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Ozark Mill Tour Page

Dawt Mill is located northeast of Tecumseh, about a mile off Route PP. The first mill was built on the site in 1892, but later burned. The present mill was built in 1909 by Alva Hodgson. Following several owners through the years, Dr. and Mrs. Edward Henegar purchased the mill in 1995 and began a major restoration of the mill and renovation of the surrounding property. A conference center/lodge was built, along with a restaurant and deli, and the old general store was restored.

Lodging, camping, and picnic sites, as well as canoe and tube rental are available, and various special outdoor entertainment events are held during the warmer months. This is the only mill in the area still grinding flour and meal with buhrstones. Baked goods using the fresh-ground grains can be purchased at the mill's bakery. Handcrafted items also are available in the mill's gift shop.

Hodgson Mill is located 14 miles northeast of Gainesville on Highway 181 at the Sycamore access on Bryant Creek. The first mill at this location was built by William Holman in 1861 and was located about 200 yards downstream from the present site on the spring branch. In 1884, Alva Hodgson bought the mill property from his father-in-law, Manuel Smith. He the built the mill on its present location over a spring that is reported to produce 28,900,000 gallons of water a day, which has a constant temperature of 58 degrees year round.

Hank and Jean Macler purchased the historic old mill and surrounding property in 2000. Concentrating their efforts on securing the structure, repairing broken, deteriorating elements and and refurbishing the exterior, the Maclers hired a crew of Amish craftsmen to completely rebuild the mill's post-and-beam timber frame, and repaint the old, weathered boards.

While the mill no longer grinds wheat and corn, efforts are currently underway to repair and re-install the mill turbine. Inside the old mill, little has changed.

A steel bridge has been installed over the spring branch as part of the ongoing preservation of the mill and grounds.

The mill is now a popular tourist destination, offering tours to the public from May 15 through October. The owners have collected memorabilia, with oral and written histories of the mill. The mill grounds can be reserved for one-day reunions or weddings.

Rockbridge Mill, located off Route N in northeastern Ozark County, was built on Spring Creek in 1868 by B. V. Morris. As the milling business grew, the mill was enlarged and a general store was built. The store sold everything from food to coffins to hardware, and was the political hub and original county seat of Ozark County. The mill closed in 1933 and did not reopen until until the townsite of Rockbridge was purchased by Lile and Edith Amyx in 1954. The Amyx family launched Rainbow Trout Ranch, one of the Ozarks' most successful resorts.

Refurbished and renamed The Grist Mill, the old mill now has the atmosphere of an antique pub. Customers can look out over the waterfall as the enjoy drinks and appetizers.

Zanoni Mill, is located nine miles northeast of Gaineville on Highway 181. It has recently been completely rebuilt by owner with plans to offer it for special events, such as weddings and anniversary celebrations.

Milling began at Zanoni during the Civil War days in a little mud cabin built by John Cody. After the first mill burned, a new one was rebuilt with a sawmill added. The mill again burned in 1905, and a third mill was built by A. P. Morrison, who sent to France for a new set of 18-inch flint buhrstones at a cost of $125. The mill was powered by a spring that flowed from the hillside at 226,000 gallons per day. The spring furnished the community of Zanoni with modern utilities, running water and electricity. Zanoni was also the site of an overall factory in the 1920's.

Hammond Mill, located three miles southeast of Thornfield off Route D south, has been refurbished as a private residence. The three-story frame structure, built over a basement, was constructed in 1907 by John S. Grudier, one of the founders of the town of Hammond. Hammond was a thriving community with a post office, drug store, general store bank and blacksmith shop. The mill ran 24 hours a day, grinding flour.