Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill

Smoky Mountains National Park | 2025 The Cable Mill has become a symbol for the Cades Cove area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. John P. Cable built his water-powered gristmill and sawmill around 1870. It was one of several in Cades Cove that served about 670 residents. Mills played an important role in people’s lives, and families often looked forward to “mill days". A dam on Mill Creek directs water through a canal to the wooden flume that channels water onto the top of the mill wheel. This activates the mechanism for grinding corn with a mill stone. The same wheel powered a heavy reciprocating blade that cut logs. Such technologies made life easier for Cove residents. Many families had small “tub” mills that could grind enough for a family. However, mills like the one belonging to the Cables were larger and faster, if one was willing to give the miller a share of the grain. Mills also removed many back-breaking steps required for traditional log cabin-building. Photo © by Russell Dean Roberts