Watch corn being stone-ground into grits and cornmeal by an old-fashioned, water-powered gristmill! Our volunteer millers demonstrate the workings of our historic gristmill and are happy to answer any questions. Our grits and cornmeal are available for purchase at the Mill and at the Weave Shed Gallery.

Barker’s Creek Mill has been providing the local community with milling services for all sorts of grains since the mid-1800’s. Mary Hambidge built the current mill in 1944 at the site of an older mill that served the community since the first white settlers came into the area in the late 1820’s.

The mill is powered by a 12-foot overshot wheel set on babbet bearings. It was converted from a wooden-spoked, steel-rimmed wheel to the current metal spokes in the 1960's. The mill has been renovated three times in its life, the most recent in the late 1980’s. The mill itself is a vertical mill with two 16" flint/granite stones, and was built by the Meadow’s Milling Company in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Barker’s Creek Mill is operated by Hambidge on the First Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m., and by appointment to provide milling services to area farmers.