Helen Ga Back to Helen Ga. Things to Do

Helen Georgia Nora Mill Granary Grist Mill & Country Store

This is definitely a must stop on the way to Helen Georgia. It’s literally just a few minutes before entering into the main commercial area of Helen Georgia. This mill was built in 1876 on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Today the mill grinds, sales, and distributes corn and wheat daily. The corn and wheat are ground using either the original water powered 1550 pound forty eight inch French Burr stones, or by their more modern Meal Master Stone grinding system located up on the second floor. Whichever machine is used, all of the products are stone ground fresh and natural.

Nora Mills offers such staples as stone ground grits, coarse ground cornmeal, whole wheat flours, Biscuit and Gravy Mix, muffin and bread mixes, to just name a few. Make sure and visit their web site, and read up on their history before visiting to help enrich your experience. You may also want to print the history out to have your kids read on the way up there. Also visit there web site for some excellent recipes. If you plan on preparing some meals during your visit to Helen Georgia, you may want to plan and prepare around a few of the recipes and products they offer. I’m sure preparing some excellent home made gravy and biscuits to eat from your motel room deck in the mornings would be just the thing to top off you and your families mountain get away experience.

The gift shop is a site within itself that is literally packed with country store type items such as lodge cast iron cookware, old fashioned candies, local honey and jams, speckled enamelware, many gourmet foods, and many kitchen and cooking accessories.

There is also a kitchen built just for whipping up samples, so be sure and try one of their pioneer’s porridge cooked fresh every morning, or their white speckled grits.

If you got the kids with you, not to worry, they will be intensely entertained by one of the gentlemen that will show them first hand exactly how the old water powered mill operates. You can tell this guy really enjoys and is passionate about showing folks how the entire operation works.

Whatever you do, do not miss a visit to the back porch and deck area overlooking the Chattahoochee river. You can feed extremely large trout right off the deck, and if you get there at the right time, you will be able to see fly fishermen from the Unicoi Outfitters fly fishing, and hooking one of the monster trout. But leave your fishing pole in the car, this area is just for use by those with permission from Unicoi Outfitters.

Nora Mills
Monday – Saturday 9:00am to 5:00PM
Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm

7107 South main Street (17/75 the main drag going into the commercial area of Helen Georgia from Cleveland)
Helen Georgia 30545
(706) 864-7497
www.NoraMill.com

Cost: Free to browse, and the example of how the mill operates is free also, so just whatever you decide to purchase.
Getting There: Coming from 400N, this is literally the last couple of miles on 17/75 before you enter the main commercial area of Helen Georgia
Time: As long as you like, but usually about 30 minutes with kids
Are we there yet? This stop is literally a few minutes before you enter into the commercial area of Helen Georgia