Stebelton Park at Rock Mill - Then, Now, Tomorrow

No series about Fairfield County Park District would be complete without a story about Rock Mill. It is difficult, though, to think of something that hasn’t already been said!

THEN (before 2017) As many of you reading this article know, the restoration of the 1824 gristmill was an arduous decade-long venture. We remember it as an adventure!

In the first eight years of work (2003-2011), progress was slow and halting because there was no regular source of funding that could be earmarked for the restoration. There was even a time when work stopped and the doors were locked. Countless supporters had given their time, labor, skills, money, and materials – was all of it in vain? Then, a countywide ten-year levy passed (2011) that provides funding for the Park District, allowing efforts to continue. Just two years later, the work was complete – Rock Mill was finally resurrected!

See the documentary, “Rock Mill: Saving an Original” on our YouTube channel.

Admiring the New Waterwheel at the Grand Opening of Rock Mill (2013)

NOW (2017-2020) In recent years, Rock Mill has been a staple of annual Park programming. The mill was opened on Saturdays and Sundays for visitors to tour and learn about its operation from our Interpretive Historian and volunteers. Taking advantage of the time the building had to be closed because of the pandemic (2020), the waterwheel and forebay were repaired, the mill’s exterior was cleaned, stained and sealed, and the inside received a thorough spring-cleaning. Thanks to Fairfield County Forever, two benches and an ADA-compatible walkway to the front door of the mill were added to the park.

Rock Mill and Rock Mill Covered Bridge are probably the most-visited and most-photographed Fairfield County destinations! Amateur photographer, Bruce Johnson, submitted this artistic rendering of Rock Mill (top photo). He explains, “[The] final image is a composite of four images taken at different exposures. Basic adjustments (exposure, contrast, etc.) were done in Lightroom to each of the four images. Then the four images were combined and further edited in Photoshop using the "layers" and the "lighten" modes.” Interesting!

TOMORROW. Visit Fairfield County, the visitor and convention bureau, often highlights Rock Mill in their events. This year it will be featured in their Staycation, Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard, and ABCs of History tours.

It is our plan to continue to be good stewards of this amazing structure that is a significant part of Fairfield County’s heritage! From May through October, Rock Mill will be open Wednesdays in addition to Saturdays and Sundays! The experience will be adjusted to meet required pandemic guidelines, but Rock Mill will be open! See our website Calendar for details. We hope you visit soon!

Many things have been accomplished with levy funds. The ten-year levy expires this year; a renewal (not a new tax) is on the May 2021 ballot. Our plans for the next ten years include:

Continue Operation of
- Rock Mill
- Wahkeena Nature Preserve
Educational Programs
- School Field Trips
- Presentations in Classrooms & Land Labs
- Natural & Cultural History Programs
- Annual Special Events
- Self-guided Adventures
Improve Existing Parks
- add ADA-compatible access
- add playgrounds
- add picnic shelters
- add permanent restrooms
- maintain covered bridges
- maintain historical features
- extend, improve, add trails
- wetland mitigations
Develop New Parklands
- Mambourg Park (opening in May, date to be announced)
- Stoney Hill Park
- Misty Valley Park
- Hansel Park (with dog park)
- Wagner Preserve (rookery)

< Rock Mill Covered Bridge

Previous Articles
In case you missed them, here are links to previous articles in the TNT (Then, Now, Tomorrow) series: