Historic Yates Mill County Park is home to the last operable water-powered gristmill in Wake County, NC. The 12-foot waterwheel and forebay, critical to the mill’s function, deteriorated after more than 20 years of use and has been replaced by B.E. Hassett-Millwrights, Inc. The large waterwheel, typically made of wood, is powered by the flow of water. It is a key component of a watermill, converting the kinetic energy of flowing water into mechanical power to drive machinery, such as grinding stones in a gristmill or a mechanical corn sheller to remove corn kernels from their cobs. The Mill will be re-opening in mid-October 2025.
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10.08.25