Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins are nestled in the woods near Crystal River in Florida, one of the area's most inspiring and evocative settings. Its historical ruins encompass an area of milling that has long since become an archaeological attraction for many visitors.

The land on which the ruined mill now stands was once owned by a US congressman/senator, David Levy Yulee, who bought the mill and its vast acres of property back in 1817. However, after marrying a Kentucky governor's daughter, he moved much of his existing plantation work closer to the nearby river, helping in the construction of some of Florida's 1st ever railroads. However, it was not until 1851 that he built the mill to process the sugar canes that he produced, which was operated by about one hundred slaves. It remained open till 1864 until the US Civil War when he used the mill to supply sugar to Confederate troops and his plantation house for stockpiling supplies and ammunition for the Confederate cause. Though US forces destroyed his home and imprisoned him, the mill survived.

Today visitors can take tours of the limestone mill, which has undergone partial restoration. Its huge chimney is connected to a long structure that contains a forty-foot long boiler. As people take tours of the mill, they can also view the ruins of the mill's grinding type machinery. Guided tours cater to visitors all year round, including larger groups. Open daily from dawn to dusk, the mill has many plaques and nearby picnic spots.