6 Old Mill Towns To Visit In Ohio

Ohio's landscape is threaded with rivers and canals that powered the state's early mills—grist, paper, textile, and sawmills that turned grain and timber into the goods that built towns. These water- and steam-driven operations shaped downtowns, created waterfront districts, and left behind red-brick buildings, raceways, and covered bridges that make for excellent day trips today. Within Ohio's milltowns, you will visually see its history through architecture, museums, and working restorations. You'll also find named cafés, restaurants, museums, and sights to make a mill-themed visit feel complete. Each town below is the perfect getaway for seasoned historians and those wanting to learn more about Ohio's milling history.

Roscoe Village

Roscoe Village rose as a busy grain and goods port on the Ohio & Erie Canal; warehouses and mill operations made it a thriving 1830s commerce hub. The restoration of Roscoe recreates that canal-era milling environment. Ride the Canal Boat Landing Monticello III canal boat when in season. After, explore the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum for regional artifacts. Eat at the village's dining options, such as The Lock Landing or the Ivy Room, and leave feeling like you're a part of the place. Afterwards, browse specialty shops like Canal Cargo Company for canal-era souvenirs. The Roscoe Village Visitor Center runs guided living-history tours, and you can photograph the canal if you're interested in learning more about this historic town. Redbrick storefronts and restored mill-era architecture help visitors recall the days when grain was transported by mule and barge.

Millersburg

Millersburg's name and development came from early millers who harnessed local streams; the town sits at the heart of Holmes County and preserves that industrial past amid Victorian storefronts. Start at the Behalt - Amish Mennonite Heritage Center to learn local agricultural and milling context, then pick up fresh baked goods at Hershberger's Farm & Bakery. Browse antiques and handcrafted furniture in downtown shops, and visit the Millersburg Glass Museum and seasonal markets. For a mill experience, follow the county's back roads to preserved mill sites and covered bridges—a photographer's dream in fall. Downtown Millersburg also offers locally owned diners and cafés like Daybreak Bistro or MawMaw's Diner for a classic Ohio small-town meal.

Clifton Mill

Clifton Mill, one of the nation’s most impressive water-powered grist mills, sits in a narrow gorge on the Little Miami River. The original milling site dates from the early 1800s. The present complex preserves large wooden millworks and a dramatic covered bridge. Tour the mill and watch the wheel work while embracing the essence of history's past in this small town. Eat at the on-site The Restaurant at Clifton Mill, where you can enjoy home-cooked breakfasts and pies that are baked fresh daily. After you've filled yourself up with some grub, troll the boardwalk for gorge and waterfall views. Photographers love the mill's red siding framed by the Little Miami's flow; in winter, the mill's light display is an event. Nearby Clifton Gorge Preserve in Yellow Springs has trails and a beautiful gorge overlook that is great for short hikes and excellent vantage points.

Chagrin Falls

Chagrin Falls grew around a 20-foot waterfall on the Chagrin River; the town’s mills — including flour and paper operations — once sat right beside Main Street, turning local grain and timber into products for Cleveland markets. Today, the falls remain the village’s centerpieces. Stroll Riverside Park if you're a true nature lover and snap pictures of the waterfall from the main street bridge. After you've embraced the sights around you, make sure you pop into the iconic Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop, located in a former mill showroom, for kettle corn. Popcorn lovers will enjoy the assortment of flavors that lie in this hidden gem. Art lovers should visit Art by the Falls Fine Art and Craft Festival presented by Valley Art Center. For even more art and crafty pieces. If you're in the mood to try something new, try a glass class at Glass Asylum for a hands-on keepsake. Finish at the nearby Heartwood Coffee Roasters or other main street cafés and browse independent boutiques.

Milford

Milford's very name—originally "Mill Ford"—speaks to its mill and ford history on the Little Miami River. The Historic Downtown district keeps that riverfront character. If you plan on visiting, take a walk down Main Street and embrace the remnants of history surrounding you. After, visit the Promont House Museum, a Victorian mansion sprawling with local history, perfect for those who want a deep dive into the town's history. Visitors who are active will enjoy a spring on the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Tourists who bring their bikes along can enjoy riverside cycling where old mill sites once operated. For food and drink, reserve a table at 20 Brix, a wine bar and restaurant, renowned amongst locals, or grab a pint and river views at Little Miami Brewing Company. The Cincinnati Nature Center nearby is a great place to explore the woodlands that once supplied mill timbers. The downtown's antique shops and bakeries, such as Holston's Baking Co., are ideal for picking up locally made pantry items that recall the town's milling-era commerce.

Marietta

At the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers, Marietta thrived with river-powered mills processing grain and timber for river trade; the ruins of mills and mill-related bridges dot the surrounding county. When you're in town for a visit, stop at the Campus Martius Museum, which explains Marietta’s frontier and industrial past; photograph covered bridges and riverside views; and see ancient Hopewell earthworks that predate the mill era at Mound Cemetery. For nourishment, downtown faves include Jeremiah’s Coffee House 29:11 and Black Diamond Brewery and Distillery, both of which are well known for their brews. It all depends on what you have a taste for. Stay or dine in at the historic Lafayette Hotel for a riverfront atmosphere. Take a riverside walk or paddle on the Muskingum for a new perspective on how water-power and river transport forged Marietta’s mills and waterfront neighborhoods.

These six Ohio towns — Chagrin Falls, Roscoe Village (Coshocton), Millersburg, Clifton, Milford, and Marietta — offer compact, walkable histories where mills shaped downtowns, jobs, and riverscapes. You can nearly feel the bustling life that was once lived by those who worked and lived in each of these mill towns. Each town preserves that heritage differently: from restored working mills and canal boats to museums and mill-turned-restaurants. These small towns are perfect for travelers who want named cafés, museums, and mill sites to plan a day of history, food, and river views.