About The Old Mill
The Old Mill in North Little Rock appears to be a weathered nineteenth-century gristmill preserved beside a woodland pond. In reality, the romantic ruin was constructed in 1933 as a carefully staged recreation. Its aged beams, bridges, stonework, and rustic furniture were designed to look as if they had survived for generations.
Developer Justin Matthews created the park as an attraction for nearby residential neighborhoods. Mexican-born sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez produced much of its most convincing detail. Rodriguez specialized in faux bois, a technique that shapes concrete to imitate wood. Concrete throughout the park also masquerades as stone, rope, iron, and decaying timber.
The mill became nationally recognizable after appearing in the opening scenes of Gone with the Wind. It is believed to be the only structure seen in the film that remains standing today. That cinematic association adds another layer of make-believe to a place already built as an artificial memory.
Paths wind through landscaped gardens and cross sculpted bridges around the mill and pond. The location is especially popular with photographers, wedding parties, and visitors looking for a quiet stop near Little Rock.
The park is open to the public without an admission charge. It is located in T. R. Pugh Memorial Park at Lakeshore Drive and Fairway Avenue. Visitors should respect posted rules and avoid climbing on the delicate decorative concrete.
The Old Mill is beautiful precisely because it is a convincing fake. It preserves no working pioneer mill, yet its craftsmanship has become historic in its own right. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.