Spring Mill State Park Pioneer Village
The restored Spring Mill State Park Pioneer Village is a delight as you travel through time to the 1800s.
Pioneer Village History
In the early 1800s Spring Mill Village was a bustling hub of commerce. Stagecoaches traveling between New Albany and Terre Haute, Indiana used to stop here overnight. However, by the 1850s railroad lines had been built through the nearby town of Mitchell, and the popularity of Spring Mill began to wane.
Pioneer Village Restored
Spring Mill Village was originally founded in 1814. The majority of village restoration work was completed in the late 1920s and 1930s, primarily with help from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
The restored Pioneer Village, with its massive water-powered grist mill, and representation of pioneer tradecrafts and occupations, offers a unique chance to step back in time. There are 20 historic buildings to explore. You can check out a 3-story limestone gristmill, built in 1817, which still grinds corn today. In season, park heritage interpreters in period dress portray the year 1863, demonstrating period crafts and recreating daily village life.
NOTE: The grist mill will not grind until further notice. Extensive repairs to the shaft, water wheel, and flume must be completed.
Hours of Operation
Open 9 am – 5 pm daily from May thru mid-October. Additional days and times as posted.
No pets allowed in Pioneer Village.
More About Spring Mill State Park Pioneer Village
Stories & Structures
Learn more about Pioneer Village with the PDF "Bringing Back Spring Mill: Stories and Structures".
Village Life in 1863
Discover what the village was once like in the PDF "1863: Stepping Back Into Spring Mill Village".
Village Web Cam
See Pioneer Village in action via the live web cam that is mounted to the top of the Grist Mill.
