Autumn is the perfect time to rediscover historic Hodgson Mill

The turn to fall along Bryant Creek brings a quiet kind of magic to the valley. The sunlight cuts through the red and gold leaves, mist drifts above the clear, cold spring water and Hodgson Mill, with its red, rough-sawn cedar boards and stone foundation, stands as it has for more than a century - a silent witness to the generations of Ozark Countians (and interested visitors) who have passed through its shadow.

With the sound of the waterfall echoing off stone laid more than a century ago and not a hint of cell service to remind you of the modern world, the mill seems to transport visitors back to its earliest days in the late 1800s and sets the tone for a unique local experience.

This autumn season is an especially great time to visit, as the property has received some recent upgrades that has it looking better than ever. After years of storms, floods and steady wear, caretaker Dennis Goshorn and local builder Aaron Foster have worked hard, breathing new life into the mill and property.

Come with a picnic basket and find a shady spot at one of the many tables, or, for the more adventurous, cool off with a quick plunge into the spring’s icy water. Others may prefer to just sit back on the manicured lawn, soaking in the sound of the falls and the company of good conversation at one of Ozark Countians favorite spots. While you’re at it, make a day of it and visit some other nearby Ozark County hidden treasures (see page A8 for suggestions).

A place well cared for

Goshorn, who lives on a gravel road a mile north of the mill, has been tending the Hodgson Mill grounds for about four years, he says. He was first hired to mow the grass in areas enjoyed by guests. He then transitioned into a full caretaker role about two years ago when a former employee decided to retire.

He spends his springs, summers and early fall months mowing, trimming, keeping paths cleared and grounds tidy after storms leave debris. Dora resident Shawn Shipley also helps mow a portion of the 76-acre property that encompasses the field across Highway 181 from the mill, keeping it looking nice - along with another pasture field located up on top of the bluff, behind the mill. 

Dennis explained that he tries to be respectful to the constant flow of visitors and likes to do his mowing when the fewest people are around, so the sound of his equipment doesn’t interfere with anyone enjoying the natural sound of the falls. “What really gives me a thrill is seeing people just enjoying this place. I mowed Monday last week, and there was an old couple sitting on the grass, just below the dam, just enjoying themselves,” Dennis told the Times. “That means a lot to me, seeing that people get joy from my work - that I mow that [steep] hillside instead of leaving it in the weeds.”

Over the years, Dennis has learned every crook and corner of the land and finds ways to allow people to access the best parts, including keeping a mowed path that winds from the mill past a pretty steel bridge and onto the riverbank. Visitors walking that way can find a quiet spot where the spring branch meets Bryant Creek. The hillside, dotted with stone and moss, offering a beautiful views - and the perfect place to take a dip in the river.

Restoring the old mill

The mill and cabin suffered significant damage in the November 2024 flood, which rose Bryant Creek higher at Hodgson than even the historic flood of 2017, with flood water reaching the top floor of the mill - and that is where local builder Aaron Foster entered the picture. 

Aaron, who owns a small construction company in the Zanoni area, had stopped by the mill one day and began talking with Dennis. “I told him how much we like it over here,” Aaron told the Times, explaining that he, his wife Theresa and their large family (which now includes 14 children ranging in age from 9 months to 20 years old) had moved to the area a few years before and noticed how well cared for the property always was. “I told him I could really tell a difference with all the work he was putting in.”

After learning that Aaron was a skilled carpenter with decades of experience, he suggested that he put a proposal together for some of the larger needed repairs that Dennis wasn’t able to do on his own. Aaron liked the idea of working at a place that had become special to him and his family. The Fosters live about a mile from Hodgson Mill on the south side near Zanoni, about equal distance but opposite direction from Dennis, and had become frequent visitors. 

“We stop in here all the time. We swim in the spring. I sit in there to help with my joints. I’ll stand out there and make rock stacks in the spring, and my kids play over there. It’s really just a great place to hang out,” he said. 

The ‘24 flood had demolished a building that sits to the right side of the mill, leaving a pile of unsightly debris piled up on the concrete pad. Aaron prepared a proposal to remove the debris and soon completed the work with the help of some of his sons. He then turned his attention to the wooden walkway ramp that leads visitors to the mill. 

It had been weakened over the years by repeated flooding, and the 2024 flood broke the walkway apart, leaving it in pieces. Some of its footings were nothing more than rotted timbers and piles of rock. The deck that wrapped around a large boulder on the bluff had finally given way, pulling parts of the walkway down with it.

Aaron prepared a plan to rebuild the entire structure, anchoring it to the rock below with heavy cement footings. The new walkway meets modern safety standards, including ADA-accessibility for slope gradient (although it is not being audited for that certification) while preserving the historic character of the mill. Every post now sits on a reinforced concrete base tied into the bedrock with rebar. In total, the new foundation holds thousands of pounds of stone and cement to prevent movement even during high water.

While some of the mill’s original materials remain intact, much of the restoration work has been guided by old photographs and community memories. Aaron said that when he started researching the mill’s construction, he found images showing earlier walkways, missing decks and the stages of previous restorations that date back decades. Each generation, it seems, has left its mark on the site.

