Since moving to Atkinson Milling Company in 1958, Ray Wheeler always felt most at home in the mill. That feeling was justified, as it was where Ray and Betty spent much of their life. Atkinson’s operated out of the “old mill” until the new, modern production facility was built and became operational in 2017. Production had outgrown the building, and floods were becoming more common.

Something that was lost during the transition to the new facility was the ability to give tours of an operating, historic, riverside mill. As the mill sat quiet and empty, Ray set out to fix that. For several years, Ray Wheeler and his nephew Buddy Strickland worked tirelessly to build an attraction that showcases Ray’s love of grist milling and history.