hope mill conservation area

Stay away from the posted no swimming spot as there has been quite a few people loose their lives here by drowning. The mill has been slowly, restored with care by retired volunteers over a period of three years and they feel it when a life is lost here. A local multi national company loaned the use of their equipment to restore the parts needed to get this mill back in working condition. The rural setting ads to the quaintness of the mill plus the holding pond with the sluice way. It is well worth the visit to see one of a very few still working mills in North America.

The mill is a working water-powered mill. You can tour the mill and talk to volunteers who are using the antique equipment and creating things for sale there - proceeds to Hope Mill restoration. You should definitely NOT go swimming there. It is an operational hydroelectric facility and is very dangerous. A young girl died there in 2005. No one should ever swim near working dams.

This is a very awesome, quaint little place. I go every year and it is the best place to swim if you like swimming in lakes/streams or places with terrain. Although, they post swimming regulations, they are completely ignored by everyone. The waterfalls are great, probably the most fun I have all year. Every year they are different depending on how high the water is or how the logs are placed. Climbing in, on, and under the falls can provide hours of entertainment unlike anything you've done before. The only bad thing is that there are usually a ton of people here during the summer. Not the greatest place for the elderly or small children to swim. Great for wading and playing in the shallow areas though, as long as you don't mind the natural setting. Bring water shoes or old sneakers.