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This is a very nice park in Lawrenceville! There isn't much to do here other than admiring its beauty. Freeman's mill is a 12 acres park, with a 0.5 mile paved trail where you will find historic gristmill with a very majestic mill wheel, and a waterfall. There is also a playground that looks just like the gristmill and it is the cutest. Very family friendly park with lots of stuff to do for kids, Now there are plenty of signs that said no swimming, but lots of people were swimming, and diving there so I am not sure about what the situation is. There is plenty of parking in the area, and available restrooms. This is park is well maintained so make sure to clean after yourself if you're having a picnic or just visiting. ESPAÑOL ¡Este es un parque muy bonito en Lawrenceville! No hay mucho que hacer aquí aparte de admirar su belleza. El molino de Freeman es un parque de 12 acres, con un sendero pavimentado de 0.5 millas donde encontrará un molino histórico con una rueda de molino muy majestuosa y una cascada. También hay un patio de juegos que se parece al molino y es el más lindo. Parque muy familiar con muchas cosas que hacer para los niños, Ahora hay muchas señales que decían que no se podía nadar, pero mucha gente estaba nadando y buceando allí, así que no estoy seguro de cuál es la situación. Hay mucho estacionamiento en el área y baños disponibles. Este parque está bien mantenido, así que asegúrese de limpiar después de usted si está haciendo un picnic o simplemente de visita.
Freeman's Mill Park is part of the awesome Gwinnett County Park system and features an 1800's Gristmill complete with old iron wheel, historic dam and remains of what was once the raceway, which for extra flair had a stepped concrete run-off that was probably a show stopping water feature back in its heyday! [ HISTORY PRESERVED ] Typical of a 19th Century Georgia Gristmill, this one was built by two brothers along the banks of the Alchovy River. According to Department of Agricultural records, there were 1,262 water powered mills in Georgia in 1876. Farmers would bring their corn to be ground into cornmeal while the miller would keep a percentage of the grain as payment for the service to either use or trade or sell themselves. According to the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center website, the mill ran 10 hours a day all year long and produced 40 barrels of wheat flour, 14,400 pounds of corn meal and 54,000 pounds of feed per year. It was also contracted to produce meal for state prisons and a TB hospital in Lula, Georgia. The mill has been owned by several people over the century and most recently by the Swann's... thus it is also known as Swann's Mill. THE PARK is excellent for families with small children as well as school aged children. It provides wonderful opportunity to expand their little minds with some local history and 1800's manufacturing methods. There is a rubber padded playground with typical playground equipment and stone sitting wall that surrounds the play area. One cute feature is the playhouse designed to look like the millhouse itself. It also feels pretty incredible to walk amongst the ruins of the old damn that once diverted water to power the mill. The original wooden dam was destroyed by flood in in 1918, rebuilt into a stone and mortar dam with a V-shaped opening. In 1947 a 3 foot concrete cap was added to the dam to increase "fall". A flood in 2003 destroyed the cap and a portion of the dam (those pieces can be found in the mill pond). The mill was used commercially up until 1986 when it closed for good. In 1998 the mill was placed on the Nat'l Register of Historic Places and purchased by Gwinnett County in 2002. It has (and continues to) undergo renovations, outside an inside. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] While much of this review is just a repeat of my previous, I do want to point out the natural waterfall in the woods behind the old mill. It's just a trickle of water when there's been little to no rain, but it's pretty amazing after heavy rain falls. I'm gonna do a little more research to see if this waterfall has a name. As far as I can tell, its waters originate from two large ponds (probably spring fed) up off Billy McGee & Cedars Road. My guess is it's about 20 feet tall, about 15 feet wide and other reports I've seen show there is a beautiful stepped cascade directly above the falls. I was uncomfortable going any further than I did not actually knowing the ownership boundaries of the land. But I believe this waterfall is worth mentioning because it is the only TRUE waterfall I've seen in the Gwinnett County, which is not known for waterfalls. There are several old dams and really nice cascades around the county, but THIS is an actual waterfall, albeit somewhat Ephemeral. After heavy rain you can see it clearly from the bridge that crosses the river near the mill. The sidewalk outside Freeman's Mill Park will take you directly to the bridge. Please be aware that the "natural waterfall" is NOT part of the parks property, but there is a well established trail on the opposite side of the creek leading directly to it. There is no sign saying keep out at the trailhead, which if I were the owner is where I would put the sign... but upon further observation (as I drove by on another occasion) their is a PRIVATE PROPERTY sign attached to a tree about 60 feet from the trailhead at the end of the guard railing. 2022 / 76
Was a nice little park with a small waterfall area. Nice for a small days walk. Also pet friendly.
