Before It Was - Rocky Mount Mills

Today, Rocky Mount Mills is known as a destination for craft breweries, restaurants, live music, River & Twine, and outdoor recreation. It's a place where people gather to eat, relax, and experience one of Rocky Mount's most vibrant attractions.

But long before it became the mixed-use campus we know today, Rocky Mount Mills helped shape the very foundation of the city itself.

Established in 1818 along the falls of the Tar River, Rocky Mount Mills was the second cotton mill built in North Carolina and quickly became one of the region's most important industries. Founded by Joel Battle and his partners, the mill took advantage of the river's natural power to produce cotton yarn and textiles during a time when manufacturing in the South was still in its infancy.

Throughout the 1800s, the mill expanded alongside the growing community surrounding it. A village of homes was built for mill workers, creating one of Rocky Mount's earliest neighborhoods and helping establish the city's identity as a center for manufacturing and commerce. Even after the original mill was destroyed during the Civil War, it was rebuilt and continued operating for more than a century.

For generations, Rocky Mount Mills remained a major employer and economic engine for Eastern North Carolina. During World War II, the mill supplied cotton yarn for the United States military, and by the time production ended in 1996, it had become the oldest continuously operating cotton mill in the South.

After sitting vacant for years, the historic property found new life when Capitol Broadcasting Company purchased the campus in 2007. Rather than erase its history, the redevelopment preserved many of the original buildings while transforming the property into a destination centered around local businesses, entertainment, housing, and recreation. Today, visitors can enjoy breweries, restaurants, office space, loft apartments, River & Twine's tiny homes, and scenic access to the Tar River—all while walking through nearly two centuries of local history.

Rocky Mount Mills is more than a place to spend an afternoon—it's where the city's story began. From powering one of North Carolina's earliest textile operations to becoming one of the region's most successful redevelopment projects, the campus continues to evolve while honoring the history that helped build Rocky Mount.