The flood also destroyed the mill’s electrical panel, leaving the property without power for more than a year. That was finally remedied recently, and the lights now shine again at night and the workers have access to electricity to use for repairs. Aaron has also been overseeing plans to move the electric panel to the top floor of the mill to protect it from future flooding and potential fire hazard.

Mill owners John and Gwen Deakle of Mississippi, who have overseen the property since their purchase of it 2011, continue to support these preservation efforts. Though they live several states away, John has been in contact with Aaron and Dennis and has emphasized that he wants the property to remain open and accessible for visitors - and his priority is repairing it in a way that helps people enjoy it for years to come. Aaron said that is exactly what motivates him and his sons to put in extra effort for each project. They recently added stone facings to the new concrete piers simply because, as he put it, they wanted it to look nice for everyone who comes to see it.

A history rooted in the Ozarks

Long before travelers stopped by to take photographs or picnic by the falls, Hodgson Mill was the heart of a small Ozark community. The first mill on the site was built around 1861 by a man named William Holeman, who recognized the power of the large spring that pours from the bluff into Bryant Creek. The water, clear and cold, provided a perfect and consistent source of energy for turning the massive millstones that ground local farmers’ wheat and corn into flour and meal.

In its earliest years, the mill also served as a gathering place for settlers who lived in the rough hills surrounding Bryant Creek. They brought their grain by wagon, sometimes traveling for miles and while they waited for it to be milled, they visited, traded news and helped one another with the work of frontier life.

There are varying historical accounts of what happened next,  but many say that Alva Hodgson and his mother Mary bought the mill and property in 1884 for $500 and built a larger, more durable structure in 1879. That is the same mill that stands today. The spring that powered the mill produces more than 28 million gallons of water a day, feeding into Bryant Creek and giving the site its signature sound.

In the early 1900s, the mill’s operation expanded to include a general store and a post office. The Hodgson family ran it for decades before it changed hands several times throughout the 20th century. Eventually, in the 1970s, the mill’s name and legacy became known nationwide through Hodgson Mill Inc., a natural foods company that used the mill’s image as its logo. Though the commercial production later moved elsewhere, the historic mill at the spring remained a beloved local landmark.

Today, it stands not only as a symbol of Ozark craftsmanship and ingenuity but also as a reminder of a time when communities revolved around the rhythm of the local mill.

Craftsmanship and family

Aaron Foster’s connection to the Hodgson Mill goes beyond construction. It ties into his own story of family, faith and the search for a place to belong.

Originally from western New York, Aaron and his wife Theresa spent more than 15 years raising their large family in the New Orleans area before Hurricane Ida swept through in 2021. Their neighborhood lost power and water for months. They decided it was time to start fresh somewhere quieter.

They explored several states in the Midwest but ultimately settled in the Ozarks, drawn by its natural beauty, independence of rural life and the ability to more easily homeschool their children. Today, the Fosters live in a small home that sits near Zanoni Mill while they work to build a house in the area. It will sit beside a home that Aaron’s parents purchased. He and his sons are working to renovate now.

Aaron’s hardworking sons - and sometimes his daughters too - work alongside him on various building projects, including the projects at Hodgson Mill. Aaron says he has been in the building trade business in one way or another for three decades since the time he was 19 - but his interest began well before that. 

“When I was just a little boy, I loved to hang out with [my grandpa] in his workshop with the smell of sawdust all around, just carefully watching what he was doing,” he said. “So, it’s always been in my blood.”

Over the years he has built homes, managed facilities and completed countless remodeling jobs, but projects at places like Hodgson Mill are special to him because of their history. He described meeting countless visitors who have stopped by to share memories of the mill or stories that have been passed down in their families. He said one man who began talking to him while he was working told him about a 1906 flood that washed out the original turbine from the mill. He said that man’s grandfather had taken a six-week wagon trip to St. Louis to fetch a replacement “eating squirrels one day, deer the next.” Aaron said he loves hearing those stories and meeting people whose families have known the site for generations. For him, working at the mill feels like adding another layer to that long story.

A timeless destination

Now, with the walkways secure, the grass beautifully trimmed and new stonework shining in the autumn light, Hodgson Mill welcomes visitors who stop to admire its beauty. The mill sits in a bowl of forested hills where the sound of water replaces traffic noise, and the smell of wet leaves mixes with the faint scent of nearby cedar.

Visitors often stop to swim in the clear spring or stack small cairns of river rock in the shallows. Families share a meal on the grass or at the many picnic tables across the property, photographers linger on the bridge for that perfect reflection shot and travelers passing through on Highway 181 often pull over just to take a moment of quiet before continuing their drive.

In every season, Hodgson Mill has drawn people for its beauty and history, but in autumn it feels especially alive. Thanks to the careful work of people like Dennis Goshorn, Aaron Foster and the Deakle family, the site remains what it has always been, a gathering place where Ozark history, craftsmanship and natural beauty meet.

Fall road trip stops

For those who want to make a full day of it, the mill can be a stop on longer a fall road trip through the Ozark County hills. If coming from Gainesville, begin your morning traveling north on Highway 181. 

