dillard mill state historic site

Great history lesson. The tour of the Mill was awsome.The hike to the mill took 5 min. and the view was beautiful. Nice clean park area.

The drive is well worth it to this quiet, serene setting in the Ozarks. Nestled in the hills, Dillard Mill State Historic site is a great place for a family picnic and easy hiking. The mill is well maintained, there are staff on site who will either give you a paid guided tour or you can walk around on your own. The creeks are crystal clear and the grounds are clean, well maintained and inviting. We were lucky and went out on a day that was cool and comfortable (who knew it would be in the 70's in July?) and it was beautiful. The trails are not handicapped accessible, however, you can drive directly to the mill with permission. No fees are required, except if you decide to take the paid tour.

A lovely place to picnic, hike/leisurely walk, take photos and visit a bit of history. Please know that you can't swim here. We had a great time just wandering and taking in the scenery. You can pay for a more thorough tour of the mill or just wander through the lower level and peak out the windows at the scenery. Take your money with you because it is a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the mill where you can buy a few souvenirs or pay for your tour. Great outing for the family. Stop in at the Travler's Table for a delicious meal before or after your visit.

Could have been slightly better marked on the far end of the loop where the trail nears the river. We became a little disoriented by the markers not being clearly visible.

So, how in the world did this get here? Why? How? Etc...all goes through your mind when you go to this VERY impressive, well preserved piece of history. MO dept of parks/conservation/ or whomever has done a great job of keeping this late 1800 century Mill live on for all visitors to enjoy.A Wildwood Springs visit about 20 miles northwest allowed us to wonder in the beautiful Ozark hills and step back in time. If you are an international visitor to the US and the Ozark's and want to see Americana visit this great site and Steelville, MO. A quick detour off Route 66 you won't be disappointed in the authenticity and beautiful surroundings.

It is o.k. Anything that has been preserved as it has is worth a look, for the history it portrays.

Very hot time to visit. Mill tours only till noon because of heat. Tour guide started it up and it was pretty amazing what we came up with back in the day. No swimming here, but a nice hike down to Mill and around the grounds. Great restaurant near by!

Well worth the drive from anywhere. The old mill has been restored to the point where most of the machinery operate, driven by a spiderweb arrangement of belts & pulleys. While it would be worth the trip just to see the old girl thumping along, the photographic beauty of the setting makes it doubly worth the detour. And take the kids!

We had a knowledgeable guide who really loved the place. All the staff were extremely friendly and made you feel like you were doing them a favor by visiting. We were impressed by how complicated the flour grinding process is. Make sure to see the diving helmet on the tour! The location is quite picturesque as well.

To get close to the mill and spillway you must walk about a quarter-mile on a gravel trail.