Michigan Roadside Attractions: Rawson’s King Mill County Park

Michigan Roadside Attractions on Travel the Mitten highlights our attempts to explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to the unusual.

Sometimes when we are out and about exploring new parts of Michigan on our way to a nature preserve or hiking trail, we come across a different point of interest along the way. This was the case when we recently stopped at Rawson’s King Mill County Park in St. Joseph County. This roadside park in Leonidas is home to a historic 1870s mill, walking paths along Nottawa Creek, a dam and waterfall, beautiful flowers and trees, and gazebos and pavilions that are popular for weddings and photography. If you find yourself in the area, this is a great place to stop and take in some scenic views or relax beside the creek.

Thank you to St. Joseph County Parks & Recreation for the historical information they have available on their website: The first mill here was built in the 1830s around the time the first settlers arrived. This property was owned by the Cowens, then David Kidd, then John Robinson. When the Switzer’s acquired the land in 1872 they tore down the existing mill and built the one that stands today. The flour mill here produced more than 1,000 barrels a year at peak operation.

The King family was the next to own this working piece of history and they upgraded from stones to roller mills. In the mid-1960s David Avery purchased the mill and ran a successful wheat processing operation until regulatory issues led to its closure.

It is at this point that the Rawson family came into the picture, purchasing the property and turning into something close to what it looks like today. They made many improvements to the property and welcomed locals to fish, see the flowers, and even hold weddings. They built a home here next to the mill and were happy to share the mill with others, according to the St. Joseph County Parks Department. This became a county park property in 1991 and significant improvements were made in 2015.

A parking lot across the street has room for a handful of cars, and it is a short walk to a bridge that crosses over to an island with great views of the mill. We loved seeing the reflection of this beautiful building in the still water. It seemed like we were still a few weeks early to really see what the mill property looked like with flowers in bloom and trees covered with leaves, but that gives us a reason to come back and visit again.

A bench and a gazebo provide a great spot to sit and watch water cascade over a dam here, or maybe try your luck fishing.

There are some walking paths here, but when we visited the spring still had the creek quite full and most of the trail was underwater or very, very, squishy. It is easy to see why this peaceful property became a beloved spot for locals and out-of-town visitors alike.