The Old Grist Mill

A Heritage Site In Keremeos BC

We visited the Old Grist Mill in Keremeos BC, a BC Heritage site, on a fall day trip in the Similkameen Valley, after a stop at Bear's Fruit Market, and Farmer John's Petting Zoo.

The mill was built in 1877, to grind flour for the gold rush miners, and produced flour for the Similkameen Valley residents, paving the way for farming and agricultural production.

Built by Barrington Price, a pioneer rancher and trader, the water powered mill operated with some of the best milling equipment available, including a a Barford & Perkins grinder and a James Jones New Process roller mil. It was state-of-the-art technology in the 1880s, original machinery and building in place.

Prior to the construction of the mill, people would have to travel almost 200 miles to get flour!

Early pioneer residents of the Similkameen valley soon realized the climate and weather in the Similkameen region provided excellent growing conditions for a variety of crops.

The buildings were built using large logs, and along with construction of the mill, a general store was also built, and sold goods and supplies to the surrounding area.

It was later converted to living facilities.

Grist Mill technology continually improved and changed at a rapid pace. Along with the innovation of steam powered mills, and the cost of these changes eventually caused Barrington Price to fall out of the Grist Mill business!

Restoration of the mill began in the 1980's. It is now Western Canada's oldest flour mill, and the only one remaining with most of its machinery intact.

Here you are provided a unique opportunity to observe the preservation of an industry that played an important part in the settlement British Columbia history.

This heritage site is the last remaining mill of its generation in British Columbia.

Like to outdoor mud oven you see here, there are many original artifacts still on site where you can learn about how the mill operated. Today the general store/house, along with the mill, has been converted into a fun and interactive historic site for the entire family to enjoy.

Inside the store/house, now called the Exhibit building, there is a model of the mill and an area devoted to explaining the restoration process.

The Mill and Gardens are an educational family-fun place to visit.

It still grinds flour every day and you can sample it in the homemade bread at the Grist Mill's restaurant. The site also features the original general store, gardens, interpretive presentations and special events throughout the year.

The Grist Mill and gardens are located beside Keremeos Creek, on Upper Bench Road one kilometre east off Highway 3A on the north side of Keremeos.

This is about a 40 minute drive south of the city of Penticton, 35 minutes west of Osoyoos off Highway 3A, just up the road from Farmer John's Petting Zoo.

There are a number of creekside campsites alongside the site, where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful Similkameen Valley.

Physical Address:

2691 Upper Bench Road
RR#1 S-89 C-10
Keremeos BC V0X 1N0
Telephone: (250) 499-2888