Freeman's Park is a beautiful park, it has a nice little trail which is great to walk around with the kids and the playground is huge, according to the size of this park. They have a small playground which is perfect for children from ages 1-3 and the larger playground for more advance children. I rate this park a five because of the playground, basically it is 80% playground. If you have young kids, this park is perfect to use as a play area for that reason, anything else, not so much. If you are a cyclists, or a runner like myself, than you will certainly want to checkout Harbin's Park for that. The play area here is well protected by the use of rubber mats (recycled tires) and it is cool because they used colours. As Richard mentioned, one thing that is awesome about the play area is that they designed it to look like the Mill which is located down the trail. The trail here is not very long, if you just want to do a few laps, it is okay, otherwise consider going to Harbin's Park, or Anderson Park, which are near by. If you have young children and need a place to swing, you will enjoy the small swings which are designed for babies. It is perfect for those 3 months and older as they enclose the lower body (bucket swing). This place has two bucket swings, two standard swings and two glider type swings, so they have a swing that will fit everyone.
Freeman's Mill Park is not your average park. The park is the site of an old 1868 restored Mill. Here you will find a 12 acre property with a beautiful waterfall, a nice playground and a .5 mile paved trail. The building is currently closed off, but there is a sign indicating that they offer tours of the mill and interactive exhibits. The trail is short and does not loop, but you can walk through the small parking lot to get back to your car. The walk is easy to moderate, there is a hill as you pass the playground area. You will see a caution steep hill sign ( I personally don't think the hill was that steep to warrant a sign). The playground is very nice. I went on a cold Sunday so the playground was empty, so I took a few pictures to show case. The equipment looked fairly new and the area was very clean. The best part is hands down the small waterfall behind the mill. It was very peaceful and the water had this lovely blue green color. I'm sure in the warmer months this area attracts many people. There are no swimming signs, but they do have table and benches ( it think 3) for you to sit and enjoy the view. Happy Trails!
It was a good quiet park! It is definitely very small but has a good playground for kids! I would not rrcommend jogging or running but it does provide a nice view of a small water fall.
Peaceful park with a beautiful waterfall and an old historic mill! Great place for photo shoots or to relax by the waterfall, enjoy the view and listen nature!
Grist and dams Freeman's Mill Park is a little 12 acre park that is certainly different from the usual park. No athletic fields or swimming pools and no running tracks or hiking areas. Just a less than one half trail that seems to end before it even starts. But the park does have something unique and very cool, a restored 19th century grist mill. The mill was actually in use until 1996 and now open to the public. I'm not going to give all the numbers and specifics because Richard R covered them in detail in his review, but the mill has a long and fascinating history. We were there during a heavy period of rainfall so the Alcoy River that use to power the mill was raging, spiting and roaring. Actually a pretty dangerous place to mess around but most of the time the river is much more amiable. The old dam, sluices and flumes and still present and all kinds of cool stone walls and artifacts are still hanging around. Freeman's Mill Park is definitely a different sort of park and probably not what most people expect. But that is what makes it so entertaining, valuable and cool. A great way to take a short trip into the past and become a voyeur into the lives of people long gone.
A hidden gem of Georgia. Beautiful scenery, challenging Trails, majestic waterfalls, peaceful streams, gorgeous views, awe inspiring nature. Adventure is out there!! Parking is plentiful, variety is excellent, and entrance is free! I plan to return as often as possible. Note: Some of the trails are a little challenging and may be difficult for children and some. The waterfalls and streams make it worth it though imho. So glad I discovered this place. #freemansmillpark #adventureisoutthere!
I love a good waterfall. Usually I have to drive a couple of hours to see one, so when I stumbled onto Freeman's Mill while floating around through yelp, I had to get in my car and check this place out! As others have said, it's a pretty small park. So small in fact that you backtrack a bit just to make sure you didn't miss a trail. Just below the parking lot is a really nice play area for kids. It almost looks like a water park until you notice that's blue paint, not water. Towards the entrance to the park, you can walk, or bike down the paved trail, which walks you next to some really quiet flowing water (several unofficial stringer trails lead right to the water), and ultimately to the gritsmill, that really is a site to see...especially the actual mill wheel. About halfway into your paved trail walk, you hear the falls before you see it, and sure, it's not amicalola falls, but it's significant, in that it's local, and flowing with a little force behind it. You can walk right up to the falls for a photo, if you're rocking an iphone 4 camera (like me). Off in the distance, just across from the gritsmill, you can see a larger waterfall through the trees in the distance. I didn't try to reach it this time because I didn't see a trail leading to it, but maybe next time. If you live close, or have a family with small children, Freeman's is a no brainer. If you love waterfalls, don't want to burn a half a tank of gas, and just want a nice stroll of a day, again, no brain.
