When my family and I visited the Great Smoky Mountains, it rained A LOT! We initially had no plans to visit Pigeon Forge or The Old Mill but rain changed our plans. After realizing it was going to rain all day, we decided to visit the shops at the Old Mill, but we were not planning on visiting the The Old Mill Restaurant. My husband and I decided to change our lunch plans last minute to eat here and it was a great decision!
The Old Mill
The Old Mill is one of the longest continuously running Gristmills in the United States. It is close to 200 years old! Not only is this grist mill still running today, it is also still in use! The Old Mill uses it to grind the flour and corn that they use in their restaurants and also to sell to the customers who visit the Old Mill.
When we visited the general store, there were so many different options of “mixes” for sale along with flours. It was hard to choose just one but we decided on a pumpkin pancake mix that could also be made into pumpkin muffins!
The Old Mill Restaurant
The Old Mill restaurant is one of the first things you see when you enter the area. To get to the restaurant you have to walk up a long ramp that takes you to the top. It is a covered walkway which is nice if it is raining like it was the day we were there. Many people wait along the ramp area, since the inside of the restaurant will often get very full during peak times with those waiting to be seated.
We were a little concerned with how busy the restaurant was when we arrived (even though it was a weekday). We didn’t know how long we would have to wait. However, we were surprised when our name was called within 5 minutes of putting our name on the list! I couldn’t believe it! They are very efficient! We took a little while longer than some guests as we have a young child, but the table next to us had three different couples seated while we ate our meal! I also heard them consistently calling names to be seated while we were waiting, so people were constantly coming in and out What I loved about this though is it did not feel rushed. The waiters were quick with delivering food and drinks along with clearing tables but you did not feel like you were being pushed out the door. They truly cared about you having a great experience. No wonder they are so busy!
When we were taken to our seat I couldn’t help but notice that the dining area was shaped differently than a normal restaurant. They were all on the right side of the building where they overlooked the Little Pigeon River. You will either take steps up or down to get to your table so make sure you are okay with stairs. We were seated right by the window so we were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery!
We perused the menu while the waitress took our drink orders and then ordered our meals. My husband got the scratch made Old Mill Chicken and Dumplings and I got the southern fried Chicken tenders which were coated with stone ground breading. Both of our meals came with corn chowder and Corn Fritters. My husband enjoyed the corn chowder and we both loved the corn fritters. You could truly taste a difference in the breading. It was so good!
Our meal came quickly after ordering and it was hot and fresh. The breading on the chicken tenders was amazing! It truly made it an unique experience to get to taste the fresh items made from the gristmill. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his dumplings as well.
Something you will want to be aware of is that they do not take reservations. Going during non peak times helps, but as I mentioned above, they are efficient! While you will still have a wait, you know that they are working hard to get you to your table!
Other dining options
There is another dining options available to you if you would prefer to try something different. The Old Mill Pottery House Cafe and Grille is located not far from The Old Mill restaurant. While we were unable to try it, I hope to one day be able to go back to this area and eat there too. They had a beautiful patio area that was unfortunately not being used the day we were there due to all the rain. They also have a fun option in November – February where you can rent an igloo just outside their restaurant and enjoy your meal that way!
When looking at the menu, it appears they may have some of the same menu items but plenty of different ones to choose from as well. If you are specifically interested in trying something that is made from the historic grist mill, they have a section on the menu entitled “The millers selections”.
The Old Mill Creamery is another fantastic option to stop at while you are at the Old Mill. They have typical items that you would find in a regular ice cream shop like sundaes and floats, but they make their own ice cream as well. It was really good! I got the Oat Mill cream pie flavor and my husband got the banana pudding flavor. They were both delicious! I will say it was a little on the pricy side though.
Shops
There are many shops to explore if you are visiting The Old Mill. These include the General Store, Pigeon River Pottery, Candy Kitchen, Farmhouse kitchen, and Sassafras. You will find items such as all different kinds of beautiful pottery, unique and fun clothing and jewelry, candy, soap, and all kinds of fun kitchen items! We also ventured into a bookstore and a store with glass blown items for sale.
Another unique thing that we stopped and observed was where people could purchase an item that they wanted to make themselves at the forge. They would work with an employee to bend and shape the hot metal themselves. It was fun to get to watch as customers made these unique souvenirs by hand.
Parking
There are multiple places to park throughout the area. We parked by the Old Mill restaurant since we were eating there but I also saw parking behind the Pottery House Cafe. We did not use the trolley system in Pigeon Forge, but there is a trolley stop close by that would be another fantastic option if you did not want to bring your car. Just be aware you may have a lot of bags with you from shopping when you get back on the trolley!
While the Old Mill was an unexpected stop for us, it was unexpectedly better than we imagined. At first look, I honestly was not that excited about it and that is why it was not on our original itinerary. I am so grateful though that we got the opportunity to come here and experience it. I hope to get to go back sometime when it is not raining and maybe sit outside at the Pottery House Cafe!
If you are in the Great Smoky Mountains check out this fun Mini golf place: https://suitcasesandsalt.com/experience-hillbilly-golf-in-gatlinburg-a-unique-family-adventure/
If you are visiting Washington D.C. check out this great pizza place! https://pepperandpassports.com/why-we-the-pizza-is-a-must-try-in-d-c/
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