Here in Virginia, we know a thing or two about grits. Yet it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to sample authentic grits that were ground on-site. When you visit Mabry Mill Restaurant along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can look forward to this exact experience. The Mill itself is a breathtaking attraction in its own rite, but a homemade meal from the nearby restaurant is sure to make your visit an unforgettable one.
Welcome to the picturesque Mabry Mill, which is widely believed to be the most iconic stop along the lengthy 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. The mill welcomes several hundred thousand visitors each year, although its beginnings were quite humble.
Mabry Mill is located at mile marker 176.2 along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A gristmill, waterwheel, and water supply flume were all built by Ed and Lizzy Mabry and their neighbor Newton Hylton. Interestingly, because the water supply was somewhat limited, the gristmill operated slowly and yielded better tasting grits.
Before long, word spread about the delicious cornmeal, and the customers became loyal. Long after the Mabry Family passed on, the tradition of freshly-milled grits still stands.
When you visit Mabry Mill Restaurant, you can experience the mill’s history firsthand by tasting products milled by the on-site grill. It’s fascinating to think this is the same mill that was once operated by Ed and Lizzy Mabry themselves.
The menu features a variety of delicious comfort foods, such as country ham and Virginia barbecue. Yet you’d be remiss not to try the famous buckwheat cakes or grits.
Fortunately, breakfast is served all day, so you can order up a stack of sweet potato pancakes, oatmeal pancakes, or pecan pancakes at any time of the day.
After lunch, you can continue your tour of the gristmill complex, which includes the original mill, sawmill, and woodworking shop. Don't forget your camera!
Have you sampled the famous grits or buckwheat cakes from Mabry Mill before? If so, we’d love to hear all about your visit! For more information, you can check out the official website.
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