Historic Yates Mill County Park, at 6420 Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh, is a 174-acre wildlife refuge and an environmental research center.
The centerpiece is the Historic Yates Mill, which is the last operable water-powered gristmill in Wake County. The mill is on the National Register of Historic Places and was restored to working order in 2005.
Admission to the park is free. Tours of the historic gristmill are offered for free on weekends at designated times from March through November.
Visit the park’s website for information about guided mill tours. You can also enjoy other programs at the park (click here for details) or you can explore the park on your own. Read on to see what’s coming up, as well as to learn more about the park and the mill.
Jump to a list of upcoming events, or keep reading to learn more about the park.
The water-powered gristmill has been operational for more than 200 years. There were once 70 gristmills in Wake County, and this is the only one that is still in operation.
Gristmills are used for grinding corn, wheat and other grains into flour. A stream of water is guided into a waterwheel. This provides the power to rotate large millstones that crush the grain into smaller pieces. You’ll find gristmills near a source of running water, like a waterfall, or a dam.
Modern mills, on the other hand, use electricity to spin heavy steel or cast iron rollers.
In rural areas, before there were towns, gristmills were gathering spots for fishing, swimming and picnicking.
Today, you can fish at Historic Yates Mill County Park. There are also walking trails, gardens, a picnic area, and interpretive exhibits and trails.
Public Programs at Historic Yates Mill County Park
Find the most current list of public programs on Yate Mill’s website. Here’s some of what’s coming up. Follow the links to register or to get more information.
Exploration Station: Valuable Vultures
March 19 to 31, 2025
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free (no registration required)
Vultures are a valuable bird to our environment, but they are often overlooked. By eating carrion, they help to remove disease and waste from the ecosystem. Join us for this drop-in Exploration Station to learn about vultures and their importance to our world. This self-guided table will be available from March 19 to March 31 inside the A.E. Finley Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hike with a Naturalist
Monday, March 29, 2025
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Ages 8+
Free (register at above link)
Join one of our naturalist staff members on a guided hike around the park to see what we can find! Come prepared to hike at least a mile by wearing close-toed shoes and bringing a full water bottle. Suggested for ages 8 and up; FREE. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. Please arrive at the park office five minutes early for program check-in.
Hands-On History: Writing
Sunday, March 30, 2025
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Free (no registration required)
How did people live while Yates Mill was operating as a business from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s? Join us for a drop-in, hands-on activity to try your hand at transcribing historic documents and using a quill and ink! This program will meet in the mill yard by Historic Yates Mill. For all ages; registration is not required as this is a drop-in program.
Mill Heritage Tours
Sundays in March and April, 2025
2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Free (no registration required)
Discover Historic Yates Mill – a place of business, community, and exciting local history! Watch a brief video, then explore the inner workings of the mill itself. FREE. There is no pre-registration; this is first-come, first-served. We encourage you to arrive inside the visitor center 20-30 minutes before the tour to sign up. Maximum of 20 people per tour.
Mill Open House
Fridays and Saturdays in March and April
1 to 4 p.m. each day
Free (no registration required)
Discover Historic Yates Mill during this free, drop-in program. The doors to the mill will be open, and historic interpreters will be available to talk about the history and inner workings of the mill and to answer questions. Stay for as long or as little as you like! Please note that space inside the mill is limited, allowing up to 20 visitors at a time. No registration required. FREE.
Hike with a Naturalist
Monday, April 14, 2025
10-11:30 a.m.
Free (register at above link)
Join one of our naturalist staff members on a guided hike around the park to see what we can find! Come prepared to hike at least a mile by wearing closed-toe shoes and bringing a full water bottle. Suggested for ages 8 and up; FREE. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. Meet at the park office.
Park Tales: This Is the Sunflower
Friday, April 18, 2025
10 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Free (register at above link)
Join us for a reading of this lovely picture book about the magic of seeds, as one sunflower creates a patch of sunflowers over the course of a year. Then, make a sunflower craft, and plant sunflower seeds in a biodegradable pot to take home! Best for ages 6 & under; FREE. Registration is required for everyone, and adult accompaniment is required for all children.
Hands-On History: Postcards
Saturday, April 19, 2025
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Free
How did people live while Yates Mill was operating as a business from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s? Join us for a drop-in, hands-on activity to learn the history of postcards and make your own! This program will meet in the mill yard by Historic Yates Mill. For all ages; registration is not required as this is a drop-in program.
Yates by Night: Sunset Hike
Friday, April 25, 2025,
7 p.m.-8 p.m.
Free (register at above link)
Have you ever wanted a closer look at the life that is waking up in the evening? Join park staff on a guided nature hike around Yates Mill as the sun sets to see what we can find. Suggested for ages 8 & up. Registration is required for all participants, and children must have adult accompaniment.
Exploration Station: The State Tree of NC
April 16-30, 2025
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Free (no registration required)
North Carolina is home to a great number of pine trees, and they have been important to the state in many ways. They are so significant that they actually were chosen as the official State Tree of NC in 1963! Join us for this drop-in Exploration Station to learn more about the different types of pine trees we have in this state, and their connections to the history and ecology of the area. This self-guided table will be available from April 16 to April 30 inside the A.E. Finley Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. FREE.
Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center: Open House Tour
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Free (no registration required)
Come get acquainted with some of North Carolina’s most imperiled freshwater fishes, mussels, and snails, and see what the Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center is doing to help conserve these surprising natural treasures. The YMACC is an NC State University laboratory dedicated to the conservation of our state’s imperiled freshwater species through propagation, research, education, and public outreach. This is a free open-house style tour of the lab, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; no registration required. This tour is offered as part of the N.C. Science Festival. FREE.
Paddle the Pond
Sunday, April 27, 2025
10-11 a.m.
Free (register at above link)
Learn basic canoeing skills and a bit about the history of the millpond, then head out for a self-guided exploration of many features of the pond as seen only from the water. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets are provided (no outside boats are permitted). This program is dependent on suitable weather conditions and water levels. For ages 5 and up (with an accompanying adult); FREE. Each canoe can hold 1-4 people (800-pound total weight limit). Registration PER BOAT is required. If you only need 1 boat, please register just 1 member of your group. Please call if you have questions.
ecoEXPLORE: Botany Season Round Up!
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Virtual program
Free (register at above link)
Get updated on all the new plant species observed by ecoEXPLORErs and get YOUR observations featured for everyone to see! FREE. This virtual program is geared toward children in grades K-8 and their families, but all are welcome! Registration is handled through the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.
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