McKinney Mill. A significant historical site rediscovered in Del Valle, Texas.

McKinney Mill is a significant historical site that only a few are even aware of. Not too many people know about this historical site and mill. The historic McKinney Mill is the site of a former gristmill  built by Thomas McKinney and is now abandoned. This news article will be exploring and explaining McKinney Mill in Del Valle, Texas. McKinney Mill was also known as McKinney’s Mill. The City of Austin calls this site McKinney's Mill Historic Site.

 

Thomas F. McKinney purchased 39,000 acres of land out of the Del Valle grant in 1839 which included most of southeast Travis County. His family lived on the land in Del Valle and Austin.

Thomas F. McKinney designed and built a grist mill constructed of rough-cut limestone plastered with lime mortar on Terry Creek near Terry Lane in Del Valle, Texas in 1841. This grist mill would be called McKinney Mill. Stone from Onion Creek was hauled by slaves to construct McKinney Mill. This mill is 30 feet tall and was established as a rock wall. The date on the damaged cornerstone is identified as 1841 while some say it is actually 1849. (Ref: Tri-City Star, September 20 - October 3, 1976)

McKinney Mill used the creek water from Terry Creek and spring water from Costley Spring to power the mill. Not too many know this factual bit of information but McKinney Mill was actually a gristmill. McKinney Mill is similar to the grist mill next to the McKinney Homestead in McKinney Falls State Park. McKinney's Mill provided pressurized water to his house. (Ref: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1058&context=natresreinhard)

Mills were once common across the Colorado River. They provided a means for farmers to process their grains locally. McKinney Mill was one of those mills along the Colorado River. A dam was built to keep water in to pressurize the mill. A sluice was used to channel water around. (Ref: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1058&context=natresreinhard)

Terry Creek begins north alongside Highway 71 (SH 71) going westbound. From here, Terry Creek pours over the 30 foot McKinney Mill into a beautiful fern lined pool which leads to a grist mill and transcends into the Colorado River.

McKinney Mill was abandoned in 1849 and has been abandoned since then. The exact reasons why McKinney Mill was abandoned remain unknown. The dam is in good shape considering it has been abandoned since 1849. Stones were left by this grist mill in 1849.

1872 was the year Thomas F. McKinney sold the land where McKinney Mill was located on to Samuel May Williams. Samuel May Williams would gain full rights and ownership of the property in 1873 after McKinney’s death. That was because Samuel May Williams a business partner of Thomas F. McKinney. They had been business partners many years prior to his death.

The Austin Monitor states this mill was McKinney’s original grist mill and pre-dates anything at the state park by three years. (Ref: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2008/07/original-mckinney-mill-on-the-way-toward-historic-designation/)

 

 

A 1976 news article from the Tri-City Star newsletter lists Thomas McKinney as an abandoned grist mill. There were several cracks in the bottom foundation and top layer found and shown. Costley Spring still had running water. (Ref: Tri-City Star, September 20 - October 3, 1976)

An ordinance establishing initial permanent zoning for McKinney Mill took effect on the date of August 4, 2008 after then-mayor Will Wynn signed the ordinance. This ordinance was called ORDINANCE NO. 20080724-126. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=119449)

 

Keller Family Investments are now the owners and investors for McKinney Mill. Keller Family Investments continues to take full ownership and mineral rights of this land and mill. This investment group is responsible for maintaining and managing the land. (Ref: https://www2.traviscountytx.gov/commissioners_court/agendas/2011/04/backup/eagenda_packet_20110405.pdf)
 

Ruins of the grist mill exist today. There are several cracks in the bottom foundation and top layer. It includes the mill foundation and 2 dams. The historic McKinney Mill is now abandoned. Mill walls have collapsed yet the dam is still intact. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/Forms_ERI_Environmental_Review/AGS_Guidebook2017/SpringsGB37_120716_FINALdraft.pdf)

McKinney Mill is located at 2905 Ellon Road, Del Valle, Texas, US 78617.