If you’ve been to the Old Mill Restaurant, you know how popular it is. The delicious southern food keeps people coming back, as well as the historic significance and great service and atmosphere. But how much do you actually know about the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge? We want to share some cool facts about this restaurant. Here are 6 things you didn’t know about the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge:
1. Mill is Still Operational
Many people may not know this, but the grist mill is actually still operational. It has been used for over 200 years to grind corn into cornmeal and wheat into flour. You can find these products for sale in the general store on the property if you want to take some home! The Old Mill is actually one of the last operational mills in East Tennessee.
2. Uses Product Ground by the Mill
The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge actually uses the cornmeal and flour in the restaurant. You’ll find delicious buttery cornbread made from the cornmeal ground by the mill. The flour is used in almost everything: bread, pancakes, soup, and more.
3. Uses Bread Baked on Site
There is a bakery in the Old Mill Square that bakes fresh bread every day. Some of this bread is sent to the Old Mill Restaurant to be served to guests. A popular choice is the cinnamon raisin bread, which is used for french toast at breakfast. You can also get a side of bread and butter, which is usually the sourdough. Some other breads include olive, cranberry walnut, and onion rye.
4. Serveware is Made at Pigeon River Pottery
Across the street from the Old Mill Restaurant is a store called Pigeon River Pottery. Potters actually hand make all the pottery sold at this store in house. Plates, bowls, salt and pepper shakers, and many other serveware is used in the Old Mill Restaurant. If you see one of the pieces you like, then you should walk over and buy some!
5. Used During the Civil War
The building of the Old Mill Restaurant was used during the Civil War. The owner at the time, John Sevier Trotter, was a Unionist. He turned the second floor of the mill into a place where Union uniforms were made with knitting looms, while the third floor was used as a hospital.
6. More Than a Restaurant
As you can see, this building has been used as more than a restaurant over the last 200 years. In addition to being used as a hospital and uniform shop during the Civil War, the Old Mill has also been used as a post office. Trotter also used it as a saw mill for lumber before the war. Then, it was later used to provide electricity to the city. Finally, in 1993, the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge was established.
There are so many cool things to learn about the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge. We know you love to eat here, but if you want any more ideas of where you should grab a bite, check out these other restaurants in Pigeon Forge!
