Fair – Prater's Mill

2025 Admission & Tickets

History of Prater’s Mill Country Fair

Prater's Mill Country Fair, mid 1971, — *mid 1971, prior to the completion of Georgia Highway 2 bridge (approach construction lower right).*

It was on a Sunday afternoon drive when Judy and Wayne Alderman discovered the deteriorating mill. They decided the mill had to be saved. The slogan “Save Prater’s Mill.” became Judy’s motto to mount a charge against the decay and degradation of the mill structure. Starting Mother’s Day Weekend 1971, a few friends and families held the first of monthly fairs to raise funds to begin preserving and restoring the 1855 Prater’s Mill.

*the crowd shops at booths along the creek.*

The community supported the small fairs which quickly grew into the renowned Prater’s Mill Country Fair: A Southern Festival of Quality Artists, Craftsmen, Music and the Best Southern Cooking this Side of Heaven. The Fair was a family-run operation for many years, held twice annually, on Mother’s Day weekend and Columbus Day weekends.

A group of family and friends, worked tirelessly for months before each fair restoring the buildings and transforming the property to support the Fair. Initially, the mill had over a foot of mud and debris deposited by years of flooding. Trees were planted to mark key points for the booth layout. The granary, with its stacked 2×4 walls, was transformed into an exhibit gallery. The turbine driven grist mill was restored and ground cornmeal at the fair.

late 1970s paintings displayed in front of the cleaned and painted Mill now the centerpiece of the event. — *late 1970s paintings displayed in front of the cleaned and painted Mill now the centerpiece of the event*

This group of dedicated volunteers became a family with the common goal of Saving Prater’s Mill, carrying out the many and varied tasks required to host the Fair. The gears, belts, turbines, and machinery, unused for years, were restored to working order. After years of dedicated restoration, the flour mill was able to run for the 1985 SPOOM convention (Society for the Preservation Of Old Mills) held by the Prater’s Mill Foundation, which Judy established.

The 1980’s and 90’s saw a boom in Fair attendance. The Fair featured in Southern Living and received many accolades. Patrons from the surrounding region flocked to the Prater’s Mill Historic Site twice annually for the Country Fair. Many exhibitors became endeared to the show’s community and are still remembered fondly: Papa Flea who made brooms, Judd Nelson, a fifth-generation blacksmith, Bessie Mae Adams a retired teacher who spun cotton at the Fair, Frank Painter, a wood carver who was also a local radio talk show host, and Granny Reed, a colorful character who grew and sold house plants. The Fair management continues the initial requirement of only quality products handcrafted from natural materials by the exhibitor and the tradition of participation by invitation only .

*early 1971 shows the buildings before repairs begin*

The Prater’s Country Store was opened to visitors in the late 70’s. In the early 80’s the Westbrook Barn was donated by Collins & Ackman and, with great fanfare, was moved to the property. The first Doctor’s office in the county was also relocated to the site.

At the turn of the century, the fair was plagued by storms and heavy rains, even causing one show to close early. For 5 consecutive shows, bad weather caused poor attendance putting the Foundation in dire straights. The Mother’s Day Fair, often held with rain and low attendance, was cancelled in 2002. The fair prevailed and the last decade has seen great attendance even with a significant loss of volunteers.

*late 1970s shows the fairs expansion across the field*

Despite the Country Fair success, Judy and volunteers knew the Prater’s Mill Foundation, would never have adequate funding to maintain the mill for future generations. In the 1990s, an initiative was begun to convince state legislators to make Prater’s Mill a state historic site. When the initiative with the state was not successful, Foundation leadership turned their attention to Whitfield County, with the vision that the site would become a local public property. The vision was realized in 2010, when Dalton Asphalt Company, owned by brothers Jim and Kenneth Boring, conveyed the land to Whitfield County.

The 1855 Prater’s grist mill operated during each Country Fair, making corn meal for sale at the Fair until 2023, when County officials closed the mill due to a compromised foundation. Plans are in place to renovate the mill and make other significant improvements to the property, but various delays have precluded improvements to date. It is the Prater’s Mill Foundation’s hope that Whitfield County will finally restore the mill to its early glory. The Foundation is committed to presenting the rich history and heritage of the mill to the community at the Country Fair.