days after Mt. Auburn Incline reopened from the horrific accident, then-judge William Howard Taft ruled against the incline in a court case regarding vehicular interference with telephone lines. It closed permanently in 1898.

Our journey to the top of Cincinnati's steepest incline began in an inconspicuous vacant lot at the corner of 8th Street and Glenway Avenue. Marked only with a billboard, it was hard to imagine the site once being a bustling venue of commerce and transportation on the West Side. Along the way, we snapped pictures of the remnants, including stone walls, wooden stringers, concrete with structural imprints, sheave wheels, and even old rail! - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/2013/07/price-hill-incline-climb.html#sthash.8fstqzqR.dpuf

Mt. Auburn Incline Wreck via CincinnatiViews.net

As part of the Cincinnati Incline Climb, our journey to the top of Cincinnati's first incline began at a stairwell at Main and Mulberry Street. Now known as the Main Street Mosaic Steps, this quiet area was once one of the main transit arteries of Cincinnati. Remnants of the incline can still be viewed from the foundation, a reminder of the bygone era when the Queen City was once called "The Paris of America."

MT. AUBURN INCLINE

Hike Difficulty Level: ★☆☆☆☆

Length: 960 feet

Height: 312 feet
Steepness / Grade: 35% and 25%

Cat of the Mt. Auburn Incline

Medical bracelet found on the stairwell

Jackson Park, at the top of the former incline.

Jackson Park: great views for photography

AN INCLINATION FOR A GOOD TIME

High above the West Side sits a restaurant with a rising legacy. Located in Price Hill, Incline Public House was erected on the site of the former Price Hill Incline. Over 140 years ago, Cincinnati was home to five inclines: each a mode of rail-based transportation that moved streetcars and passengers from the Downtown basin to the suburbs located on hillsides. Resorts were opened at the top of each incline, offering both entertainment and libations which attracted locals, tourists, and even Hollywood celebrities.

Price Hill Incline via CincinnatiViews.net

Price Hill Incline was also one of the steepest at 350 feet high and 48% grade. Of course, this makes for a gorgeous view at the modern-day restaurant, which opened in 2013. My dining companions and I ventured to Incline Public House, each with very different appetites: a foodie, a meat-and-potatoes lover, and a pescatarian (a vegetarian that also eats fish.)

We started with appetizers accompanied with one of the 50+ beers on the drink list. Two of us opted for beer cocktails: The End of Time and a Shandy-tini. Both were a unique mix of lighter beers with a splash of citrus; a refreshing compliment to a summer dinner on the patio.

The End of Time, a draft IPA, and the Shandy-tini

Our first course included four appetizers:
- Mushroom Pastry with olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, bleu cheese, candied walnuts , and basil pesto
- Shrimp Wontons with a ginger sauce
- Fried Calamari with sweet chili sauce, roasted peppers, and gremolata
- Lamb Burger Sliders with arugula, goat cheese, and cherry bourbon chutney

Both myself and the meat-loving man agreed the Lamb Burger Slider was the highlight of the meal, with its tender hand-pressed patty, fluffy bun, and palate of flavors. The Fried Calamari was a hit with our pescatarian friend, and was my second favorite of the four. An order comes with plenty to share and also packs some spicy heat with each bite.

Lamb Burger Sliders with arugula, goat cheese, and cherry bourbon chutney

Fried Calamari with sweet chili sauce, roasted peppers, and gremolata

Mushroom Pastry with olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, bleu cheese, candied walnuts , and basil pesto

Our second round of drinks included two fizzy delights from the cocktail menu:
- Cream Soda: Southern Comfort, Stoli Vanilla, ginger ale
- Blueberry Lavender Lemonade: Stoli, agave nectar, blueberry puree, lemon juice, and lavender

The Blueberry Lavender Lemonade was our preferred drink of the night, perfect for someone looking for a fruity, light cocktail. My Cream Soda looks spot on like the classic beverage, complete with a cherry. Strong and sippable, I’d recommend this for Happy Hour and small bites.

With each of their menu items crafted from scratch in the kitchen, the mains were the most anticipated portion of the meal. I selected the Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese, which featured a generous portion of finely-pulled beef, gooey cheese, and BBQ sauce. Ms. Pescatarian opted for the Margherita Pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and basil. Of course, our meat-lover ordered the House Burger, with crispy onion, bacon, and cheddar. Surprisingly, while he loved the burger, the side salad left him speechless for the rest of dinner. Never underestimate a simple bed of fresh greens!

Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese

Margherita Pizza

House Burger

Side Salad with fresh shredded cheddar

As you settle in with your meal, be sure to take in the grand scenery the Incline Public House has to offer. From high on its perch, guests can see not only Downtown and Over-The-Rhine, but also to the West End, Northern Kentucky, Clifton and other hillside neighborhoods.

While you’re up there being mesmerized by the sunset, be sure to check out neighboring Olden View Park, which hosts monthly movie nights. The park also includes an overlook as well as historical placards that tell the background of the area.

From 1800s classic resort to a delectable contemporary restaurant; the Price Hill Incline District has risen to the top of places to visit in Cincinnati.

My Incline Public House experience was part of:

Livin' in the Cin is the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network’s new initiative that taps into and creates a movement of passionate Cincinnati USA advocates. The goal is to generate awareness and excitement about the region and broaden residents’ perceptions of the area from a place they live to a place they should rave about to family and friends as a visitor destination.

PRICE HILL INCLINE CLIMB

The only family-owned and operated incline in Cincinnati was also the sole transport carrying both freight and passengers up the hillside. Price Hill Incline was the city's second oldest incline, dating from 1874 - 1943. It also had the most intact remnants that we discovered on our Cincinnati Incline Climb. Founded by the Price family, the namesake pioneers for Price Hill, the incline carries poignant folktales from the era.

Price Hill Incline via CincinnatiViews.net

At the very top of the incline was Price Hill House, a resort highlighted by a summer garden and a stunning view of the city. Unlike the other resorts that served alcohol, the Price family was "dry," otherwise known as supporters of Prohibition. Locals referred to the Price Hill House as Buttermilk Mountain, as this was the strongest drink the bar would serve customers. Of course, this gave way to a landslide of opportunity at the foot of Price Hill, where drinkeries leading up the the incline were named First Chance Saloon, Next Chance Saloon, and Last Chance Saloon.

In 1906, catastrophe struck Price Hill Incline as a cable broke on one of the freight cars. Just six feet away from the hilltop terminal, it ripped free and began to plunge downward. Aboard the platform were two workmen, one carrying a load of sand and the other a load of manure. Each buried themselves in their load and when the cars crashed to the ground, both miraculously survived. As the platform and horses lay in a twisted metal mess, the workmen walked away a bit smelly, but unscathed.