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Elkhart County Indiana Parks
Welcome to Bonneyville Mill County Park, an oasis of wetlands, meadows, forests, and rolling hills located in Bristol, Indiana. This park is the home of the historic Bonneyville Mill which was first built in the 1830s and produced good quality flour for over a century and a half.
Park History: The mill started with the vision of a man named Edward Bonney who dreamed of a city centered around a sawmill and grist mill on the banks of the Little Elkhart River. He chose this location due to it proximity to the St. Joseph River thereby providing commercial access to Lake Michigan. However, the railroads were built instead of canals and Bonney's dream went down the drain. He sold the mill and went into the tavern business and eventually faced criminal charges and became a fugitive of the law. Bonney had installed a horizontal water wheel at the mill which was more powerful than the vertical wheel. The 1880's saw many new advances in milling technology but Bonneyville Mill never expanded as they preferred to remain a "progressive mill" of the civil war era. During the Great Depression however, there was at least one tiny little expansion, the mill's owners formed the Bonneyville Power and Electric Company and sold hydroelectric power to 45 customers. Eventually new technology and regulations put most of the nation's mills out of business.
In 1968 the land was purchased by the Elkhart County Chapter of Michiana Watershed, Inc and donated to Elkhart County a year later in 1969. In 1976 the mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For the lover of the outdoors this park boasts a river stocked with trout, bass, and panfish, awesome cross-country skiing in the winter, picnic areas, and so much more. Come on out and explore!
To reserve a picnic shelter please call 574-535-6458.
Bonneyville Mill County Park
53373 County Road 131
Bristol, Indiana
46507
United States
41.719760, -85.765178
Map:
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