As you descend a steep hill about nine miles north of Gainesville, look to the left to get a glimpse of Zanoni Mill, another historic Ozark County mill built in the early 1900s. The Zanoni Mill property is privately owned now, so its not a place to stop, but it’s fun to see. 

Continue on past Zanoni Mill for about six miles to Caney Mountain Conservation Area, a 7,899 acre conservation area and wildlife refuge established by the Missouri Department of Conservation in the 1940s. After driving down the drive to the headquarters, stop and dip your toes in Caney Creek, then take a the right onto the gravel road until you get to Spout Spring Trail, a beautiful 2.3 mile trail that is fairly easy to traverse and stunningly beautiful. After stretching your legs there, continue on the gravel road, turning right toward the top of the mountain to access three of Caney Mountain’s beautiful scenic overlooks. There are picnic tables and fire rings at each vista, so if you’re getting hungry, stop and enjoy the view while grabbing a quick bite to eat. There are not always maps posted at Caney Mountain. The roads can be confusing, and cell phone reception is scarce; therefore, we advise those visiting to download a map from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website prior to visiting. 

After getting your fill at Caney Mountain, drive back to Highway 181, and take a right, continuing on to Hodgson Mill, about 8-9 miles away. If you have extra time, on your way, stop in the MDC-managed Sycamore Access, marked with a sign alongside the highway just prior to crossing the Highway 181 bridge before Hodgson Mill. It gives access to Bryant Creek with a sandy and rocky shoreline that is a popular spot for floaters and swimmers in the warmer months. 

Once at Hodgson Mill, check out the mill itself from the ground level and then get a new vantage point by climbing the walkway ramp to stand on the front porch area. After that, head to the left to check out the small cabin that still sits there, venturing behind it to see some of an old building site - and then come back around to the front to access a set of stone stairs built into the hillside, which give way to a trail that winds up the bluff, giving viewers a unique view of the field across the roadway. After checking that out, go to the right of the mill and continue along the mowed path to see some other old structures, a steel bridge and to access Bryant Creek, straight across from the Sycamore Access. Picnic tables are located near the mill and on the other side of the highway, which is part of the property and open to Hodgson Mill guests. 

Other nearby places of interest to check out after you leave Hodgson Mill include:

• Althea Spring at the Patrick Bridge Access (located about 11 miles away on H Highway): Althea Spring is the 23rd largest spring in Missouri and is named for the daughter of Dr. Paul Patrick, who was an early owner. The spring was used to power a domestic power plant from 1958 to 1977. It comes up from rocks in the hillside and then runs downhill into the North Fork River. Once you park in the Patrick Bridge parking lot, it is a short walk to the spring. 

• Roy’s Store: If you haven’t been, it’s worth a trip to this general store in Dora (about 7 miles away). Have a delicious hot meal from the full-service restaurant, fill up your gas tank or buy some of the unique items they sella coon-skin cap (or just about anything else you can think of) and don’t leave without trying a piece of Bertie Klock’s famous homemade pie.

• Visit the North Fork Recreation Area in the Mark Twain National Forest (about 11 miles away): The gate is locked to the access of this Mark Twain National Forest access site in the winter, but visitors are allowed to park their vehicle at the gate and walk in if that's the case. We suggest checking out the river access, then walking down the main road to the left and following the signage to the Blue Springs Trail, a half-mile easy walk with a big payoff. There are many other trails in the area, open to hiking, biking and some horseback riding, including ones in the Devil’s Backbone Wilderness Area. Visit the Mark Twain National Forest website for more information or trail options. 

• Rockbridge Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch (and historic mill): If you want to make a mill tour, you can continue on to Rockbridge (about 17 miles away), where you can visit the trout and game ranch to check out the Rockbridge mill, a grist mill built in 1868 that has been converted into a pub serving casual food and drinks from April through October. The resort also offers a full service restaurant, trout fishing, sporting clays, hiking and more. 

• Bryant Creek State Park: If you’re already at Rockbridge, make the 3 mile drive north to visit the Bryant Creek State Park, a 2,917-acre recreation area with a few different trail options. We suggest the 4.6-mile Pike Hollow Trail if you have the time and energy to complete it, but the 1.4-mile Pinewoods Trail offers a shorter walk through the pine forest as a less strenuous option. 

• Dawt Mill: Another historic grist mill in Ozark County is located at Dawt Mill resort, about 15 miles from Hodgson. The resort is built around the historic Dawt Mill, built in 1909 by Alva Hodgson - the same man who built the currently standing Hodgson Mill. The mill has been renovated into lodging, and the resort offers dining options, a gift shop with hand-dipped ice cream, float trip rentals and more. 

Rediscover Hodgson Mill 

Whether you come to Hodgson Mill for the history, the scenery or simply a quiet moment beside the spring, you’ll leave with the same feeling that generations before you have known, that this place is special. Thanks to the dedication of people like Dennis Goshorn, Aaron Foster and the Deakle family, that story continues. What are you waiting for? Pack a picnic, grab your camera and take the drive, there’s no better time than now to rediscover one of Ozark County’s most cherished landmarks.