The Old Grist Mill is one of our favorite places to go when we want to unwind. In the Fall the water rushes so quickly that you can’t hear anything over the noise of the water spilling over the falls and moving down the stream that powers the mill. It is sadly fascinating to watch the salmon swimming downstream to spawn. Their poor bodies are so battered and scarred as they are driven by nature to swim to their final destination.
The historic Old Cedar Grist Mill was built in 1876 and restored in 1989 as a centennial project. It is the only one of 19 grist mills still operating in Washington State.
This mill had suffered so much damage from neglect and vandalism over the years that it was scheduled to be demolished. However, the site has been loving restored by the Friends of the Gristmill Organization using only the tools that were available when the mill was originally built. The Friends of the Gristmill maintain the mill and volunteer their time to operate the mill for guided tours on the weekends. We officially joined the Friends of the Gristmill Organization last year.
Every Fall the volunteers have an unbelievable cider pressing event with truck-loads of apples being delivered to the site; visitors get a gallon of freshly pressed apple cider. Each weekend visitors are offered the opportunity to take home a bag of freshly milled flour or cornmeal. The cornmeal makes the best cornbread you have ever tasted and many of the volunteers are addicted to pancakes made from the freshly ground whole wheat flour.
The mill is situated immediately upstream from an updated covered, authentic timber-truss bridge. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Cedar Creek Grist mill is protected against future demolition.
Here are directions to the Grist Mill, if you are ever passing through Washington State and want to visit.
Driving Directions
I- 5
Take the Woodland exit #21.
Turn northeast on Lewis River Road.
Quickly turn southeast on CC Street and cross the Lewis River Bridge.
Follow the curve of the road to the left onto Hayes Road.
After about 9 miles turn left onto Grist Mill Road.
After 1/2 mile, you’ll cross a beautiful covered wooden bridge to the mill.
Fees
Free admission (donations gratefully accepted)
Become a Friend of the Cedar Creek Grist Mill.
(All membership dues are payable annually, and are good from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.)
$8.00 - Supporting member
$10.00 - Voting member
$25.00 - Patron Member
$50.00 - Memorial Please send donations to:
Friends of the Cedar Creek Grist Mill
PO Box 1404
Woodland, WA 98674
Hours
Open every weekend of the year!
Saturday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Weekday tour and demonstrations may be arranged by prior appointment. Slide shows of the mill’s reconstruction may be presented to schools and organizations for a donation. Please call for details.
