kymulga grist mill & covered bridge

AlabamaTrailsMag

Welcome to a simpler time, when all that was needed was a stone, some time, and a creek. Mr. Ben will take you back to a time when the railroad was the vein that connected people that still does today. He will tell you the history of the bridge, the mill and the surrounding towns and communities. The stories are of triumph and tragedy. They are of how the mill helped feed people, helped a town survive and thrive, helped with job creation, helped with access to the powder plant, and other amazing trips back in time. The bridge spans 100+ feet across the creek with no center support - an amazing engineering project - as it connects the walking paths with the very busy county roads. Be sure to purchase a bag of Grits! They are no longer made on site due to the mill being in need of repairs and renovations, but they are made just down the road a bit. If you happen to have a fishing pole bring it along too, the creek is a great place for a quick fishing trip. Just a great quick stop by and a great historical treasure for our state. Enjoy you day! Alabama Trails Magazine.

jeffreyw958

This old Grist Mill is not your typical water wheel mill. It is a 3 turbine / 4 story mill that still ground corn for grits and meal till 2012 and with help, it will be grinding again soon. The park is full of activities to do. The mill itself is great, but the historical covered bridge is also there and the history of them is incredible. The creek is very pretty and I was told full of fish to include Several variety of bass to include large mouth, Red Eye, spots and stripe. Also Bream and Crappie. The park rents canoe, has several camping hook ups and lots of tent camping area. 4 trails that are well marked. Great family fun! http://www.kymulgagristmill.com

DandB4123

Rural area east of Historic Childersburg. Spent a beautiful and sunny Saturday, slowly walking this historic park. We were the only ones (humans) there for 2 hours. We eventually met Mr. Ben Austin, who was very knowledgeable on the history of the Mill and Bridge. We asked a lot of questions and he was a delight. Mill is closed to the public for renovations. It's about to wash down the creek with a good, hard rain. Very small $3 gets you the tour. There is a small petting zoo and a couple of hiking trails. A small campground is near the site. A local café was recommended for lunch.

150lynnm

We really enjoyed our visit to Kymulga Grist Mill and Covered Bridge. The tour guide gathered us into his golf cart to keep us dry from the drizzle and gave us a wonderful history lesson of the area. The $3/per person entry fee was well worth the visit. Yes, we would go again!

TheAbbotts107

Tucked away in Childersburg. VERY interesting. Had a great little tour guide who knew his way around and knew his history. Couldn't get in to the Mill anymore because it's having some issues (sinking into the creek but now supported), but was still very neat to hear a little history about the area.

CathN52

I had a blast at the Kymulga Grist Mill and Covered Bridge. John, the local guide, gave me a personal tour around the property in a golf cart and I learned a lot about the mill and the area, both historical as well as local history. Beautiful place!! very close to the Desota Caverns so both can be done in one day.

Felicia1961

The park is well maintained and the history behind the bridge and mill very interesting. If you are a nature enthusiast, this park is beautiful. There are many old hardwood trees and these old forest hardwoods provide a gorgeous backdrop for the mill, creek and falls. We plan to return soon with the rest of the family.

ChristopherAD

Like any park of its kind, access is closed when the attendant is absent. There is a $3 per person fee. Mr. Ben Austin works for the city overseeing the 80 acre park. As a native of the area, he has a great deal of knowledge of the bridge, mill and the park. The mill is currently closed to the public but Mr. Austin will gladly open the front door and let you peak inside. Restoration of the mill is scheduled for the fall of 2014. The bridge leads across the river to some great walking trails.

FiandBob

While the grist mill is currently closed with a restoration project on the drawing board, we still enjoyed our visit thanks to the knowledge and history shared by the mill's on-site historian. And what a most picturesque setting! We enjoyed a leisurely walk through the park and then sat to watch fish jumping in the stream.

poetsspouse

We had difficulty finding this place, as the road it was on was not listed on the map or on our GPS index. When we got there we found that, although it was on a day and hour that the sign indicated fell within the hours of operation, the gate was shut tight. All we could tell from the unpaved parking lot was that there is a screened-in building where no parking is permitted, and there are other wooden structures around. So we turned around and drove away. Better information might have made this a memorable visit. The operators could make the location easier to find by informing online mapmakers and by adhering to their own schedule.

maximac222

This was a stop on a mid winter motorcycle ride, February 24, 2013. Someone in the group said, "Hey, y'all want to see a covered bridge?" And this is how we ended up at Kymulga. It is a lovely historic place. They are in the process of renovating the mill. Lucky for us, the owner had ground 600 pounds of organically grown corn that day and ran out of room to store it so she offered up bags to those who wanted it. I never refuse free food (almost never) so we loaded up saddle bags with corn meal and bought a bag of grits to take with us. The owner was a delightful and friendly lady, can't recall her name.The mill is still in operation and was built in 1854 (I believe). There's a camping area and there's also a Grits Festival held on the property. The construction of the mill will also be a point of interest.I understand the great reviews. It was a delight!

gjohnson20

Worth the trip if you're in Talladega County! In a rural area just outside of Childersburg. A little bit of history and some wonderful, picturesque views of the Talladega County countryside.

halogran

The fall foliage is just beautiful. The grounds were neat and clean. The bridge appears to be well kept though, there are some places inside the covered bridge which people have written on. There are several walking trails. You can see the grist mill in action (I think). Awesome for photo ops!

Andy426669

Nice covered Bridge and the Old Mill very interesting. They had a petting area for the kids. They were cooking Hamburgers & Hot Dogs on the Grill. Very Good

autigerrealtor

Well, it is hard to go wrong for $3. The mill is interesting, and it has a small giftshop area inside. I really went for the covered bridge. It is in need of repairs and it isnt the most beautiful thing in the world. But it is historic and something you dont see all the time. I crossed the bridge and on the other side there are some trails. Worth a stop if you are visiting de soto caverns which are about 4 miles away.