pine creek grist mill

this place is very cool. it takes you back in time and shows you how a grist mill ran. it also gives you an insight into life 100 years ago. Great place for kids visit.

The mill was open and we explored everything! I must admit that as an engineer I am fascinated by the technology that the owner assembled there in the 19th century. Everything had to be shipped from Europe to Muscatine and then somehow moved to that place and assembled. If you have time, find the overview of how it works.

It was very Beautiful, great photo ops. The Visitor center was not open when we were there, but really enjoyed it a lot. Great place to have a picnic and take some Great photos

Grew up camping out here with Boy Scouts. Sandstone bluffs and plenty of trails for good hiking. And, as others have already pointed out, the grist mill is an interesting photo op. Great spot for a picnic or an all-day outing.

As a child I lived 2 miles from the mill. Every year we had a "last day of school" picnic in Wild Cat Den, and usually toured the Mill and walked the trails. It was living history. Vandals and time did a number on the mill. I remember going for Sunday drives with my family. I enjoyed driving over the rickety mill bridge because that was where the road went back then. We brought our 4 children to enjoy Wild Cat Den and the Mill, and go swimming in the millpond. I was overjoyed when the "Friends of the Mill" began the restoration! Last summer I brought some of our grandchildren to enjoy it! It is great! The mill actually RAN!They ran the trails, and visited the old Melpine School (next to the mill). My grandma actually went to school in that building! We found my picture in the display of old county school pictures. Later I found out that they have rebuilt the pioneer log cabin in the mill area. Originally it stood on the farm where I grew up! Circa 1912 my grandparents bought the farm at New Era. They lived in the old house which had been built over and around the log cabin. Later they built a new house in front of the old one. When my parents married, they lived in the old house and I was born there. My bedroom was in the attic of the cabin. After we moved into the new house it was used for storage. The living room (the cabin part) was my playroom. One day my dad showed me a place on the back of the house where you could see the logs of the cabin. The people who bought Mom and Dad's farm found the cabin when they tore down the old house. He carefully marked each log so it could be reassembled. The logs have been in storage for many years. I can't wait for my next trip to IA to see the old cabin all back together! Wild Cat Den is a wonderful place to take a family for an interesting day's adventure! Sue "Brei" Snyder

There's a great hands-on tour. Just make sure it will be open. The view is really great. Worth the trip.

This is a picturesque place especially during the winter or during the fall when the trees show their colors. Try to catch the Mill when it is operation on special events. Tours are available inside the mill and you can actually watch wheat being milled. During the tour you may be offered a free bag of ground wheat.

Beautiful historical buildings and beautiful scenery are in abundance. Rumor has it that John Wilkes Booth lived out his final days there and is buried there. But those are just rumors.........aren't they?

We live in Muscatine, and frequently visit Wildcat Den State Park and the Pine Creek Grist Mill. Although we have toured the grist mill several times, I always find it interesting! There is also a one-room schoolhouse on the property, which is fascinating--especially since I am a teacher. This is a great place to bring kids or just to get away from it all. Wildcat Den also has some awesome hiking trails, which offer beautiful views--hard to imagine these views in the cornfields of Iowa.

They were not open for tours when we were there but we got some very nice pictures. It is hard to find so use a navigation unit and ask for directions.

Here's a place you can not only have an in depth look at industrial and agricultural history, you can also cool your feet in the river, have a picnic, and take a trip to yesteryear by browsing through the one-room school house also on the grounds of this park. The 3-story wooden mill is full of artifacts and photos and the small gift shop is great for wooden toys. Make sure you read the story about the great flood and how one man survived by tying himself to a wooden beam, or the story about the man who was killed by his son-in-law when they young man came to claim is children from a philandering wife The one-room school house has graduated sized desks you can sit in, old text books you can browse (remember Dick and Jane and their sister Sally?), or ring the school bell. There's a great bridge over the river for playing Pooh Sticks (if you don't know this game - read Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne). Don't forget your camera as this place has a variety of photo opportunities.

We just happend to pick this park we toured the mill it's cool to watch it work the surrounding park was beautiful the devils punch bowl was really neat and they have an old school house even though it was a drive extremely worth it

Across the water from the mill, there's a pretty place for a picnic. The mill itself is very sweet, too, and you can wade in the water.

a river runs through it and at one time it cranked out a lot of corn meal, I'll bet. An old bridge allows walking to the other side of a free flowing creek. Clean restrooms.

The grist mill should be part of a trip to Wildcat Den State Park. Make sure to check out the mill's website to time your visit around when it will be open and giving demonstrations. There is a swimming hole next to the mill, and a short drive takes you to the state park where you can hike for hours and see sandstone formations.