Visiting from Florida, this was a great spot to stop and have an adventure with my kids. They had never seen a mill up close, and were super excited to walk and take pictures near the waterfall. Additionally, there was a great newer playground for the kids to play after exploring around the mill area. The trail was a bit short, but all in all this is a great spot!
My friends and I signed up on eventbrite for a community soundbath next to the waterfall at Freeman's Mill Park. It was my first time visiting the park and it won't be my last. Gwinnett county parks are award winning and I enjoyed every second. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
9 months ago
2 years ago
This is a very nice park in Lawrenceville! There isn't much to do here other than admiring its beauty. Freeman's mill is a 12 acres park, with a 0.5 mile paved trail where you will find historic gristmill with a very majestic mill wheel, and a waterfall. There is also a playground that looks just like the gristmill and it is the cutest. Very family friendly park with lots of stuff to do for kids, Now there are plenty of signs that said no swimming, but lots of people were swimming, and diving there so I am not sure about what the situation is. There is plenty of parking in the area, and available restrooms. This is park is well maintained so make sure to clean after yourself if you're having a picnic or just visiting. ESPAÑOL ¡Este es un parque muy bonito en Lawrenceville! No hay mucho que hacer aquí aparte de admirar su belleza. El molino de Freeman es un parque de 12 acres, con un sendero pavimentado de 0.5 millas donde encontrará un molino histórico con una rueda de molino muy majestuosa y una cascada. También hay un patio de juegos que se parece al molino y es el más lindo. Parque muy familiar con muchas cosas que hacer para los niños, Ahora hay muchas señales que decían que no se podía nadar, pero mucha gente estaba nadando y buceando allí, así que no estoy seguro de cuál es la situación. Hay mucho estacionamiento en el área y baños disponibles. Este parque está bien mantenido, así que asegúrese de limpiar después de usted si está haciendo un picnic o simplemente de visita. read more
5 years ago
Freeman's Mill Park is part of the awesome Gwinnett County Park system and features an 1800's Gristmill complete with old iron wheel, historic dam and remains of what was once the raceway, which for extra flair had a stepped concrete run-off that was probably a show stopping water feature back in its heyday! [ HISTORY PRESERVED ] Typical of a 19th Century Georgia Gristmill, this one was built by two brothers along the banks of the Alchovy River. According to Department of Agricultural records, there were 1,262 water powered mills in Georgia in 1876. Farmers would bring their corn to be ground into cornmeal while the miller would keep a percentage of the grain as payment for the service to either use or trade or sell themselves. According to the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center website, the mill ran 10 hours a day all year long and produced 40 barrels of wheat flour, 14,400 pounds of corn meal and 54,000 pounds of feed per year. It was also contracted to produce meal for state prisons and a TB hospital in Lula, Georgia. The mill has been owned by several people over the century and most recently by the Swann's... thus it is also known as Swann's Mill. THE PARK is excellent for families with small children as well as school aged children. It provides wonderful opportunity to expand their little minds with some local history and 1800's manufacturing methods. There is a rubber padded playground with typical playground equipment and stone sitting wall that surrounds the play area. One cute feature is the playhouse designed to look like the millhouse itself. It also feels pretty incredible to walk amongst the ruins of the old damn that once diverted water to power the mill. The original wooden dam was destroyed by flood in in 1918, rebuilt into a stone and mortar dam with a V-shaped opening. In 1947 a 3 foot concrete cap was added to the dam to increase "fall". A flood in 2003 destroyed the cap and a portion of the dam (those pieces can be found in the mill pond). The mill was used commercially up until 1986 when it closed for good. In 1998 the mill was placed on the Nat'l Register of Historic Places and purchased by Gwinnett County in 2002. It has (and continues to) undergo renovations, outside an inside. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] While much of this review is just a repeat of my previous, I do want to point out the natural waterfall in the woods behind the old mill. It's just a trickle of water when there's been little to no rain, but it's pretty amazing after heavy rain falls. I'm gonna do a little more research to see if this waterfall has a name. As far as I can tell, its waters originate from two large ponds (probably spring fed) up off Billy McGee & Cedars Road. My guess is it's about 20 feet tall, about 15 feet wide and other reports I've seen show there is a beautiful stepped cascade directly above the falls. I was uncomfortable going any further than I did not actually knowing the ownership boundaries of the land. But I believe this waterfall is worth mentioning because it is the only TRUE waterfall I've seen in the Gwinnett County, which is not known for waterfalls. There are several old dams and really nice cascades around the county, but THIS is an actual waterfall, albeit somewhat Ephemeral. After heavy rain you can see it clearly from the bridge that crosses the river near the mill. The sidewalk outside Freeman's Mill Park will take you directly to the bridge. Please be aware that the "natural waterfall" is NOT part of the parks property, but there is a well established trail on the opposite side of the creek leading directly to it. There is no sign saying keep out at the trailhead, which if I were the owner is where I would put the sign... but upon further observation (as I drove by on another occasion) their is a PRIVATE PROPERTY sign attached to a tree about 60 feet from the trailhead at the end of the guard railing. 2022 / 76 read more
