Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park

 

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A G.

Beverly Hills, CA

I strongly second Ann L.'s review of the mill.  This is truly a hidden gem in wine country -- at the very least, it's a lovely, picturesque place to enjoy a wine country picnic (there's at least one table, and of course the mill wheel and mill house are the beautiful backdrop -- and it's all under shade trees).  But, with the (working) mill itself, the friendly people working there, the various mill flours you can buy (we made delicious banana bread with the whole wheat pastry flour), etc, it's much, much more.  HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

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Elite '08

274

1008

Ann L.

Fremont, CA

we went here after hiking at Bothe-Napa Valley SP, so that's what I recommend.  Take the historic trail and take a short detour to see the Pioneer Cemetery (.1 mi).  The Bale Grist Mill SHP trail is not flat (1.1 miles one way) (quite steep I thought) cuz there is private property that you can't go through.  

The park is the site of a water-powered grist mill that was built in 1846.  The mill was owned by Dr. Edward Turner Bale and it remained in use until the early 1900s.  

The mill and the 36-foot water wheel are protected as a state historic landmark, you can see the water wheel working on weekends in the winter, but we went on a Mon. so we didn't.  Cost to see the inside of the mill is $2 pp.

I recommend this place, go on the weekends.
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Finally got to check it out on a weekend: Sat 2/23/08.  We got there at 10am and they were just getting ready.  We paid our fees to see the milling demo.

Since they were just getting going, we waited in the room and read more about Dr. Edward Turner Bale and his wife.  

Then we went in for the milling demo.  Pretty interesting.  I liked all the gears and machines that make it work.  Hubby even helped out a bit.

We ended up buying FRESH Polenta just milled.  A 2lb bag is $3; a 5lb bag is $6.  We bought 2-5lb bags of Polenta!  We are freezing up one bag now.
Other kinds of flour they have: pastry; bread; corn meal; and polenta.

They also sell cookbooks, postcards, wooden spoons, and ladles.

Worth checking out!  Two bathrooms available and they have flushed toilets & sink.  Not too far from the Mill.

Adults $2; Children FREE.  Pay at Mill.  FREE Parking.  Hrs: 10a-5p

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