Paddler’s Cauldron

Yes — there really are legitimate rapids and fast current there now, especially after the old Ballville Dam was removed in 2018.

The section from the former Ballville Dam area down past the old hydroelectric plant / Haunted Hydro to Don Miller Memorial Park (Formerly River Cliff Park) is actually listed by the whitewater organization  American Whitewater as a recognized paddling run called the “Haunted Hydro Section.”

Key details:

• Difficulty is listed around Class II (III at higher water) — meaning moving current, standing waves, maneuvering required, and potentially dangerous in flood conditions.

• The run is short, about 0.7 miles, ending at Don Miller Memorial Park (Formerly River Cliff Park).

• There are specific named rapids including one near the Haunted Hydro called “Paddler’s Cauldron.” 

• The site specifically warns about:

  • debris-catching structures,

  • remnants of the old dam,

  • changing hydraulics,

  • and the need to scout before running.

At normal summer flow it is described as beginner-friendly whitewater. But several trip reports describe it becoming very serious during high water:

“Standing waves were six or seven feet tall” during flood stage.

Another paddler wrote the final rapid near Haunted Hydro becomes:

“a huge wave train that towers over you.”

So your intuition is correct:

• after heavy rain,

• snowmelt,

• or strong upstream runoff,

the Sandusky through Fremont can become fast and turbulent, not just a calm kayak float.

The former dam removal changed the river substantially. Ghoul Runnings Kayak Adventures itself notes the river changed noticeably after the dam came out and became more suitable for paddling and current-based trips.

The actual Haunted Hydro building is:

Haunted Hydro

And the reservoir / upriver calmwater area is around:

Fremont Reservoir

So there is a real distinction:

• Reservoir above Ballville → mostly calm flatwater

• River below former dam / Haunted Hydro → moving river with rapids and wave trains possible

If you want, I can also look up:

•  today’s Sandusky River flow level near Fremont,

•  whether the rapids are runnable right now,

• or  aerial/drone images of the Haunted Hydro rapids section.