For anyone who wants to enjoy a quiet moment and get away from their day to day hustle and bustle, Historic Yates Mill County Park is the place. The park is very calming with a lot of history located in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Quick Facts

Historic Yates Mill County Park is a US National Historical Site. It’s also the only operable water powered mill in its region. The park preserves the agricultural heritage and environment of 174 acres. When the mill was first developed it was used to produce corn mill, lumber, wool, and wheat. Since being built close to 1756 the mill and land were owned by several different people. It was originally given to Samuel Pearson by Earl of Granville; today it is owned by North Carolina State University but is managed and operated by Wake County. The park offers nature trails for hiking, educational resources through the on site museum and fishing to all visitors provided by North Carolina State University.

Why I Visited The Park

I personally visited the mill to relax and take in a new scenery! The beach is normally my go to place but being two hours and a half away from the beach doesn’t make it a quick turn around trip. Therefore, taking on the lakes, ponds and nature trails has become my thing since moving to North Carolina! I normally google “parks near me” or “nature trails in Raleigh” just to find new locations for hiking and trail runs/walks.

What I Enjoyed

One thing I enjoyed about the park is the view of the lake from the bridge and nature trail. The walk on the trail was very calming and refreshing for me. The only noise I heard was that of birds chirping and quick rustling in the woods by small animals chasing one another or just going about their normal routine in life. I saw wildlife such as squirrels, turtles, and different types of birds enjoying their natural habitat undisturbed. Everything was green and gorgeous however, the walk had to end because my allergies started to react from being surrounded by so much pollen and trees.

The old mill was an incredible thing to view. I love historical buildings and areas because they have a story with so much character; Yates Mill stands from unfinished wood, cobblestones and steal. It would have been nice to view the inside of the mill but I was unable to tour the inside because I went on a day that tours are not made available.

Tours are normally made available starting on certain days in the Spring up until the fall. If you enjoy being outside and/or learning about historical places give Historic Yates Mill County Park a try.

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