Warm Springs Mill
Also known as: Miller Mill; Inn at Gristmill Square
Why it's listed
Warm Springs Mill, also called Miller Mill, is a three-story timber-frame gristmill on the south bank of Warm Springs Run in Bath County, Virginia. W. H. Miller built it around 1901 on a site where earlier mills had operated since the 1800s. An iron overshot Fitz water wheel, nearly twenty feet wide, still stands on its north side. Inside, the cellar and first floor keep the face wheel, leather belts, wooden chutes, a millstone in its wooden vat and a system of grain elevators. The mill was listed because it is the only surviving mill building in Bath County. It operated under several owners until closing in 1971, outlasting more than twenty other county mills. Its design follows traditional millwrighting practice dating to Oliver Evans, even though many millers of the period were building roller mills. Today it houses a restaurant, a pub and apartments, with most original fabric intact.
Significance in brief: It is described as the only surviving mill building in Bath County and a reminder of the area's once active industrial life. It closed in 1971 after outlasting more than twenty county mills. It retains nearly all of its original milling machinery and follows traditional millwrighting designs derived from Oliver Evans, making it a late example of a water-powered stone-ground flour mill.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88001448, listed September 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E side of VA 645, Warm Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Bath County |
| Listed | September 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88001448 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1901-1971 |
| Architect / builder | W. H. Miller |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a restaurant and lodging, with apartments on the third floor; the interior and milling machinery are described as well preserved and the water wheel is still operational. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Warm Springs and West Warm Springs Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.04762, -79.79001 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88001448.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713494
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.