Merlin is located in eastern Chatham-Kent, 5km from the shores of Lake Erie. It is home to the Merlin Area Public School, a post office, public library, and fire department, serving surrounding hamlets. The town also has eateries for the area, the Erie Café & Variety, and The Garage and two general stores.
The town and surrounding areas are largely agricultural with a recent increase in green energy production through the construction of wind turbines throughout the area. Merlin is also Home to the Summer's Gold Honey Company, which makes commercial and in-store honey and beeswax products.
You'll find an active community and locals who are proud of their hometown. The Merlin Kinsmen maintains the Merlin Kinsmen Park, with a playground, splash pad, shelters and two baseball diamonds. A community centre and another baseball diamond are located on the east side of the town and the Merlin Conservation Area provides hiking trails for year-round activity.
Just north of Merlin, are the towns of North and South Buxton. North Buxton has a long and important history as one of the stops at the end of the Underground Railroad. Descendants of people who escaped slavery along the Underground Railroad continue to live in the area today and are active in preserving their heritage and celebrating the community. Visit the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum to learn about the Underground Railroad through interactive exhibits and visit the Buxton's Next Generation for on-going activities. On Labour Day weekend the town welcomes family and visitors for the annual North Buxton Homecoming celebration. The story of Buxton was shared by CBC's Still Standing in 2015 and was cited as being one of the most interesting communities in Canada!
Neighbouring South Buxton is home to the Southern Ontario Motor Speedway which hosts races with a range of car models, every Saturday from May to September. Take up a new hobby yourself or go check out the races and cheer on your favourite driver.
Merlin and surrounding communities are approximately 10 minutes to the central city of Chatham to the north and Tilbury to the south. Access to daily amenities and employment is just a step away from most communities across Chatham-Kent, with locals boasting an average 15 minute commute to work.