3 years ago
Was a nice little park with a small waterfall area. Nice for a small days walk. Also pet friendly. read more
4 years ago
Good park with natural beauty where your family can enjoy & have fun . ................... read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Freeman's Park is a beautiful park, it has a nice little trail which is great to walk around with the kids and the playground is huge, according to the size of this park. They have a small playground which is perfect for children from ages 1-3 and the larger playground for more advance children. I rate this park a five because of the playground, basically it is 80% playground. If you have young kids, this park is perfect to use as a play area for that reason, anything else, not so much. If you are a cyclists, or a runner like myself, than you will certainly want to checkout Harbin's Park for that. The play area here is well protected by the use of rubber mats (recycled tires) and it is cool because they used colours. As Richard mentioned, one thing that is awesome about the play area is that they designed it to look like the Mill which is located down the trail. The trail here is not very long, if you just want to do a few laps, it is okay, otherwise consider going to Harbin's Park, or Anderson Park, which are near by. If you have young children and need a place to swing, you will enjoy the small swings which are designed for babies. It is perfect for those 3 months and older as they enclose the lower body (bucket swing). This place has two bucket swings, two standard swings and two glider type swings, so they have a swing that will fit everyone. read more
6 years ago
Freeman's Mill Park is not your average park. The park is the site of an old 1868 restored Mill. Here you will find a 12 acre property with a beautiful waterfall, a nice playground and a .5 mile paved trail. The building is currently closed off, but there is a sign indicating that they offer tours of the mill and interactive exhibits. The trail is short and does not loop, but you can walk through the small parking lot to get back to your car. The walk is easy to moderate, there is a hill as you pass the playground area. You will see a caution steep hill sign ( I personally don't think the hill was that steep to warrant a sign). The playground is very nice. I went on a cold Sunday so the playground was empty, so I took a few pictures to show case. The equipment looked fairly new and the area was very clean. The best part is hands down the small waterfall behind the mill. It was very peaceful and the water had this lovely blue green color. I'm sure in the warmer months this area attracts many people. There are no swimming signs, but they do have table and benches ( it think 3) for you to sit and enjoy the view. Happy Trails! read more
7 years ago
It was a good quiet park! It is definitely very small but has a good playground for kids! I would not rrcommend jogging or running but it does provide a nice view of a small water fall. read more
7 years ago
Peaceful park with a beautiful waterfall and an old historic mill! Great place for photo shoots or to relax by the waterfall, enjoy the view and listen nature! read more
11 years ago
Grist and dams Freeman's Mill Park is a little 12 acre park that is certainly different from the usual park. No athletic fields or swimming pools and no running tracks or hiking areas. Just a less than one half trail that seems to end before it even starts. But the park does have something unique and very cool, a restored 19th century grist mill. The mill was actually in use until 1996 and now open to the public. I'm not going to give all the numbers and specifics because Richard R covered them in detail in his review, but the mill has a long and fascinating history. We were there during a heavy period of rainfall so the Alcoy River that use to power the mill was raging, spiting and roaring. Actually a pretty dangerous place to mess around but most of the time the river is much more amiable. The old dam, sluices and flumes and still present and all kinds of cool stone walls and artifacts are still hanging around. Freeman's Mill Park is definitely a different sort of park and probably not what most people expect. But that is what makes it so entertaining, valuable and cool. A great way to take a short trip into the past and become a voyeur into the lives of people long gone. read more
4 years ago
Beautiful waterfall. Love coming with my son and taking him to the swings. Park for your kids to enjoy. read more
A hidden gem of Georgia. Beautiful scenery, challenging Trails, majestic waterfalls, peaceful streams, gorgeous views, awe inspiring nature. Adventure is out there!! Parking is plentiful, variety is excellent, and entrance is free! I plan to return as often as possible. Note: Some of the trails are a little challenging and may be difficult for children and some. The waterfalls and streams make it worth it though imho. So glad I discovered this place. #freemansmillpark #adventureisoutthere! read more
