A nearly two-century-old Cincinnati burial ground is now under new ownership, marking another step in a national deathcare company’s push across Ohio.
Baltimore Pike Cemetery, founded in 1853, has been acquired by Everstory Parent Corp. from The Baltimore Pike Cemetery Association. The property will now be managed and operated under the Memorial Planning brand. The deal gives Everstory its fifth location in the Cincinnati area and its 14th in Ohio.
The cemetery spans roughly 100 acres in western Cincinnati, offering views of the Clifton neighborhood and the downtown skyline. It has served generations of families since the mid-19th century and remains a notable memorial park in the region.
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Beyond traditional burial plots, the grounds include the Chapel Mausoleum, which holds 240 casket spaces and 72 exterior cremation niches. The property also features Tranquility Gardens, a landscaped area dedicated to above-ground cremation memorialization with columbarium niches and an ossuary.
Memorial Planning network to include historic Cincinnati cemetery
Lawrence Michael, senior vice president of operations for Memorial Planning at Everstory Partners, emphasized the significance of the acquisition. “This is a special property with deep meaning for the community it serves,” he said. “We appreciate the trust placed in Everstory to carry that responsibility forward. Our priority is to care for Baltimore Pike Cemetery with respect for its history, its natural beauty and the families who rely on it as a place of remembrance.”
Dean Lutz, president of The Baltimore Pike Cemetery Association, explained why the organization chose Everstory as the cemetery’s next steward. “Baltimore Pike Cemetery has been a place of peace, prayer and remembrance for Cincinnati families for generations,” Lutz said. “As we looked to the future, it was important to find an organization that would preserve the cemetery’s character while continuing to serve families with dignity and compassion. We believe Everstory Partners brings the stewardship, resources and respect needed to support Baltimore Pike Cemetery for years to come.”
Everstory was selected based on its track record of caring for families and preserving the legacy of cemeteries, Lutz added.
With the transition, Everstory will bring operational support, service standards and resources to the property, aiming to maintain consistent, compassionate care for families. “We want families to feel that Baltimore Pike Cemetery is cared for with the same compassion and respect they expect during life’s most difficult moments,” Michael said. The support we bring through Everstory’s network will help us preserve the cemetery’s character while continuing to serve families and the Cincinnati community for generations.”
Everstory Partners, whose brand promise was created in April 2023, describes its mission as creating supportive spaces where individuals and families can find solace, meaning, and hope in the midst of loss. Since 1999, the network has expanded to more than 460 cemetery, funeral, and crematory locations run by Everstory affiliates, serving more than 66,000 families annually across the United States, including Puerto Rico, on both a pre-need and at-need basis.
More information is available at everstorypartners.com, and a full list of Memorial Planning properties can be found at memorialplanning.com.
Alan Byrd
Evok Advertising Representing Everstory Partners
+1 407-415-8470
Why it matters
This acquisition reflects the ongoing consolidation of historic, independent cemeteries into larger national networks, a shift that brings professionalized operations but also raises questions about preserving local character. For Cincinnati families with ties to Baltimore Pike Cemetery, the change means new stewardship of a site that has held generations of memories — with Everstory’s commitment to maintaining its heritage as the key test ahead.
