Parks Mill & BBQ

I wish I could give this business a review on their food, I can only give them a review on the 30 minute detour we took to get there only to find them «closed for the season» even though Unilocal has them open from 11 – 7 today. Wasted time and wasted gas. Such a shame because I was beyond excited to try it.

The food is great. I love the BBQ and hot dogs. We love the waterfall and the sound of the river. Oh the memories of days gone by.

Another Unilocal assisted find that I am so so happy to report is truly as good as it gets! It is absolutely worth the few minutes drive off the interstate while road tripping. It is a multi-​building complex with lots of outdoor seating, riverside location, quirky décor inside and out, and friendly service. Oh, and simply amazingly delicious bbq. The pulled pork was smoky and tender. I love that the platter came with 2 side items, and the list of available sides included fresh fruits and a brownie, although I ended up choosing potato salad and baked beans for the full southern bbq experience. The potato salad was fresh and light, the perfect accompaniment to the meat. The day I went, there was a sign saying «fresh peach milkshakes.» I expressed interest and was told they only had enough peaches for one more, and they’d save it for me while I had dinner since I wanted it for dessert. To be honest, I’ve had better milkshakes, as the peaches weren’t really mashed up enough to make it drinkable… but whatever, I wasn’t there for dessert. I enjoyed my entire experience so, so much!

This is a fabulous place. We have had lunch here on a number of occasions and each time, it’s been great. It’s worth the drive back.

We stopped off after driving for 5 hours. My husband requested BBQ and after reviewing all the possible stops on Unilocal,I chose this place. Great find! And I agree with a previous review, well worth the 5 miles off of 81!

Stopped here on the way home from a long trip after driving for about 5 hours. Everything about this place was awesome! It has a very homey, southern feel and friendly staff. There was a black lab outside that was super sweet and loved to play fetch! The ribs were the best I’ve ever had; they literally fell off the bone. I picked up the bone and all the meat slid off. The pulled pork was a close second. It is a little out of the way, but 100% worth it!

Great place for kids; well worth the 5 miles off of I-​81, especially if you on a long trek. Peaceful setting, next to a stream. Lots of kids toys and outdoor play area with swings and kids play house (s). Food was good and reasonably priced (and they take credit cards). My favorites were: the bbq pork sandwich, ½ rack of ribs, and the beans. Smoked turkey was ok, but the pork was much better. The potato salad, coleslaw, and banana pudding were all solid. Informal, but very nice dining setting with picnic tables in the yard, on the porch, and tables inside where it’s air-​conditioned. Nice clean bathrooms on site.

After reading the reviews on Unilocal as we were about to enter Abingdon, we made a snap decision to try this place out even though it was a long way off the highway and we still had a long way to go. I can honestly say that in the four days we were in the car, this was the best stop we made!
We excited the freeway and followed the GPS to the address provided. As we traveled further and further into the countryside, we became more and more certain that there was something wrong with the navigation. We passed beautiful, rolling hills and stately homes, but did not appear to be heading towards a restaurant district; it looked like we were on our way to some forgotten relative’s in the countryside. When we finally arrived, that’s what the place felt like, too.
The building was labeled «General Store,» and inside was not what I had imagined when I thought of a restaurant. The selection was limited to pork or turkey BBQ, plus hamburgers. We placed our order and went outside to eat.
Outside, the building is surrounded by a babbling creek and a wide lawn with picnic tables for dining. There are even toys and a swingset for the kids. We sat down to eat our BBQ, & found it to be as delicious as the yard was beautiful. The kids laughed & played, and our lunch stop turned into an hour and a half of rest and relaxation.
If you have the time, I’d highly recommend making the journey to try out this rustic experience & fantastic BBQ; you’ll be glad you did!

Such a beautiful place, and the food was amazing, the staff were all friendly. Can’t wait for my next visit.

Excellent BBQ! Fast & friendly service. Very reasonable prices. Remote location near stream with picnic tables outside. Our GPS had some difficulty finding the place.

Fabulous find! Came here after reading about it on Unilocal.The pulled pork and the ribs were outstanding and the portions were generous. The banana pudding was awesome as was the potato salad. Park’s Mill is an old mill and the location is lush and quaintly rustic. Buckwheat, the local dog, will make you feel right at home. We’ve eaten a lot of barbecue in this southern Virginia area, and this is by far the best.

