Old North Columbus along North High Street between Lane Avenue and Glen Echo Ravine — Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc service area
Columbus · Old North

Towing in Old North, Columbus

Historic High Street storefronts, ravine-side rentals and street-parked cars, north of Lane Avenue.

Call (740) 812-9489

Old North runs from Lane Avenue up to Glen Echo Ravine, between the Olentangy River and the railroad tracks, and it was the separate village of North Columbus until Columbus annexed it in 1871. High Street is the spine, and the block between Hudson and Dodridge Streets is a National Register commercial district of 25 older storefronts. Behind it sit large frame houses, many long since split into rentals, and the wooded Iuka Ravine. Our work here is mostly street-parked cars with flat batteries, lockouts outside the bars and restaurants, and tows off small apartment lots. From the Harrisburg Pike yard, a truck usually reaches Old North in 20–40 minutes.

Local Guide: Towing Around Old North

Landmarks

  • North Columbus Commercial Historic District — 25 High Street buildings between Hudson and Dodridge streets, listed on the National Register on October 14, 2010.
  • Iuka Ravine Historic District — About 50 houses and apartment buildings on the edge of the wooded ravine, added to the National Register on May 8, 1986.
  • Beers family log cabin — 1806 cabin of the family that platted North Columbus, since moved to Norwich Avenue.
  • Global Community United Methodist Church — Church at High and Wilcox streets, rebuilt in 1942 after a 1929 fire.
  • Old North Columbus arches — Two arches bearing the neighborhood's name mark its north and south borders on High Street.
  • Tuttle Park — A 48-acre riverfront park at 240 W. Oakland Ave. with a boat launch, pool and hockey rink.
  • Tuttle Skate Park — A 12,000-square-foot skate park that opened inside Tuttle Park in 2022.
  • Tuttle Community Center — City community center located within Tuttle Park.
  • Glen Echo Historic District — National Register district added in 1997, bounded by the ravine, the old Big Four rail line, Indianola Avenue and Hudson Street.
  • Northwood Park Historic District — Columbus Register district from 1989 covering East Northwood and East Oakwood avenues between High Street and Indianola.

Schools

  • Dominion Middle School — Occupies the renovated 1924 Tudor Revival former North High School at 100 E. Arcadia Ave.

Colleges

  • The Ohio State University — Opened in 1873 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College just south of North Columbus.

Main Routes

  • North High Street — The neighborhood's spine; 19th-century North Columbus was a stagecoach stop on it between downtown and Worthington.
  • Hudson Street — Main east-west street, reached from I-71 at exit 112.
  • Lane Avenue — Southern border and one of only two streets here bridging the Olentangy, with an SR-315 exit.
  • Dodridge Street — The other Olentangy crossing, and one end of the High Street historic district.
  • Indianola Avenue (US 23) — US 23 follows Indianola Avenue and Hudson Street through the neighborhood.
  • Medary Avenue — Site of Medary Avenue Elementary at 2500 Medary Ave., a school David Riebel designed in 1892.
  • Wilcox Street — Corner at High where the North Methodist Church was first built in 1874.
  • Silver Drive — Commonly given as the eastern edge of Old North Columbus.
  • Patterson Avenue — Northern edge of the Oakland and Northwood Avenue area between Pearl Alley and Indianola Avenue.

Major Employers & Projects

  • Blue Danube — High Street restaurant that operated from 1940 to 2018 and reopened in 2025.
  • The Ohio State University — The campus lies just south across Lane Avenue, and the neighborhood mixes homeowners, renters and students.

Call (740) 812-9489 · Request a tow now (SOS) · Get an online quote

Frequently asked questions

Which way does a tow truck come into Old North?

Coming from our southwest-side yard, the driver normally takes State Route 315 north to the Lane Avenue exit and heads east across the river. Only Lane Avenue and Dodridge Street bridge the Olentangy along this stretch, so a closure on either one can add a detour. From the east, I-71 exit 112 lets out onto Hudson Street, which cuts straight across the neighborhood to High Street. Give dispatch the house number and cross street, and say whether you are on High itself, a side street or in an alley behind the storefronts.

My car died on one of the curving streets along Iuka Ravine. Can a truck get to it?

Yes. The Iuka Ravine Historic District is about 50 houses and apartment buildings set along the edge of a wooded ravine, laid out around the land instead of a straight grid. That layout can leave a car parked on a bend or tucked behind a building, so we often send a wheel-lift truck, which is shorter and more maneuverable than a flatbed. If the car simply will not start, the driver tries a jump or a battery test first. Mention nearby landmarks such as Northwood Avenue or Indianola Avenue so the driver finds you quickly.

I locked my keys in the car outside a High Street spot between Hudson and Dodridge. What now?

Call dispatch and stay near the car where it is well lit. That block is the North Columbus Commercial Historic District, 25 storefront buildings dating from about 1880 to 1960, and on weekend nights the curb spaces fill fast, so tell us the business you are in front of. Our lockout service uses air wedges and long-reach tools that open modern doors without scratching paint or tearing seals. If the keys are lost rather than locked inside, we can tow the car to a dealer or locksmith instead.

What should I do after a breakdown on I-71 near the Hudson Street or Weber Road exits?

Ease the car onto the right shoulder or take the ramp if you can reach it, turn on the hazard flashers and remain seated with the belt on while traffic streams past. A car that stops in a live lane calls for 911 before anything else, so officers can protect the scene. Then phone us with your direction of travel and whether you were before or after Hudson Street, exit 112, or Weber Road, exit 113. We will send a truck and tow the car off the freeway to wherever you choose.

Can you move a car that is blocking my Old North driveway or parked in my lot?

On a public street or alley, no; the Columbus Division of Police decides whether that car gets towed, so start with their non-emergency number. Owners of apartment buildings and businesses with their own lots can have unauthorized vehicles removed once signs meeting Ohio law are posted at the entrances, and our private-property towing handles that with a record for every car. If your own car disappeared from a private lot, the posted sign names the company that removed it. A photo of the offending car's plate helps whichever route you take.

Where will my car end up after an Old North tow, and what will I pay?

Wherever you send it: a High Street mechanic, a dealership, one of our partner repair shops or your own driveway. If nobody can take it tonight, we keep it at our Harrisburg Pike lot at the daily storage rate and deliver it once the shop has room. Before the driver hooks up, dispatch reads you the total from our rate card, with no surprises added later. Pay by credit card, debit card or cash, and keep the itemized invoice for your insurer.

Nearby in Columbus

Services in Old North

Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc (dba Columbus Roadside Towing).
Corporate office (private, no walk-ins): 3879 Regatta Ct, Lewis Center, OH 43035
Tow yard & impound lot: 1620 Harrisburg Pike, Columbus, OH 43223
(740) 812-9489 · chris@columbusroadsidetowing.com

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