More Milling Around Missouri #46

After an overnight stay in that memorably quiet, serene place of Falling Spring, we began our trek westward to West Plains, MO and farther west to five more Ozark Mills. Our first mill was actually a bust! We nearly got stuck on a terribly steep, rocky and narrow back road down in a canyon. Sensibility finally prevailed and we stopped. Cokie hiked on down the road looking for Topaz Mill. Who cares at this point, I wondered? (The turtle was the highlight, in my estimation!) We then spent the next scary hour doing a thirty point turn on that road to get turned around and out of there!!





The rest of our mill tour was truly worth it starting with the Rockbridge Mill. Built in 1868 on picturesque Bryant Creek, it is now the center of a privately owned fishing resort and trout hatchery. Many of the town’s buildings have been preserved and the old general store converted into a popular restaurant.





The Zanoni Mill is nestled in the beautiful setting of a luxurious bed and breakfast operated by the descendants of A.P. “Doc” Morrison. Although a mill has operated on this site since the Civil War, the current structure was built in 1905. This is another overshot wooden wheel operated by a wooden flume carrying water from the spring up in the bluff behind the mill. The mill has been beautifully maintained and now serves as a meeting hall for the B&B’s guests and events. They have a really nice greeting committee, too!








Designated by the Missouri Dept. of Tourism as the most photographed mill in the state, Hodgson Mill operated from 1894 until 1977 and is registered in the National Register of Historic Places. It is unique because it was built directly over the 29 million gallon a day outflow of the spring. The wheel in the photograph is merely a decorative feature added for tourism’s sake by one of the past owners.






We found a great bridge and a little color on our journey to the last mill on our tour, the 1892 Dawt Mill. We had read that this mill was still operating, grinding corn and wheat for the mill’s bakery goods. I certainly had my mouth set for something fresh and sweet! We were disappointed when we got there because everything was pretty much closed down – restaurant, mill and bakery. Oh well, it was interesting and can claim that it is the only water-powered mill on the North Fork of the White River.







Well, after all of this ‘milling around’ we decided it was time to go see the rest of the Ozarks in Arkansas. We planned to travel west to Scenic Highway 7, south to Hot Springs to soak for a while and then go to Little Rock for the Clinton Presidential Library and whatever else we can ‘sniff’ out. We’ll make amblin’ in Arkansas our next blog and hope we can find some more fall colors.