When you go to a new town or visit one of your old favorites, you might want to know a little more about the history there. You might want to appreciate the culture of the people there. And you probably want to try their delicious food! The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge is definitely a place you want to see when you come. The grist mill was built in 1830 and still works today. We have 4 reasons why you should visit the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge on your vacation:
1. Try the Restaurants
Everyone wants a taste of true southern cooking. In the Old Mill complex, there are two restaurants you’ll want to try. The Old Mill Restaurant sits right next to the Little Pigeon River, which you can see from the dining room. No matter what time of the day it is, you can eat at the Old Mill Restaurant. You want a classic southern breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and eggs? They have it! You’ll see all kinds of southern specialities for lunch and dinner, from country ham to chicken and dumplings. You’ll also want to try their dessert of the day!
If you want more of a quaint, intimate setting, go to the Pottery House Cafe and Grill. You’ll have a wide selection of modern southern dishes, and they even serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. If you want something light, their quiche and salad are delicious. You’ll find chicken, steak, pork, seafood, sandwiches, and burgers. Definitely save room for dessert because the Pottery House Cafe has amazing peanut butter pie, coconut cream cake, and chocolate pecan pie. Homemade bread is baked daily here, and you can buy loaves to take home. You’ll find honey wheat, olive, and cinnamon raisin pecan bread.
2. Watch People at Their Craft
There are shops at the Old Mill complex that you’ll want to stop by and see what’s inside. At Pigeon River Pottery, you’ll walk inside to find all kinds of pottery dishes and art pieces. You might even recognize the plates and bowls from the restaurants. In-house potters form and fire the dishes on site, and you can watch them at work in the back area. They keep this mountain craft alive, and you’ll want to buy just about everything!
At the Candy Kitchen, expert candy makers are hard at work producing all kinds of candy, from chocolate to taffy. You can watch them pull taffy through the window outside or dip caramel apples inside through the open kitchen. To keep the traditional flavor, the candy experts still cook in copper kettles. You and your kids will want to taste a little bit of everything from this candy store!
3. See the Working Mill
Even though the mill was built almost two centuries ago, it’s still in working condition. It is used to grind flour and cornmeal that they sell in the General Store. You can take a tour to see the mill working and learn how power from the river is harness to make the giant stones turn. You’ll also enjoy hearing the history of the mill over the last 200 years.
4. Visit the General Store
Adjoining the mill, the General Store has all kinds of neat stuff. You can buy souvenirs to remember your trip since there’s a ton of Smoky Mountain memorabilia. If you loved the foods you tasted from the restaurants, you can bring that taste home with you! They sell pancake and specialty mixes, as well as flour and cornmeal that has been ground by the mill. There’s also plenty of jams, jellies, and dip mixes you’ll want to try.
Your whole family will love spending a day over at the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge. If you’re looking for more things to do, check out our Pigeon Forge attractions page to get some ideas.
