Miller Road Lions Prepare for Winter

As November begins in Akron, two stone lions on Miller Road have been wrapped in protective covering to prepare for the harsh Ohio winter ahead.

The Salaheddine family tradition of wrapping and unwrapping the stone statues at the end of their driveway has become a community touchstone over the past several decades. What began as a simple household chore has evolved into a seasonal marker followed by residents throughout Northeast Ohio.

Jimmy Salaheddine, who grew up performing the task his father assigned him, wraps the lions each fall to protect them from winter’s damage. The family learned this lesson the hard way when their first set of statues deteriorated from exposure to snow, ice and road salt from city trucks passing by.

The wrapped lions will remain in their protective covering through the cold months and into spring. For Akron residents, seeing the statues bundled signals that winter coats and snow brushes will soon be needed. The lions won’t emerge until warmer weather arrives to stay, typically in early May.

The tradition has gained recognition through social media in recent years, transforming a family ritual into a regional phenomenon. People drive past to check the status of the statues throughout late winter and early spring, treating their unveiling as a more reliable predictor than the calendar.

Over two decades of covering and uncovering the statues, Salaheddine said he has never been wrong about timing the seasonal change. Ohio weather may fluctuate wildly, but the lions remain consistent.

The tradition draws comparisons to other Ohio seasonal markers like Buckeye Chuck on Groundhog Day or the Hinckley buzzards returning each March. Unlike those events with fixed dates, the Miller Road lions operate on their own schedule, responding to actual weather patterns rather than the calendar.

People from across the country who grew up in Akron now follow the lions’ status, making it more than just a local curiosity. The statues have become ingrained in how former residents think about the transition between seasons.

For now, the lions rest beneath their wrapping, while Akron residents anticipate the spring unveiling that will signal warmer days ahead.