What You May (Or May Not) Know About Glade Creek Grist Mill

One look at a photo of the Glade Creek Grist Mill and it is hard not to think “West Virginia”.

Glade Creek Gristmill at Babcock State Park

The Grist Mill is on par with other State icons such as the New River Gorge Bridge, Blackwater Falls, Seneca Rocks and the Capitol Building. Accurately stated in the latest issue of Wonderful West Virginia Magazine, the Glade Creek Grist Mill truly is ‘iconic’.

During the fall season The Grist Mill’s placement among Glade Creek’s boulders, has a backdrop that would make Bob Ross have no reason to add another “happy little tree”.

It’s beautiful. Seriously. In fact so much so that it’s considered one of the most photographed places in the state.

Photos of the Mill, with the surrounding fall colors, has appeared on and in everything from magazines and coffee table books to refrigerator magnets and playing cards.

Simply put, the image captures our imagination. For some it is a reminder of where they came from, for others of where they’d like to go. The Mill itself is a representation of bygone days in which covered bridges dotted the landscape along with more than 500 water-powered mills, just like the one at Babcock State Park.

What You Might Not Know
On your next visit, feel free to use these “Cliff-Clavinisms” to impress your friends.

    • It is a real working Mill
      • You can purchase cornmeal and buckwheat flour ground on premise. Mmmm, homemade cornbread in the fall!

You can purchase cornmeal and buckwheat flour on premise.

  • The Mill is less than 35 years old
    This is a bit of a “trick question” as the parts are old. Really old. However, the Mill that is in place now, is not.
    • It was completed in 1976 using parts and pieces of old mills, which were no longer in operation.
    • The basic structure comes from Stoney Creek Grist Mill which was located in Pocahontas County and dates back to the 1890’s.
    • The giant wheel, which is pushed around by Glade Creek, and in-turn powers the giant grindstone, is from the Spring Run Grist Mill in Grant County.
    • Various other mills provided parts including the Roaring Creek Grist Mill near Seneca Rocks.

What You Need to Know

  • There are cabins located throughout Babcock State Park. If you’d like to rent one during the fall, call right now. Seriously.
  • There is a webcam allowing you to refresh the images and watch the rise and flow of the creek, and keep track of the fall colors.

Have you been to Babcock State Park?