Yesterday I showed you the giant wooden wheels once used at the Kennedy Mine to convey debris for almost a mile, from the mine site to an impound area. Today, a more familiar type of wheel — the water wheel at Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park. These days, Napa County is famous for its vineyards and wineries; but back in the day, this mill was just as important to the area. So it’s great to see that it has survived after so many years (including escaping destruction in last year’s wildfires) and is still fully operational. Restoration of the water wheel was completed in 2020, and the park will be opening up again for tours later this summer!

It was once the center of social activity as Napa Valley settlers gathered to have their corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. Travel with Huell Howser just three miles north of St. Helena off Highway 29 to Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, the site of a water-powered grist mill that was built in 1846.

(Click on the linked image below to see the video.)