This Saturday in April 19 "The Celebration of Spring" will Feature; Horses Plowing the fields, Sheep shearing demonstrations, Horse Drawn Rides, and Live Farm & baby animals, along with Springtime Photos, from noon to 5.
Bowens Mills is pleased to have Jerry Pepper as our sheep shearing demonstrator. Jerry, from just north of Allegan, Michigan and has been doing sheep shearing for more than 20 years. This is a rare opportunity to watch a master craftsman demonstrate his art and technique. He has adapted his own technique from the New Zeeland and the Australian sheep shearers. He has demonstrated sheep shearing all over the state of Michigan, for school groups, libraries, nursing homes and even in a shopping mall.
See the demonstrations and the skills of shearing that will give you a glimpse and understanding of the hard work and skills of days gone by during "The Celebration of Spring at Historic Bowens Mills".
There will be young animals displayed in the old fashion atmosphere of the Bowens Mills Gathering Place. See the new baby chicks, & bunnies inside the gathering place.
Bowens Mills Studios photographer Carleen Sabin will be on hand to take your springtime digital children’s and family portraits. Portraits taken with or without live bunnies. Photo CD's are $25.00.
There is no Admission fee to the Gathering Place for "The Celebration of Spring". Tickets into the park are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under. Each visitor to the park receives a free horse drawn wagon ride with their admission. Historic Bowens Mills Celebration of Spring! Old Fashioned Plow Day, Co-Sponsored by Bowens Mills Studios. There will be several teams of draft horses & plowing demonstrations though out the day. with Old Fashioned Barnyard Horse pull following.
The 19 acre Historical Park now consists of :
● 1864 Grist & Cider Mill The antiquated four-story building’s main floor houses a working Water Powered Cider Mill
● 1840’s two story Plank House, the oldest house in Bowens Mills
● 1850’s One Room School House, moved to the mill, the oldest one room school house in Barry County ● 1860’s 11 room Victorian House built by the Bowens ● A Post & Beam Barn, home of Belgian Draft Horses and many other farm animals.● A Quaint Covered Bridge crosses the Old Mill Stream ● 17 foot Water Wheel completed in 1999 ● “Ye Ole Craft Shoppe” an artisans woodworking and coopers shop ● “The Bowens Mills Gathering Place” a huge Arts & Entertainment Center for displays, social events, meetings, conferences, & performances plus a Gift and Antique Shop
● “Fork River Trappers Trading Post” A Log Cabin that was completed in 2002
● "Granny's Kitchen" Restaurant prepares Hot Apple Dumplings with Ice Cream, warm Donuts, Chili, Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Potato Salad and drinks. Cider by the glass or by the gallon are also obtainable.
● "The Saw Millers Cabin" down by the Old Mill Stream
● "Line Camp Cabin" located near the "Trappers Trading Post
The Yearly Calendar Consist of:
Celebration of Spring : The third Saturday in April Live Baby Animals, Horse Drawn Rides and Spring Photos Open - noon to 5 (no admission fee to Gathering Place) Admission to the Park $5.00 adults and $3.00 children 12 and under.
Festivals & Special Events:
Saturdays & Sundays Noon to 5 pm
It's Cider Time Festivals:
3 Great Festival Weekends of Old Fashioned Family Fun that include: First Cider Pressing, Steam & Gasoline Engine Show, Mountain Men Encampment, & Civil War Days.
End of Sept. thru Mid Oct. - Gate Fee $5 adults $3 Children 12 and under
It's Christmas at the Mill: (no admission fee o the Gathering Place)
Opens after Thanksgiving Sat. & Sun. till Christmas with Fresh Cut Trees, Photos with Santa and Horse Drawn Hay Rides. (Free Family Rides with purchase of Christmas Tree) We are into making family memories here at Historic Bowens Mills and we hope that you will join us.
School and Group Tours with horse drawn rides are also available. (Group Leaders, Teachers, and Clubs may call for special tour arrangements.) Historic Bowens Mills also offers private parties, family gatherings and small group tours, the opportunity to create your own “Choose your Adventure” package. Your package can include choices of wonderful memories like horse drawn rides or snacks by the fire, along with some of your own ideas to make your party or event "personalized" and of your own special choosing. Wedding packages, Company Picnics, Family Gatherings are also available. Meetings and private parties are offered on the grounds or in any one of the historical buildings. Historic Bowens Mills is an 1864 Grist Mill and Cider Mill. It is a working museum that still grinds and sells fresh corn meal through the use of water-powered mill stones. It is a second generation family-owned and operated state historic site with no state or county funding. The restorations and upkeep depend upon It's Cider Time Festival gate fees, special events and donations. The "It’s Cider Time Festival" gate fee for adults is $5.00, Children 12 and under $3.00. Thank you for your support in helping us preserve history for future generations.
The Old & Majestic Mill is located Midway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Near Yankee Springs (Gun Lake) State Park in the heart of beautiful Yankee Springs Township, Michigan where people come often. Because - from the first explosion of colorful wildflowers in the spring to the refreshing coolness of summer to the fall extravaganza in red and gold to the stark beauty of snow-covered trees in the winter - each season provides visitors with a completely different pallet of awesome natural beauty.
We hope you’ll take the time to enjoy all that there is to see and to do Bowens Mills. Some find the quiet of the historical park a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Others draw energy and inspiration from the outdoor experience. But all who come here are enriched in some way by the magnificent beauty of nature and history when they visit.
Park entrance located at 55 Briggs Rd. Middleville MI www.BowensMills.com
