The Chickamauga Tractor Club assumed the operations of the tourist attraction complex on Red Belt Road at West Chickamauga Creek back in January, according to club president Jeff Carlock.
The mill site consists of the actual working mill and museum, along with a general store in the restored mill building, a large conference room in the cabin across the way, and a two-story building that houses the tractor museum downstairs and a ballroom upstairs.
A large display of photographs greets visitors to the museum, showing the restoration of the original mill house, built in 1857.
Lee & Gordon’s Mills
Address: 71 Red Belt Road, Chickamauga
Phone: (706) 375-6801
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m., closed Monday
The museum area has an operational grist mill and displays of nineteenth-century artifacts and history.
“Frank Pierce, the former mayor of Chickamauga, bought the site and started renovations in 1993,” said Carlock. “He invested about $6 million in this place over the years.”
The general store sells a variety of goods, from corn meal produce on site to preserves and jams, candies, cold drinks and many types of gifts.
More than 30 people helped celebrate the occasion, including state Rep. Jay Neal of LaFayette, Rossville Mayor Johnny Baker, Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper and Councilman Robbie Robertson, and Denise Clopton, northwest Georgia representative for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson.
Culpepper thanked the Frank Pierce Foundation for the “fantabulous” the organizaton has done in getting the site open.
“This is now the historical tourist attraction it should be,” he said.
Rep. Neal offered compliments on what the site adds to the area by saying, “People are looking for places to spend their money where they can learn about history, and we’re giving that to them here in Walker County.”
Jim Hornady, also with the tractor club, said upcoming events include antique tractor shows, auto shows and bluegrass concerts.
“Musicians are welcome to come by and pick and jam on our porch any time we’re open,” Hornady said.
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