12 years ago
I love a good waterfall. Usually I have to drive a couple of hours to see one, so when I stumbled onto Freeman's Mill while floating around through yelp, I had to get in my car and check this place out! As others have said, it's a pretty small park. So small in fact that you backtrack a bit just to make sure you didn't miss a trail. Just below the parking lot is a really nice play area for kids. It almost looks like a water park until you notice that's blue paint, not water. Towards the entrance to the park, you can walk, or bike down the paved trail, which walks you next to some really quiet flowing water (several unofficial stringer trails lead right to the water), and ultimately to the gritsmill, that really is a site to see...especially the actual mill wheel. About halfway into your paved trail walk, you hear the falls before you see it, and sure, it's not amicalola falls, but it's significant, in that it's local, and flowing with a little force behind it. You can walk right up to the falls for a photo, if you're rocking an iphone 4 camera (like me). Off in the distance, just across from the gritsmill, you can see a larger waterfall through the trees in the distance. I didn't try to reach it this time because I didn't see a trail leading to it, but maybe next time. If you live close, or have a family with small children, Freeman's is a no brainer. If you love waterfalls, don't want to burn a half a tank of gas, and just want a nice stroll of a day, again, no brain. read more
11 years ago
Visiting from Florida, this was a great spot to stop and have an adventure with my kids. They had never seen a mill up close, and were super excited to walk and take pictures near the waterfall. Additionally, there was a great newer playground for the kids to play after exploring around the mill area. The trail was a bit short, but all in all this is a great spot! read more
15 years ago
I just moved to Suwanee and Gwinnett Co has the best parks. Lots to explore here and the playground is great, read more
8 years ago
Very nice park! There's a newer playground area for the kids on one side of the parking lot. The mill and waterfall are kind of hidden behind the parking lot, on opposite side of where the playground is. If you follow the path by the parking lot, it'll lead you right to them. There's a few other walking paths around the park. read more
7 years ago
6 years ago
10 years ago
I love this park. Although the old mill is creepy as heck. The dam is beautiful and peaceful. The paved trail is short but has an elevated area that will make your legs burn. The playground is nice and cute. read more
12 years ago
Great park! The wonderful playground is nesting near the parking lot and bathroom facility. There's a trail nearby for walks. A great find in the area to take kids to. read more
9 years ago
I love right around the corner and chose this spot for my engagement pictures! It is a beautiful park. I don't have kids so I can't say much about the recreational area, but the mill and hidden waterfall are both beautiful! read more
10 years ago
Finally got a chance to explore another one of Gwinnett county's incredible parks. This one is quaint with the serenity of the broken dam turned waterfall. A nice place to visit for family pictures or a short family stroll. read more
12 years ago
I found this park on yelp and by the pictures I was very intrigued by the dam/ waterfall so I went on a beautiful day to check it out! This park is very low-key and just gorgeous. They don't have long nature trails but the trials they do have are long enough and the scenery was pure nature. They have a clean playground that looks like heaven if I were still a kid. The park looks like a normal park until you walk down and find the old dam and the waterfall that it turned into. You can even see the broken pieces of the dam and there's a way you can walk on the dam! Not safe for children but for those adventurous people...Definitely check that out. I did! Down the waterfall there is a river that flows down and the water is so clear and beautiful on a sunny day! A great place to take pictures. A little more down the other side of the trail is the old mill from the 19th century. You cannot go in, only look from the outside. But the mill is huge and you can see where the water used to go all the way up. Definitely a great preservation of history and nature. I love this spot and a wonderful place to go on as a date, with friends or with your children. Options are limitless and the whole park is so clean and open. If you want to check it out when it's not crowded, definitely try to go on a weekday morning..before school gets out if you want a childless experience. read more
11 years ago
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12 years ago
It has a pretty big playground, a short trial (about .5 mile), and a beautiful waterfall. It is good as a park but not for hiking. read more
More info about Freeman's Mill Park
1401 Alcovy Rd
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
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(770) 822-5178
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https://www.gwinnettcounty.com
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