Thorp, WA

The Thorp Grist Mill is the only remaining mill in Washington state that made the transition from stone buhr to modern rollers. Built between 1880 and 1883, the mill has been lovingly restored and maintained so visitors can catch a glimpse of history back to the early days of settlement in Washington state.

The four-story building had a 75-barrel daily capacity and produced flour and livestock feed. Originally a stone buhr mill, the facility was later converted to a roller mill at the end of the 19th Century. The Thorp Mill still retains its original rollers, and plans are underway to restore many of these machines back to working order.

The mill was powered by water from a diversion dam on the Yakima River that was used to move a lateral turbine system. A second turbine on the site, used to power the adjacent lumber mill, was later employed to provide the first electrical power to the area.