Great BBQ and pulled turkey

We were driving back from Abingdon, VA (after a ten-​mile run on the VA Creeper trail) when I searched the Unilocal reviews for local BBQ. This place really lives up to its rave reviews. The ribs are awesome and the pulled pork sandwich was legit– huge pieces of pork, with the fat trimmed off. Totally perfect in every way.
The place is also home to a 210-​year-​old operational flour mill, so the atmosphere is super impressive. We could have sat outside near the creek for hours if we didn’t have to drive back to D.C. Can’t wait to stop by again when we’re in the area.

i have been eating at Parks Mill BBQ, inside, on the porch, and take out since Dave & Lu opened the doors! Take time to ask for a tour of the mill if Dave isnt too busy! Lu makes the desserts (banana pudding, chocolate brownies) daily. Ice cream and milk shakes are the perfect ending to any of the awesome bbq dishes! Smoked turkey legs, ½ rack baby back ribs, pulled pork sandwiches … The atmosphere, service, and food make this place well worth the 4.5 mile drive from Exit 17, I — 81. Open on Fri, Sat, Sun, and holiday Mondays! During the winter holidays, they will cook your turkey or ham, so be sure to pre-​order!

This place is definitely worth getting off Highway 81 for a stop. It was a little tough to find — just keep going on the county road until you the General Store sign. That’s the place. Really great scenery all around, and the outdoor seating is awesome.
I ordered the pork and it was served in a big cup that you would expect to get soda in. Huge portion for not that much money. The sauce was delicious and the pork perfect. It’s one of the quaint little spots you just gotta check out.

This is some pretty good barbecue. The place is kind of out of the way and runs the risk of being a tourist trap, but avoids that by actually offering decent food. The pulled pork was moist with very little fat and much more pork than smoke taste. They offer a tomato and honey based sauce or a vinegar base that has just a hint of spice. The jumbo sandwich is enormous. I had the beans and cole slaw for sides. The beans are clearly made on site with large pieces of pork, pepper, and onions cooked in. The cole slaw could very well have come from a can, but wasn’t objectionable. Service could stand to be a bit friendlier.
There are jars of honey and preserves for sale along with bags of flour, meal, and grits that they claim to produce on site.

A little off the beaten path on the way to South Holsten Lake. This is a true diamond in the rough. Patrons can pick pulled or chopped pork barbecue and add their own sauce — choosing from a sweet BBQ or hotter vinegar sauce. The baked beans are made with pork and bits of onion and green peppers. Mmm mmm. We sat next to the real, working mill and creek and enjoyed the peace of the mountains.

Just terrific!!! During driving trips I don’t like to venture to far off the road, but reading the other reviews suggested we should. Glad we did.
The place is almost new it’s so clean, huge bathroom, outdoor picnic tables, or indoor rustic with a/​c. Pulled pork with slaw was awesome, and huge. My son loved the baked beans and potato salad. Well worth the stop and roadtrip break…

I found this place on Unilocal while we were driving back from Asheville, NC. We took the exit off the interstate and began to drive. Honesty is the best policy… we were quite hesitant the further we got from the interstate. However, we were also greatly surprised at this wonderful place nestled in the woods. The folks working here are very sweet and welcoming. The mill is still in operation, in fact you can purchase flour, corn meal and grits in the general store — which is also the restaurant.
We were greeted by a great big black lab, who promptly rolled over for a good belly rub. The menu is on the white board, which offers both pork and turkey, chopped or pulled, sandwich or plate, turkey legs, pork ribs, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, and banana pudding. We had the Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Pulled Pork Plate & the Pork Ribs. AMAZING! (Check out the pics). The portions were huge, juicy, smokey, goodness!
The smokehouse is beside the general store, as well as the working mill/​barn. A gentleman came in after we were finished eating and told us we were welcome to walk around the mill and check it out. He also informed us that it used to be the general store, the post office, voting office…“walmart” is what he referred to it.
With our bellies full and smiles on our faces we said goodbye to the great big lab and hit the road home. You definitely should check this place out. I can only imagine that it’s even more fun when the weather’s nicer. Fantastic Smoked food!

A working mill, the owners still grind corn meal here. They’ve built a smokehouse in which they cook the BBQ and a General Store. You order your food in the store, and can sit inside (one or two tables anyway), on the porch, or in the backyard alongside the river.
A colleage and I had lunch with a prospect here yesterday. The prospect recommended it. Now being from Texas, I’m more of a beef BBQ fan. The pork here was some of the best I have ever eaten, and the portions were generous. They offer two sauces — one sweet and the other with just the right amount of «kick». We ate at a picnic table under a tree by the river and had a private business discussion over a delicious lunch — all while enjoying the beautiful outdoors!
Why five stars? Because it is unique, the setting is beautiful, and the food is top drawer.
If you find yourself in Abingdon, or if you are cruising on I-​81 in southwestern Virginia around mealtime, hop off exit 17 and give them a try. It’s a few miles off the interstate, but well worth the trip.