Pigeon Forge Mill, Historic watermill in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Pigeon Forge Mill is a three-story wooden structure powered by a water wheel on the Little Pigeon River, equipped with a dam to control water flow. The facility operates French burr millstones that grind cornmeal, grits, and flour through mechanized processes driven entirely by the river's current.
Isaac Love built the mill in 1830 as part of a larger industrial complex that included an iron forge, which became so influential it gave the city its name. The facility adapted through multiple roles, even producing cloth for military uniforms during the Civil War and supplying power to the community for decades.
The mill served as a gathering point for the community, where residents brought their grain to be processed and supported the local economy through essential food production. This connection to daily life made it a valued institution woven into the region's social fabric.
Visitors can watch the millstones operate and observe the grinding process in real time, getting a clear sense of how water power drives the machinery. The site is most interesting when water levels are adequate, ensuring the wheel turns and the machinery functions visibly.
The mill rests on yellow poplar logs supported by river rock pillars, an unusual foundation design that has kept it stable for nearly 2 centuries. The walls are built from hand-hewn hemlock and oak, joined together with hickory pegs rather than nails, showcasing traditional joinery methods from that era.
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