The Grinnell Mill was established in 1811 and restored in 2006. With gorgeous restored woodwork throughout and a location in the Glen Helen Preserve, the Historic Grinnell Mill Bed & Breakfast provides a lovely setting for an overnight stay, weekend retreats and small group gatherings. Visitors can rent individual rooms or the entire Mill. Gift certificates are available for purchase.

ROOMS

Grinnell Mill B & B offers two rooms and one suite with queen beds and a fresh breakfast. The suite is located on the first floor, two bedrooms on the second floor. Renters have access to shared common spaces during their stay including the kitchen, living rooms, and patio.

ENTIRE MILL

Rent the entire Grinnell Mill for family retreats, business retreats, anniversary gatherings, birthday parties, meetings and more! In addition to the two bedrooms and suite, the abundant common space on the first and second floors are ideal for family retreats, business retreats, meetings, parties and more.

The first floor contains an open floor plan with a kitchen, dining area, living room area and flexible open space for additional tables and chairs. The dining area contains a long table with wooden benches. The living room holds cozy seating around a working gas fireplace. An additional common bathroom is available on the first floor. An outdoor patio is accessible from the kitchen area.

The second floor contains access to the two bedrooms, another living room area with a television and smaller space for additional tables and chairs. Perfect for break out sessions, a kids’ area, reading nook, or additional social space for gathering.

Parking space at the Mill is limited to approximately 20 vehicles.

Handicap accessibility: The patio and first floor of the Mill are accessible by wheelchair and stroller. Visitors can use the ramp to the right of the front door, travel up to the patio and enter the Mill through the back patio door. The second floor of the Mill is accessible only by stairs.

Contact us for more details or learn more about our rooms.

The Mill is open to the public as well as for  events and overnight stays year round.  Public hours are usually Saturday & Sunday 1:00– 5:00 pm unless otherwise posted at the Mill.  Private tours are available by appointment – to arrange a private tour, please feel free to contact us through the website.

History of the Mill

By Brenda Krekeler

Andrew and Robert Moody bought land for a mill in January 1811 and built a mill in 1813. In 1818 the original building burned and was replaced with the present building in 1821. The new building was placed on the original limestone foundation. The earliest tax records that indicate a mill building at this site dates back to 1832. The mill was locally called Moody’s or Moody’s Mill. Frank Grinnell bought the mill in 1864.

A meadow across from the mill has seventeen springs and so the mill became known as the Spring Lea Mill. The Grinnell family owned the mill until 1948. Sometime during the 84 years that the Grinnell family owned the mill, the mill’s name changed to the Grinnell Mill.

Originally, the Grinnell Mill operated as a water-powered gristmill. A large undershot wooden waterwheel powered the driveshaft that turned two sets of buhrstones. The 1913 flood damaged the waterwheel and it was replaced with a Leffel turbine in 1914. The turbine was manufactured by the Leffel Company in nearby Springfield, Ohio. Grinnell Mill also had a sawmill at one time. A limestone processor for agricultural lime functioned at the mill from 1900 through 1937.