Kymulga Covered Bridge and Old Grist Mill Park

Kymulga Grist Mill Park and Covered Bridge are a unique part of history near Childersburg, Alabama.

Kymulga Grist Mill and Covered Bridge

Back around 1850, before any of us were born. (before our Grandparents were born) down in Talladega County, Alabama, an Indian road ran from the lower part of Alabama over to parts of what is now Georgia. Many called it the Georgia Road, but its official name was the McIntosh Road. Where the road crossed the Talladega Creek the local government decided to build a covered bridge.

Kymulga Covered Bridge

Note that this was the 1850's, so building a road or a bridge was much different than today. There were plenty of forests in the area to supply trees, plus there were a few sawmills around.

The plan was that all the major beams and pieces would be cut to size at one of the sawmills and hauled to the site by mule and wagon. When officials sent out word that they were accepting quotes for the labor - only the labor to build the covered bridge - the first bid came in at 75 dollars. That bid was rejected for being too high!

But the bridge was completed around 1861, the same year that the Civil War started.

The author inside the covered bridge

Before long the man who owned the adjoining land decided to build a grist mil to produce flour and corn meal. The grist mill would be powered by that same Talladega Creek. However the mill was not a waterwheel mill. It was powered by horizontal turbines down in the water. To direct the water to the turbines a seven foot high dam was built just upstream of the mill

The Kymulga grist mill still stands today.

Kymulga Covered Bridge and Old Grist Mill

Both the mill and the bridge still stand today.

Kymulga Visitor Center

The mill and covered bridge have been turned into a park that is open to the public 5 days a week.

https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/kymulga-grist-mill-and-covered-bridge

Three story mill

Probably the coolest thing about the mill is that most of the old machinery still works. The main water-powered drive has been disconnected and electric motors have been installed to drive the individual machines, but the actual machines that grind the corn or wheat still work and still make corn meal or flour that is sold at the gift shop at the mill!

Old Grist Mill machinery

One can see that 150 years ago, they did not have the safety standards that we see in a business today. Most of the machines don't have guards and safety precautions that we have on machines today. And when I say that they have electric motors to make them work, they don't run very often, mostly just as demonstrations.

Most of the grain started at the third floor and flowed down

One may also notice that compared to today's machinery, these old machines have less steel, almost no plastic, and lots of wood. It is impressive that these old machines are still capable after 150 years of so.

Wooden pulley

The park is operated by the Childersburg Historical Society. They do a great job of giving tours and telling the stories about the old mill and bridge.

And if you just want to kick back and discuss the history of Alabama, this is a good place to do that!

Tour Guides Explaining the Machinery

The lower section of the mill is a museum.

Old Tools Display

At Kymulga, one can get the feeling that maybe 1870 wasn't that long ago....

Nature Display

There are lots of things to see at Kymulga and the people who run the park are very friendly.

Kymulga Gift Shop

The front side of the mill, facing the old train track.

Back years ago when the mill was still in operation, they liked to use bee's was to lubricate some of the machines. So bees were encouraged to live in the wooden walls of the building. And bees live there still.

Bees' wax was once used to grease the machinery.

Across the creek are hiking trails leading into the woods.

Kymulga Covered Bridge, circa 1861

In addition to being historically rich, the park is great for photography.

Kymulga covered bridge and Talladega Creek

The park is sometimes used for weddings, musical events, and other local events, and holiday celebrations as well.

So if you like to see old stuff, and old covered bridges in particular, check out Kymulga Grist Mill Park! It is truly a one of a kind place!

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