MUSCATINE, Iowa — After battling a rainy tourist season in 2008, the Pine Creek Grist Mill is experiencing a welcome uptick in visitors this year.

“The attendance by the general public has been amazing,” said Tom Hanifan, president of the non-profit group Friends of the Pine Creek Grist Mill, the non-profit volunteer group that has rehabilitated the 161-year-old Mill.

Flooding and rains impacted attendance in the summer of 2008, said Hanifan, but this year, visitors increased by more than 25 percent as compared to the 2007 tourist season.

May attendance in 2007 was 966. This year it was 1,221.

In July 2007, 1,159 came to the Mill. There were 1,813 this July.

The lagging economy may inspire people to seek entertainment closer to home, said Hanifan, and the Mill provides an inexpensive, educational and cultural getaway.

This summer’s pleasant temperatures may be another factor, he said.

 Friends member Joe Clarke, who works on publicity for the group, said his organization provides the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau with DVDs about the Mill and places promotional brochures at rest stops

around the region.  

Clarke also puts advertisements for Mill events in local publications such as the Muscatine Journal.

On Aug. 1, the Friends introduced the city of West Branch to their organization and brought a hands-on display to the city’s annual Hooverfest at the Herbert Hoover historical site.

“A crew of our volunteers and tour guides were there to talk to visitors and demonstrate the old-time way of grinding grain,” said Hanifan.

Friends member Ken Hyman brought vintage tools to the event and taught children how to use them.

Haven Noble, another Friends member, took photos of people with his Civil War-era tin type camera.

This is the second year the Friends have had a display at Hooverfest, and their visit is one more way people are learning about the Mill.

The Mill has also been the site of educational programs for area students.

Clarke said nearly 1,000 students have attended programs at the Mill, and they often return later with their parents.

“Without the support of our family and corporate sponsors, we would not have been able to continue our full interpretation program and have the mill open to the public,” said Hanifan.

The Friends will hold their monthly meeting at Pine Creek Grist Mill at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and Hanifan said new members and volunteers are welcome to attend.

The annual Heritage Day celebration at the Mill is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, this year.

Details

What: The Pine Creek Grist Mill

Where: Wild Cat Den State Park, lower area of park. The park is half a mile from Iowa Highway 22 on Wildcat Den Road, between Muscatine and Davenport.

Admission: Free

Hours

 July - Sept. 20, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday

       Sept. 26-Oct. 11,  12:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday   

Contact

Tom Hanifan 563-263-4818

or park office at 563-263-4337