Sparkling water tumbles over the wooden paddles on the Mabry Mill waterwheel, and then spills into a pond. Ducks glide across the water. Beyond, musicians play toe-tapping Appalachian music under the shade of tall pines. This inviting historic setting on the Blue Ridge Parkway in southwest Virginia attracts both travelers from distant places and locals from neighboring villages.

Demos of Traditional Crafts
On weekends, the site bustles with activity as park staff and volunteers demonstrate many of the tasks typical on a 19th-century homestead. In a log cabin, women attired in period clothing spin wool and weave yarn into a bedspread on a 150-year-old wooden loom. As visitors run their fingers across fabric samples, they feel the difference between wool and linsey-woolsey, which is made of flax linen and wool. On many weekends, docents cook apple butter over the open fire.

The Mill
At the mill, bins show samples of corn ground to various grades of fineness for grits and corn meal. Known to their friends as Ed and Lizzy, Edwin B. Mabry and his wife Mintoria built the mill in 1910. They ground corn for their neighbors for nearly 30 years. Their property also boasted a blacksmith shop, sawmill, wheelwright shop and a two-story frame house.

While docents describe how the grist mill operates, they reveal the origin of some common sayings. For example, the amount of space between the grindstones was critical. If the stones were too close together, they would create friction that would burn the corn. To make sure that didn't happen, the miller would put his "nose to the grindstone" to check for the smell of smoke.

The Mabry Mill site also has a restaurant and gift shop where visitors can sample ciders and enjoy a meal before continuing their journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Mayberry Trading Post

Just down the road, off the parkway at milepost 180, you can step back into the 19th century at the Mayberry Trading Post.

Built in 1892, the quaint structure once served as a post office as well as general store. Today, it sells a variety of items, including apple butter, homemade molasses, toys, books and mountain crafts. You can even grab a homemade lunch and eat it at a picnic table while watching all the action around you. Mayberry Trading Post is open year-round.

If you go:
Mabry Mill is located at Milepost 176 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.

For more information: Visit Mabry Mill.
Location on Blue Ridge Parkway Map



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